With a 75-year family foundation, Avantika Makar leads with a unique blend of global experience and hands-on engagement. At Oriental Rubber Industries, she has raised female participation of women increased by ~40% & turnover has increased by about 60% and introduced operational innovations that blend heritage with modern efficiency. Founded in January 1949 and headquartered in Pune, Oriental Rubber Industries is India’s first and oldest manufacturer of synthetic fabric-reinforced conveyor belts and rubber-moulded articles.
Born and raised in Pune, Avantika Makar is the President of Oriental Rubber Industries Private Limited. After completing her schooling in Pune, she pursued higher education in Singapore and Atlanta, where her exposure to global business practices and diverse cultures broadened her perspective. Her entry into the family business, marking its 70th anniversary, marked a symbolic milestone, as she represents the fourth generation of the organisation.
In addition to her role at Oriental Rubber, she also serves as the Chairperson of the Pune Chapter of the All India Rubber Industries Association (AIRIA), the premier national body representing rubber component manufacturers across India. Avantika engages with Machine Maker to discuss her professional journey and share her thoughts on the evolving role of women in the manufacturing sector.
Founded in 1949 by Avantika’s great-grandfather, Sadanand Makar, Oriental Rubber Industries is now in its 76th year of incorporation. The company was established in Mumbai shortly after India’s independence and later relocated to Pune in the 1990s. Today, the organisation operates two state-of-the-art manufacturing plants in Pune and one in Johannesburg, South Africa.
Founded in 1949 by Avantika’s great-grandfather, Sadanand Makar, Oriental Rubber Industries is now in its 76th year of incorporation. The company was established in Mumbai shortly after India’s independence and later relocated to Pune in the 1990s. Today, the organisation operates two state-of-the-art manufacturing plants in Pune and one in Johannesburg, South Africa.
Oriental Rubber continues to strengthen its position as the leader in industrial conveyor belts in India, serving critical sectors such as mining, steel, power, cement, ports, and others. Avantika acknowledges that the company proudly counts major national and international players among its clients, including the Tatas, Adanis, L&T, and global giants such as Arcelor Mittal and ThyssenKrupp.
The Making of a Manufacturing Leader
Avantika’s academic journey began at St Mary’s School in Pune, where she completed her 10th standard. She then moved to Singapore for her 11th and 12th grades, earning an International Baccalaureate (IB) diploma from the United World College of Southeast Asia (UWCSEA). Her pursuit of global business awareness led her to Emory University’s Goizueta Business School in Atlanta, Georgia, where she earned a Bachelor of Business Administration degree. At Emory, she concentrated in Strategic Management & Analytical Consulting, Marketing Management, and International Business. Further enriching her global perspective, she spent a semester studying at the Vienna University of Economics and Business in Austria.
For Avantika, her passion for manufacturing was solidified during an internship in Germany with UTH GmbH. There, she trained across departments and gained firsthand exposure to the structured efficiency of German manufacturing systems. This experience left a lasting impression and promoted her interest in operational excellence. After returning to India, Avantika joined KPMG’s Management Consulting division, working in the Customer and Channel practice for nearly two years. This role sharpened her consulting skills and deepened her understanding of cross-industry challenges.
She began her journey at Oriental Rubber by rotating through various departments, immersing herself in every aspect of the business. In August 2020, amid the global COVID-19 pandemic, she was entrusted with her first portfolio, human resources. She believes, “This role allowed me to engage with all departments and gain valuable insights into the company’s culture, workforce dynamics and operational challenges”. Over the next year and a half, her responsibilities expanded to include operations, and she now serves as President of Operations and HR.
Creating Welcoming Spaces for Women
As the fourth generation of her family’s business, Avantika feels fortunate to have been introduced to the world of manufacturing at a very young age. She shares one of her fondest childhood memories, “My grandfather used to visit us on a random Sunday and say, ‘Come with me to the factory. ’ As his eldest grandchild, I was often the one he picked up to accompany him”. She further remembers not understanding much of what machines did or what the chemicals were for. However, she was fascinated by it. She still remembers a particular type of cotton belt she saw back then, and that she has a special affection for it even today.
According to Avantika, entering the manufacturing and rubber industries has not been without challenges. These fields are traditionally male-dominated, and that imbalance begins right at the education level, she believes. Further adding to it, she highlights, “We hire many rubber technologists and engineers, and for a long time, very few women even pursued these fields of study. Thankfully, over the past five years, I have noticed a positive shift, where more young women are taking up these courses and joining the workforce.”
