No task is too challenging for the young and ambitious, especially when it comes to furthering their career.

They also need to concentrate on cultivating additional work skills such as entrepreneurship and networking abilities, says Pradeep Mansukhani, CEO-Sales & Manufacturing, Marico Ltd [Get Quote].

Pradeep has a degree in chemical engineering from IIT-Kharagpur and an MBA from IIM-Bangalore. He worked with Cadbury India Ltd from 1981 to 1994, and Standard Chartered Bank as head, marketing, from 1995-2000.

He shares his mantras for success in an exclusive interview with rediff.com.

• Beware of these professional flaws

What are the top professional flaws?

i. Being complacent and taking eyes off the competition

ii. Short-changing the consumer by not delivering what was promised

iii. Relying only on data, numbers and hard facts

iv. Focusing on one functional area

v. Arrogance

vi. Focusing on individualism instead of team work

Marketing mantras everyone must know?

~ Know your target consumer segment (prospective customers who will use your product/ service).

~ Pay attention to consumer insights (information related on how your customer is actually using your product/ service). 

What are the top work related skills one needs to imbibe to succeed today?

~ You must have entrepreneurial skills.

~ You must seek opportunity and be fast in converting opportunity to reality.

~ You must learn from consumer insights.

~ Networking abilities. Look beyond different functional areas from different companies and build relationships for the future.

If you have two to three job offers in hand, which one do you choose?

You must take the one that offers a greater job challenge, which may not necessarily be the one with the higher compensation.

What are the factors that drive you?

~ A sense of challenge

~ My ambition to succeed

Any tips for managing people?

Foster the right culture in your organisation by giving people the opportunity to grow. You must take risks. You must build values.

What are the most challenging work profiles in the FMCG sector today?

~ Marketing and creating ideas

~ Supply chain management so as to efficiently manufacture the products

What is the hottest FMCG industry to watch out for?

The beauty and wellness industry has tremendous potential for the future, with its growth prospects continuously increasing.

• Hot tips to succeed in the beauty business

This interview was compiled by management students of the Goa Institute of Management.