Ujwala Bhandari
Tax Planning Manager
Quick Facts
US
Born 1965
Joined Tenaris in 2007
Interview published: October 2010
Ujwala Bhandari joined Tenaris because she was eager to face new challenges. She worked hard to build up the company’s tax planning capabilities in the United States while adjusting to Tenaris’s way of working. As a mother of two children, she appreciated the flexibility provided by the company to balance her personal and professional life.
Why did you decide to join Tenaris?
I wanted the opportunity to challenge myself in a manner that was not easily possible at the highly structured environment of the company where I worked before. I was impressed by the straight-forward discussions I had during my interview with the global tax director and the global CFO at Tenaris. I sensed the passion people showed at Tenaris and was excited about working with employees from diverse backgrounds and nationalities. In addition, as the first person with a dedicated tax background to join Tenaris USA, I sought the challenge of building up Tenaris’s tax planning capabilities.
Did the job meet your expectations?
Yes, it has been a fun and challenging ride. Tax planning requires in-depth analysis of tax codes, financial and business knowledge, and the ability to make sound decisions. The US tax system is considered as one of the most complicated in the world. In my prior experience I specialized in only a specific area of tax, whereas at Tenaris I am required to consider various areas. Sometimes, in a single day, I tackle issues that not only have US but also global tax implications. Added to this, Tenaris’s global tax leadership changed within my first three months and there was a period when there was no global tax director. Therefore, I was at a new company, with no direct supervisor - something that had never happened in the big structured environments that I had worked in. There was a change - my cheese had moved- I was required to give up my comfort zone and react quickly! For instance, on a particular transaction during this time I had to contact and work with several people whom I did not know, including some who are members of Tenaris’s Senior Management. And they responded directly to me and encouraged my questions and involvement. It is this culture at Tenaris that made a difficult job challenging and fun at the same time.
Is it difficult to find a balance between your personal and working life?
It is a challenge, as work-life balance is very important to me. I have two children who are now 12 and 14 years old. I gave up a very rewarding career when they were born to become a full-time mother for nearly 5 years. However, at companies where flexibility is provided it is possible for a person to be a parent and yet have a dynamic career. Tenaris provides this flexibility but I as well have to be flexible for it to work. I do not mind working long hours as long as I am able to take the time to watch my children’s games, performances and address their immediate concerns. Tenaris provides me the resources and flexibility to do my job as well as be a mother.
How do you see your future in Tenaris?
I expect my future at Tenaris to be a challenging and fulfilling experience. I expect to continue to be able to add value to the company and grow in many ways. I believe in putting in my best effort to be first in class. And based on the many bright, hard working, and sincere people I come across at Tenaris, I expect the work environment at the company to remain dynamic, so a win-win for me.