Jayanthi Bhagatha is CEO, J B International – Aerospace Engineering & Manufacturing. Some excerpts from an interview:
The most valuable thing they gave us was a solid education. My father was deeply inspired by the Tamil poet Bharatiyar and wanted us to become the “Bharathi Kanda Pudhumai Penn”—the new-age woman he envisioned: strong, educated, and independent.
For me, milestones are not just about titles or roles—they’re moments of learning and transformation. At every stage, I’ve been fortunate to meet people who, knowingly or unknowingly, shaped my journey with valuable lessons.
Around that time, I decided to pursue PMP certification—despite it being dominated by professionals from the IT sector. I still remember being the only person from an architecture and construction background in a class filled with Six Sigma experts. On the final day, the top score was tied between me and a girl from GE. When our coach, Dr. Pramod Kumar, asked how I did it, I simply said: “I didn’t know the jargon—but to me, it was all common sense.”
It’s also an industry where small innovations can have global consequences, enhancing security, transforming communication, and even advancing climate science. The idea of building something that could reach the edge of space, support critical missions, or shape the future of mobility is deeply motivating to me. Aerospace isn’t just a business it’s a frontier.
Today, I lead JBI Aerospace, an AS and ISO-certified company deeply involved in India’s defence and space ecosystem. We work across multiple high-impact defence programs and proudly partner with key institutions like DRDO, ISRO, HAL, NAL, BEL, BHEL and several leading private sector players.
I’m particularly proud of the team we’re building diverse, skilled, and led by another exceptional woman. At JBI, we’ve created a workplace that rejects gender bias, embraces merit, and genuinely supports work-life balance.
One of the most fulfilling parts of my role is being a mentor. I find great purpose in guiding the I started to position the Indian Aerospace Supply chain in the international forums since 2008.
As part of this vision, we’re actively working to become a reliable long-term partner to global aerospace leaders and international customers—not just as a supplier, but as a strategic ally who understands their needs intuitively, adds value and delivers with consistency.
We’re also open to collaborations that include technology transfer programs and joint ventures, especially those that foster mutual learning, sustainable manufacturing, and next-generation capabilities.
Once this venture is stable and scalable, I intend to explore new sectors or complementary verticals—either through partnerships, acquisitions, or spin-offs that align with emerging market needs and my personal passion for innovation.
Fly High
She has drawn inspiration from many people at different stages of life. “But when it comes to motivation, it has always come from within. I am my own motivation. My father was my first hero. I still carry his name in my signature. He taught me to walk with my head high, to fear no one, and to own both success and failure with equal grace,” she adds. At 18, during my first job at RSP Architects, I had the privilege of working under Arunjot Singh Bhalla, a remarkable mentor. When I struggled to pay my college fees, he quietly offered support from his own pocket and simply said, “I was helped once—I’m just passing it on.” That act of kindness shaped my own approach to mentoring and giving back.”
Read the full story that first appeared in Global Indian here:
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