It was the early to mid-90s, just after the great Indian economic liberalisation that had opened up the Indian market. This also proved to be a great stimulus to the budding PR industry in India.

For Arpana Kumar Ahuja, the realisation hit hard that sometimes, the best mentors are the ones who see potential in you long before you see it in yourself.

'The Mentoring Moment'

"At just 23, I was still finding my feet in public relations when Sabina Mehta Jaitly, then director at Good Relations, took a chance on me. She chose me to work on one of the agency’s most high-profile accounts — British American Tobacco (BAT) — when it was at the centre of one of India’s most intense corporate boardroom battles.

Suddenly, I wasn’t just doing routine work…I was learning to navigate high-stakes corporate strategy at a very young age", shares Ahuja.

"Sabina didn’t just assign me to the account, she invested in me. She coached me patiently through the nuances, prepped me to hold my own in boardrooms, and crucially, made sure my “junior” designation never became a barrier to real inclusion.

I still remember how she taught me to handle difficult, even bullying, behaviour…not by confrontation, but by holding my ground with calm confidence." 

Inclusion at its finest 

Arpana goes on to reflect, " It was Sabina who ensured I was part of critical meetings, including one top strategy session held in London. That trip, my first international travel, changed so much.

Sabina took me under her wing, introducing me to London in a way that felt both exciting and secure — thrift shops on Portobello Road, browsing at Harrods, shopping at Marks & Spencer, Edam cheese at Tony’s flat... little moments that opened up a whole new world.

She taught me not just the art of corporate communication, but the art of appreciating life's finer details — aesthetics, culture, balance."

Arpana reveals that, "Years ago, I wrote her a letter telling her just that. And today, it feels right to say it again — Thank you. For seeing more in me than I saw in myself."

Paying it Forward 

Arpana now mentors not only her team but also actively participates in industry mentoring programmes saying, "I’ve had the privilege of mentoring many bright professionals over the years, Ayush Tripathi is the first mentee I’m featuring in this Mentoring Moments series even though he’s my most recent mentee. Why? Because he just got promoted to Senior Account Manager, and the moment feels right to pause and reflect.

Ayush and I were connected through an industry-led initiative that pairs senior communications professionals with young talent looking to sharpen their leadership and strategic thinking."

A mentee with clear goals 

"He came into it with clarity — he wanted to work on his leadership skills. Not in a performative way, but with a genuine willingness to grow into a better manager, someone more self-aware, confident, and thoughtful.

Over our sessions, I watched how he took small, steady steps. Sometimes a leap of faith. Always coming back with honest reflections…what worked, what didn’t, and often, what surprised him.

The real joy was seeing his growth being noticed by his seniors, his peers, his clients. No surprise that he was earlier featured in PRmoment India 30 Under 30 list, and I have no doubt there’s more to come.

And while the sessions were meant for him, I found myself learning too…about curiosity, openness, and the quiet strength of showing up consistently. Thank you, Ayush, for reminding me that leadership isn’t about position, it’s about intention. And that mentoring is a two-way street, where both minds walk away a little fuller."

Arpana Kumar Ahuja is EVP & Head, Corporate Brand & Communications, Jindal Steel & Power Ltd. She writes weekly on LinkedIn under #MentoringMoments.