A celebration of women achievers
At the IE Business School and Karan Gupta Education Foundation’s ‘I Am Woman’ event, women from different walks of life were felicitated.
At the IE Business School and Karan Gupta Education Foundation’s ‘I Am Woman’ event, women from different walks of life were felicitated. This year’s winners included actress Sonali Bendre, designer Neeta Lulla, Genesis Luxury co-founder Deepika Gehani, author Priya Kumar, Infosys learning head Kisha Gupta, lawyer Deepika Singh Rajawat and social activists Sindhutai Sapkal and Neehari Mandali.
The hosts for the panel discussions were Manasi Joshi Roy, Manasi Scott and actors Rohit Roy, Parvin Dabas and Tanuj Virwani. Guests and celebrities at the prestigious award ceremony included Divya Sheth, Vidya Malavade, Sandip Soparrkar, Aarti and Kailash Surendranath, among others. Previous ‘I Am Woman’ award winners Reshma Merchant, Kiran Bawa, Maheka Mirpuri and Bhavna Jasra were also present.
The Economic Times Women Ahead listing shines the spotlight on the most successful women in business.
In pic clockwise from left: (Sonali Dhawan, Ashni Biyani, Sarvita Sethi)
What I enjoy most about work:
For me work is the ability to create impact and feel that one has contributed to the ecosystem. The industry that I currently work in is heavily based on emotions and the ability to create change in a space that has a total mismatch of demand and supply.
What I have learnt about work-life balance:
For me, it’s about being organised. It is also about taking all the help one can get. I have a very supportive husband and a superb team who make my life as a businesswoman, wife and a mother very enjoyable.
How companies can improve gender diversity at the top:
It starts with being aware of the benefits of having women in your workplace. Statistics show how productivity and overall business performance increases when women are involved.
My advice to other career women:
Love what you do, be financially sensible, and find moments to take care of yourself.
What I enjoy most about work:
Partnering with the CEOs of our group companies to help shape the strategic direction and drive impact.
What I have learnt about work-life balance:
We have to make conscious choices to prioritise one over the other depending on the situation. As a working mother, I completely understand and appreciate the multiple hats my team members wear; I strive to provide them a work environment where they are able to balance both their professional and personal lives.
How companies can improve gender diversity at the top:
It starts with intent. Companies have to truly believe in the need for gender diversity. It has to be a business priority. Once intent is solidified, the levers are — establishing targets, fair hiring and promotions and having champions of diversity.
My advice to other career women:
Find something that you love, be authentic and fearless.
What I enjoy most about work:
Coming up with innovative processes to make our niche chemicals. I enjoy reading about green, clean and lean chemistry. I take pride in our excellent record in environment, health and safety.
What I have learnt about work-life balance:
Is actually easy to achieve if you stop believing in face time. My most innovative and out of box ideas have come to me when not in office.
How companies can improve gender diversity at the top:
Most women leave the workforce some point after having children. To encourage women to take higher leadership roles, companies need to demonstrate that quality time at work is more valued than quantity time. Providing flexible work hours and reduced emphasis on after-hours networking are some ways organisations can achieve this.
My advice to other career women
Take risks; women tend to be more risk averse and while this has its benefits it also limits our potential.
What I enjoy most about work:
The opportunity to make a difference for the better, and to leave a legacy that stays even after you are gone. I love the fact that my work allows me to work with great people. P&G people are really fabulous!
What I have learnt about work-life balance:
The biggest thing is to ask for help – from whichever quarter possible. We often try to put all the onus of this balance on ourselves as mother and wives. It is amazing how it is easier to manage this balance when more people pitch in and give their best.
How companies can improve gender diversity at the top:
Treat diversity like we do any business goal and plan. First declare the vision and the objectives. Then set measures, and finally have a clear plan to get there with the entire organisation engaged on these goals and plans.
My advice to other career women
Balance is a process rather than an end state. It’s barely ever that the scales are perfectly balanced — the two sides keep alternating in the quest for equilibrium. One needs to get comfortable with this oscillation and keep an even keel.
What I enjoy most about work:
Every transaction brings with it a new set of challenges. I learn something new every day.
What I have learnt about work-life balance:
Work-life balance needs discipline. Most of all, it needs a support system. I have relied heavily on my support structures - my husband, my in-laws, my parents. Support is equally important at work, especially during the period when one has young children. I was fortunate to have amazing mentors at the firm, who encouraged me, supported me, and allowed me the flexibility I needed in those critical years.
How companies can improve gender diversity at the top:
Women mostly leave after they get married and at the time they have children. Focusing on re-entry as opposed to just early entry is one of the most critical pieces in improving gender diversity at senior levels. It has certainly worked at my firm.
My advice to other career women
Seek out challenges. Seek out mentors. Seek out support. Everybody’s circumstances are different, so don’t be afraid to pace yourself. Take things one step at a time, in a way that allows you to sustainably build a career.
What I enjoy most about work:
To create. To enable people to create. To fight for what we create. I have never mistaken my visiting card for my job. My job was, is and will remain, making sure the best idea wins
What I have learnt about work-life balance:
At any given moment one part of my life weighs heavier than the other. There are times when my family needs me more than my work and vice versa. I like to be absolutely present in the moment and true to the moment. In the end, people don’t count how much time you spent at office or at home, but how you made them feel, when you were around them.
How companies can improve gender diversity at the top:
By making it a priority. Believe it is important and you will find a way to achieve it.
My advice to other career women
Excel at your work. Have a dialogue when something is bothering you. Being a woman, a wife, a mother, are all great qualities and only add to the wonder of what you can bring to an organisation.
What I enjoy most about work:
Three things that give me tremendous energy — conversations and decisions around top talent development; problem solving discussions on how to up our game when it comes to execution and the regular step backs with my leadership team to think about the big picture and where our business is headed.
What I have learnt about work-life balance:
Balance for me is about believing that I have the choice to spend my time the way I want; it is about keeping all the balls moving through the air without having to wonder what would happen if one were to drop; balance is about having no regrets regarding how I choose to spend my time.
How companies can improve gender diversity at the top:
Make it a priority in the same way that hitting the numbers and increasing shareholder value is a priority.
My advice to other career women
The rules were written by men for men but it is within our power and abilities to imagine a place for ourselves in this world. I believe that women now have a better chance than ever before to demonstrate their value to an organisation, and an increasing number of organisations are realising the value that women add.
What I enjoy most about work:
As laws change, business conditions change, clients’ expectations change, I am constantly learning something new even after 20 years in this profession. I never get bored.
What I have learnt about work-life balance:
For me, it is about making enough “me time” so that I can recharge. One cannot be an effective leader if one is not taking the time to invest in oneself both as a person and as a professional.
How companies can improve gender diversity at the top:
Mentorship is crucial, especially for women.
My advice to other career women
The rules were written by men for men but it is within our power to imagine a place for ourselves in this world. I believe that women now have a better chance than ever before to demonstrate their value to an organisation.
What I enjoy most about work:
It brings immense satisfaction to see a new creation — a brand, a product or a new initiative — bring in a new experience, or excitement or happiness in the lives of lots of people.
What I have learnt about worklife balance:
If you enjoy your work and the life around it, life blends into work and work blends into life.
How companies can improve gender diversity at the top:
The world primarily consists of masculine and feminine energy. Yin and Yang, Yama and Kama, Shiv and Shakti compose the world. Organisations too must recognise that and balance the forces. Organisations that pursue creativity and innovation will always find value in diversity.
My advice to other career women
Do not allow your gender to define you.
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