Radha Jalan exemplifies the strength of spirit that shields you in sudden misfortune. In her life, this has stood her good stead. For when it comes to times of great stress or adversity, she has faced plentiful since she took over as President and CEO of ElectroChem Inc., after her husband’s sudden death in 1997.  It was up to Jalan to make the choice of taking its reins or giving it up. She chose the former and never regrets the decision. “I have always been a fighter, whether it is for a social cause or for my own survival and it always paid off in the long run”.

Today Radha Jalan is an accomplished and successful business woman. She received the Asian Business Woman of the Year award in 1997, was listed as a "Woman to Watch" in 2002 by Women's Business, and has been featured in and interviewed by many international papers regarding fuel cells, small businesses and women in business. As an advocate of minority and women's issues, she has served in a variety of roles for a number of nonprofit organizations: She has been a board member of the Mass Energy Consumers Alliance, part of The Commonwealth Institute Ethnic Diversity Initiative Advisory Board, and an active member of The Commonwealth Institute's CEO forum, and The Commonwealth Institute’s Women of Ethnic Diversity Initiative. Through these roles she has offered mentoring and networking to many women in business. She was a founder of TiE-Boston, and a Trustee for Nashoba Brooks School of Concord

At the company itself, she has been instrumental in changing the strategic direction of ElectroChem from a totally R & D company to a balanced mixture of R&D and product sales. Her strategy was rewarded by getting highly competitive funding from NASA for the development of a fuel cell power system for its new reusable launch vehicles. Now ElectroChem, Inc., a leading developer and researcher of advanced fuel cell technologies, has been awarded a Phase II SBIR from NASA to advance its integrated-flow-field Proton Exchange Membrane (PEM) fuel cell for use as part of NASA's Space Exploration Mission. The contract is a follow-up to the Phase I co.

We sit down at her office in Woburn to talk about her company, her struggles and triumphs and what it means to be a business woman.

When you took over the company,you had no business background but yet you defied all odds to run Elector Chem., What skills came in handy in this challenge?

My journey has been unusual. I used my good old common sense to run the business. My non profit background helped me expand my network and get involved. So when I had this tragedy, I got tremendous support from my connections. Human resources management is very vital in business. I talked personally to all my employees and discussed their goals and our targets. It was understood that the technical aspect of the business would be taken care off and my job was to hold the team together. Although I faced many uphill battles, with legal and management issues, it was still worth it because finally the company still thrives. I had a make a few bold decisions but that was the right thing to do at that time

Along your journey what are the lessons that you learnt?

I have a few essentials that go a long way. Network among your own community but also make it a point to meet people from the mainstream. Have clear convictions of what you want to do and believe in it. At the same time know your limits. In my case, I prioritized spending time with my two daughters even if that meant sacrificing ambition or bigger business. Total commitment to what you work for is essential .Have a long term goal but keep in mind the short term goals. Stay focused and practise  patience. To the younger generation, I would ask they get involved in community activities and take leadership roles.

This is a relatively new field and full of possibilities. How do you see the company’s future?

I feel I am contributing in my own way to the environment. The company is in an area for looking into alternate fuels. I truly believe in the value that fuel cell/hydrogen Energy Company brings to creating a clean energy and protects the environment. My company has become my cause to benefiting the world we live in. It is what keeps me going despite any challenges I encounter along the way.

As I leave, I believe in it too as Jalan takes me on a tour of the office that combines simplicity, character and artistic design. Here is a company that specializes in research and product development in a field that is relatively new but can result in a future that can have a lasting outcome on the way we live.

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