Today we’d like to introduce you to Rani Puranik, CFO of Worldwide Oilfield Machine.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Rani. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
My father Sudhir Puranik founded our family business Worldwide Oilfield Machine (WOM) 40 years ago. WOM now has more than 3,000 employees in six locations around the world with $350 million in annual revenues. I grew up in the business as a back office accountant during my younger teens. When I was a junior and senior in high school, I interned at WOM for class credit in HR, Finance and admin support. I married in India and formed a dance expression company to give girls and young women a chance to express themselves and discover their potential. In 2007, I moved back to Houston where I rejoined WOM as an HR manager.
In 2012 at 40 years old, I enrolled in the MBA program at Rice University and in 2014 I completed my MBA in finance from Rice University and subsequently took over Finance, HR and Administration at WOM. In 2016, I was promoted to Global CFO overseeing five global locations and expanding into two new regions at WOM.
Since 2000 I have served as the Executive Director for Puranik Foundation,the corporate social responsibility arm of WOM founded by my mother. The foundation is a nonprofit organization that operates a private residential school called the Vision International Learning Center in Pune, India for under-resourced children. At no cost to the families it serves, K-12 students receive academic instruction, living quarters, meals, uniforms and enrichment training in mindfulness, critical thinking, and leadership. Encompassing 27-acres, the school is fully sustained by using solar, bio gas and water recycling systems to protect and preserve nature. Over $3.6 million has been invested in the development of alternative energy systems and sustainable living methods. Twice a year, high school and college students as well as teachers, professors and mindfulness practitioners from across the globe are invited to visit the campus to participate in week-long Global Service Leadership Programs. The Puranik Foundation recently collaborated with HISD and is a founding member of HISD Abroad, an initiative that will enable 10 under-resourced Houston students to participate in the Global Service Leadership program in 2021. We are also very proud that we have issued 24 scholarships to teachers enabling them to travel to Pune, India and work with our students on campus.
I am currently working on my debut book titled “Seven Letters to My Daughters” which follows my personal journey and is slated to launch in 2021.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
As a leader, innovator, philosopher and creative, I have found the strength to reinvent myself in order to overcome the challenges in my personal life and in the family’s business. Being a woman in the oil and gas industry and a predominantly Indian male-oriented setting was a huge challenge. I had to overcome acceptance, recognition, and internal politics. For the dance company, my greatest challenge was to balance time with my daughters, family and social commitments with time and physically demanding dance teaching, training, and productions.
So let’s switch gears a bit and go into the Worldwide Oilfield Machine Inc story. Tell us more about the business.
WOM is a multinational private company with more than 3,000 employees. After I stepped into a leadership position on our finance team, I implemented global standardized systems, which took six years to change and settle in. I specialize in developing teams, facilitating their strengths beneficial to the organization and for themselves, and connecting 40 years of business philosophy to current trends and new ways of growing the business as a holistic team of people and skills.
Has luck played a meaningful role in your life and business?
What may look like luck is simply passion, persistence and faith making its way.
Contact Info:
- Address: WOM Inc 11809 Canemont St. Houston,TX 77035
- Website: www.womusa.com www.puranikfoundation.org www.ranipuranik.com
- Email: info@ranipuranik.com
- Facebook: Rani Puranik
- Other: Worldwide Oilfield Machine
Image Credit:
Jenna Duncan
Suggest a story: VoyageHouston is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
