No work-life balance: Pandemic burdens women more than men with personal & professional responsibilities

"I think the playing field has most certainly opened up. But I don’t think anything has fully levelled for women yet (from business opportunities to equal pay), but it has potential to get there. This is the golden age for entrepreneurship, and you can literally make anything your career, as long as you have a passion for it. I think the best advice I can give you is to be confident and comfortable in your skills. You might be brand new to business but that doesn’t mean you can’t hustle and learn the ropes. Traditionally we are conditioned to believe that women aren’t “business minded” but that is entirely untrue. Being your own boss and crafting a business is absolutely up our alley. So just dive in, the water’s warm!"

"Corporate organisations both in India and globally should take the necessary steps to ensure that they groom and motivate women to take up leadership positions to help create the right balance in the workforce today. This will encourage young girls to pursue their dreams and look up to these women leaders as role models. Encouraging women at entry levels will give them the confidence to face all the challenges they might encounter, in their quest towards building successful careers in varied sectors - corporates, sports politics, media, and more. We are increasingly seeing brands rushing to push out Women’s Day content once every year, however messages such as women emancipation and empowerment should be an ongoing activity."

"Over the last year in particular, there’s no denying that the pandemic has been difficult for many, and the pressures have been compounded for women. It is apparent that socio-economic vulnerability combined with the control of their sexuality, societal pressure, harassment or violence etc. gravely impact both their mental and physical health. As a nation, until we come together to create awareness and address the issues women face, only then will we able to create an environment where women can thrive. The change needs to begin with each one of us. We need to respect ourselves and not be apologetic about who we are and what we want. While we have come a long way in these last few years, we still have an even longer way to go. This journey has only begun."

"I believe that women are more capable of running sustainable and stable businesses. We believe in starting small, perfecting the processes and then growing. Growth built on a strong foundation is always the long lasting one. Hence I always tell young girls to start your businesses in whatever little way you can, to begin is important, the rest will fall in place. Women have been beautifully juggling between their multi responsibilities for centuries, it's now part of our DNA. From what I have observed during this pandemic, I think women were better prepared and coped with the uncertainty of the pandemic, we adapt faster and hence have not survived but thrived."

"Within organisations, women have already cemented their position as thinkers, doers, and as forces to reckon with. Now, the time has come to take this to the next level; for organisations to create an even playing field, and give women professionals an environment which they can thrive in. Organizations need to take a proactive stance to create an inclusive and respectful workplace. The effort has to be two pronged – allow ease of entry and provide equal opportunities for development. In the long run, such measures will create a positive environment for mutual growth. Additionally, it will also strengthen the organization’s reputation as an employer of choice, to attract and retain the right talent, and build a diverse workforce that’s future-ready."