INTERVIEW
I embraced the challenges. What surprised me was that my previous engineering experience held relevance, and my life skills were applicable. I was fortunate enough to be given an opportunity to work at Brompton by a wonderful manager.
You mentioned that working at Brompton gave you the ‘cycling bug’. Was there a specific moment or experience at Brompton that sparked this interest? All new starters go through an induction program at Brompton and part of this includes riding their bikes. And I loved it! I thought it was so fun and liberating. Brompton allow their employees to borrow a bike for their first three months. I took this up, and I used to park a few miles away from the office just so that I could cycle the remaining distance on my Brompton.
This also meant I practised folding and unfolding my
bike! My first longish ride was 13 miles with my work colleagues. We rode from Greenford to London Hyde Park along the canal and then folded our bikes and took the train home. This gave me the ‘cycling bug’ and I have since completed Palace to Palace (45 miles) and then Ride London (62 miles) cycling events.
Does your experience in space-enabled transformation at LAB287, influence your role at Brompton or have an impact on any other areas of your life?
I am a person who loves to experience and learn lots of things. I am a yoga teacher, a trained dancer, a degree holder, a mum, and an actor, to name a few. The opportunity at LAB287 came unexpectedly whilst I was supporting my husband with his own company. Having exposure to the space industry shows me that the impossible can be made possible. And these insights have given me the belief that every industry can be improved with imagination and creativity.
I’m also really proud of how my experience of yoga is benefiting my colleagues at Brompton. I run a daily morning stretch, which has gathered a bit of a following!
What projects or initiatives are you currently most excited about? I have been working on Brompton’s latest G-Line bike – a versatile, multi-terrain, larger wheel, foldable bike. It’s been amazing being part of a project from start to end, being involved from the design stage right through to production.
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Just as exciting, I am trying to rally a group of Brompton employees to do this year’s London to Brighton bike ride. – all on our Bromptons, of course.
When you think of the cycling industry, are there any aspects that you feel could be more welcoming or inclusive to people from diverse cultural or ethnic
backgrounds? When I’m cycling, I often feel like I’m the only Asian woman on a bike. This does make me feel sad. I know of great groups, like The Cycle Sisters, that
inspire Muslim women to cycle, and we need more groups like this to help promote inclusivity in
cycling. This could also be better encouraged through images in media and advertising. A bike, in general, is primarily designed for a male. With my female colleagues at work, we have adjusted our bikes so that it suits our builds. For example, adjusting the reach of the brakes – I have quite small hands.
In a recent post of yours, you mention the ‘tribe of cyclists’ you’ve found. How important do you think community is within the cycling world? For me, it’s what makes cycling fun and joyful. A “tribe”
Kalyani at the BikeBiz Awards
May 2025 | 51
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