With the economy looking up and commodity outlook turning positive and the buzz around disinvestment, there would not have been a better time to be at the helm of Steel Authority of India Ltd (SAIL) for Soma Mondal, who took over as the first female chairperson of the public sector steel behemoth on January 1 this year. The uptrend in construction, manufacturing, and the Central government's push for infrastructure, comes as an opportunity for SAIL, and Mondal has her eyes set on them. Consolidation of volumes and expansion of product basket are currently her two key focus areas. The company is looking to add finished and value-added steel in its portfolio "We are focusing on enhancing steel consumption across the country through various interventions and by reaching out to potential consumers." Another focus area is deleveraging the balance sheet. Debt-reduction plans are on the cards as well. Mondal is neither new to SAIL nor the metals sector. Before taking over as chairperson, she served as director, commercial, for four years beginning 2017, devising new marketing strategies and products. She joined Nalco as graduate trainee and rose to the ranks of director, commercial at the company. — Ashutosh Kumar