She realises that in their own company, one of their factories still does not have any women, while the other has steadily increased its number of female employees. She believes, “It is a combination of creating interest and ensuring the environment is welcoming for women starting their careers as well as re-entering the workforce.” There are also inspiring role models in the industry, such as Diya Garware, who has been a strong advocate for women in the manufacturing and polymers sectors.
A Foundation of Freedom
Reflecting on her journey, Avantika considers herself fortunate when it comes to her family’s approach to the next generation joining the business. Unlike many traditional family enterprises where expectations can feel prescriptive, her parents were always supportive of her pursuing her passions. “I was lucky,” she shares. “While my grandfather and father were always rooting for me to join the business eventually, they never imposed that path on me. Instead, they encouraged me to explore my interests freely.”
This open-mindedness allowed her to gain a broad range of experiences, from taking a summer course in fashion at Condé Nast College in London to interning with Ernst & Young in consulting and working with Reliance Brands, a fashion-focused company. She was given the space to discover her calling. Each experience contributed to shaping her perspective and building a well-rounded foundation.
Still, the deep-rooted legacy of Oriental Rubber Industries always appeared in the background, as a source of pride and inspiration. “There are very few family-owned businesses in India today that can proudly say they’ve been around for 75 years,” she notes. “That kind of legacy isn’t just something you inherit, it’s something you feel a responsibility to carry forward.”
From Family to Industry Frontiers
For Avantika, inspiration begins at home. She says, “My biggest role models have always been my father and grandfather”. Her father, Vikram Makar’s journey, where he revives the family’s manufacturing business after its Bhandup plants shut down for nearly a decade, is a story of keeping the legacy alive. After studying chemical engineering at Manipal and specialising in rubber and polymer technology in London, her father returned to India with a vision. He restarted dormant machinery, relocated operations to Pune, and rebuilt the company from the ground up. She says, “His calm, multifaceted approach to problem-solving, whether in product development, retrofitting machinery or customer relationships, continues to guide me”.
Her grandfather, Vijeynand Makar, also studied rubber technology and played a crucial role in laying the foundation of the family business. She shares, “Being mentored by both of them has been a privilege”. Beyond her family, Avantika admires Diya Garware. Additionally, she draws inspiration from national icons such as Ratan Tata, JRD Tata, and Anand Mahindra, leaders whose vision and impact she has admired since childhood.
She also feels privileged to have learned from across the industry, which has welcomed her regardless of her gender during her involvement with the All India Rubber Industries Association. She believes that mentorship from both men and women has shaped her journey in this technical field.
Avantika Makar: Championing Women on the Shop Floor
A series of meaningful milestones mark Avantika’s journey in her family business. One of the most significant achievements has been promoting gender diversity on the shop floor. She says, “Since being entrusted with the HR function, we have increased our female workforce by nearly 30-40%, especially in plant-based roles such as planning, procurement, and quality.”
She also highlights the change in the company’s revenue, which has increased by over 50%. Among her most cherished initiatives is the creation of the Process Excellence Department. This vertical is dedicated to enhancing internal efficiencies, adopting cutting-edge technologies, and streamlining operations across various departments, including production, engineering, HR, and quality. For her, the real classroom has been the shop floor, she explains. “It is where I have learned the most, watching machines being installed, engaging directly with teams, and tackling challenges in real time.”
Avantika believes, “Work-life balance is not a gendered conversation; it is a human one.” She believes that today’s generation is more accustomed to sharing responsibilities at home and exhibits smarter, more intentional work habits. For Avantika, balance is about finding a balance between structure and self-awareness. Whether it’s a morning walk, exercise, or simply meditation, she highlights the importance of self-care. “That’s what truly keeps everything else in harmony and grounded”, she says.
Avantika is passionate about empowering women in the manufacturing industry. However, she is concerned about the road ahead. She explains, “The challenge is not just attracting women to the manufacturing sector, but retaining them is even more essential.” Many women step away from their careers due to caregiving responsibilities, and there is a need for systems that support their return.
Avantika identifies three key focus areas to establish a robust ecosystem for attracting women to the manufacturing sector. The first is a safe, inclusive workplace with enhanced safety and improved infrastructure. The second is addressing skill upgradation and development programs by the industry, educational institutions and, more importantly, by the government through the Skill Development Councils. Additionally, government incentives and industry collaboration are encouraged through policies that promote the hiring and retention of women by manufacturing companies, as well as industry-wide initiatives focused on gender diversity and inclusion.
Avantika Makar concludes, “ The Indian manufacturing sector has immense potential, and increasing the participation and retention of women is a matter of equity and imperative for India’s growth. Proactive measures from companies and supportive government policies are key to catalysing a truly inclusive and equitable manufacturing sector in India.”
