 "<b>My Life My Style:</b> Tarun Kataria")
Best work moment
A standing ovation from 100 attendees when I presented in simple terms the complex world of derivatives. This was my first major public speaking event. Dar ke peeche jeet hai!
Books at your bedside
Pankaj Mishra's From the Ruins of Empire, a phenomenal piece of historical research, Yasmin Premji's Days of Gold and Sepia, a wonderfully nostalgic read.
Massage or workout to de-stress
Workout. No contest!
Your IT tools
Regrettably, I've had to migrate from my trusted Palm Treo to the iPhone and iPad.
Favourite spirit
An 18-year-old Macallan with a teaspoon of cold water, ideally with a cigar.
Favourite champagne
A Dom Perignon is always wonderful but try South Africa's Graham Beck Brut, a delightful sparkling wine
Your sleeping ritual
Animal Planet with my daughter in one arm and my wife in another. Bliss!
Favourite TV show
Nat Geo Wild, hands down
Best gift received/given?
A cricket set for my birthday. I must have been 8 years old. Gosh, what a feeling!
What food items do you like to shop for?
The wet markets of Singapore or Cape's Town farmers market are wonderful places to get the freshest of everything while having a chin wag with vendors of all varieties.
Newspaper TV channels and websites you prefer:
Six little faces screaming at each other is not my idea of news. FT.com and Bloomberg.com are my go to sites.
Where do you like to sit when being driven? Upfront with driver or back seat like sahib?
The front seat is easier on the nerves in manic Mumbai
On a plane do you prefer to network, sleep or catch up on films and reading?
Reading, although with some goading from my daughter I have started watching the odd movie
Fancy coffee or masala tea
A double espresso works wonderfully
What do you cook on your day off?
I've been a Sunday evening cook for 20 years. Mostly Italian (a soup, followed by a mixed leaf salad and a tomato based pasta or risotto) but occasionally an experimental Thai salad.
Do you fill customer feedback forms? Why?
Mostly to acknowledge service well provided. Wow, does it make someone's day, try it.
Are you a beach or mountain person?
Actually, the wide open plains of southern and east Africa is my thing. A week without a Blackberry is exhilarating.
Your favourite city?
Hands down it's Cape Town. Where can you go trekking, golfing, shark diving, horseback riding, enjoy opera in the botanical gardens, drive past stunning landscapes while enjoying the wine lands, fabulous cuisine and the warmth of its people.
You get your work clothes from
Bespoke suits and shirts from Singapore, ties from Hermes.
The shoemaker you trust your sole with?
My heart and sole is with Edward Green, who makes hand-crafted, calf skin shoes in England.
Your shaving mantra
A quick electric shave and out the door. Unfortunately, it means two quickies a day!
Your current set of wheels
An Audi A6.
In the car is it sleep or cell for you?
Sleep, cell, iPad, iPod, newspapers, Blackberry, watching the wonderfully colourful and vibrant streets of Mumbai....
God for you is…
A moral compass
Workday lunch is
More often than not the "dabba"!
Your workout regime
15 minutes of yoga every day at 6.20 am, the treadmill and elliptical for 20 minutes, three or four days a week
A few of your goddesses are
Priti Devi and Shaiyra Devi!
Alpha males you know
Anshu Jain, an all-round good guy, who also manages work-life balance amazingly well.
Your favorite motto
If you can't change it, change your attitude.
A standing ovation from 100 attendees when I presented in simple terms the complex world of derivatives. This was my first major public speaking event. Dar ke peeche jeet hai!
Books at your bedside
Pankaj Mishra's From the Ruins of Empire, a phenomenal piece of historical research, Yasmin Premji's Days of Gold and Sepia, a wonderfully nostalgic read.
Massage or workout to de-stress
Workout. No contest!
Your IT tools
Regrettably, I've had to migrate from my trusted Palm Treo to the iPhone and iPad.
Favourite spirit
An 18-year-old Macallan with a teaspoon of cold water, ideally with a cigar.
Favourite champagne
A Dom Perignon is always wonderful but try South Africa's Graham Beck Brut, a delightful sparkling wine
Your sleeping ritual
Animal Planet with my daughter in one arm and my wife in another. Bliss!
Favourite TV show
Nat Geo Wild, hands down
Best gift received/given?
A cricket set for my birthday. I must have been 8 years old. Gosh, what a feeling!
What food items do you like to shop for?
The wet markets of Singapore or Cape's Town farmers market are wonderful places to get the freshest of everything while having a chin wag with vendors of all varieties.
Newspaper TV channels and websites you prefer:
Six little faces screaming at each other is not my idea of news. FT.com and Bloomberg.com are my go to sites.
Where do you like to sit when being driven? Upfront with driver or back seat like sahib?
The front seat is easier on the nerves in manic Mumbai
On a plane do you prefer to network, sleep or catch up on films and reading?
Reading, although with some goading from my daughter I have started watching the odd movie
Fancy coffee or masala tea
A double espresso works wonderfully
What do you cook on your day off?
I've been a Sunday evening cook for 20 years. Mostly Italian (a soup, followed by a mixed leaf salad and a tomato based pasta or risotto) but occasionally an experimental Thai salad.
Do you fill customer feedback forms? Why?
Mostly to acknowledge service well provided. Wow, does it make someone's day, try it.
Are you a beach or mountain person?
Actually, the wide open plains of southern and east Africa is my thing. A week without a Blackberry is exhilarating.
Your favourite city?
Hands down it's Cape Town. Where can you go trekking, golfing, shark diving, horseback riding, enjoy opera in the botanical gardens, drive past stunning landscapes while enjoying the wine lands, fabulous cuisine and the warmth of its people.
You get your work clothes from
Bespoke suits and shirts from Singapore, ties from Hermes.
The shoemaker you trust your sole with?
My heart and sole is with Edward Green, who makes hand-crafted, calf skin shoes in England.
Your shaving mantra
A quick electric shave and out the door. Unfortunately, it means two quickies a day!
Your current set of wheels
An Audi A6.
In the car is it sleep or cell for you?
Sleep, cell, iPad, iPod, newspapers, Blackberry, watching the wonderfully colourful and vibrant streets of Mumbai....
God for you is…
A moral compass
Workday lunch is
More often than not the "dabba"!
Your workout regime
15 minutes of yoga every day at 6.20 am, the treadmill and elliptical for 20 minutes, three or four days a week
A few of your goddesses are
Priti Devi and Shaiyra Devi!
Alpha males you know
Anshu Jain, an all-round good guy, who also manages work-life balance amazingly well.
Your favorite motto
If you can't change it, change your attitude.
Tarun Kataria
CEO (India), Religare Capital Markets