More than 65% women said that female representation in their organisations’ top leadership tier is insignificant.
The sound of that glass ceiling shattering is no longer unfamiliar, but it is definitely not heard often enough. A new survey finds that women still don’t have a level playing field. Almost 49% of the respondents to the survey said they do not have equal opportunities for career growth as the men in their organisations.
This was the first ever pan-IIM survey on ‘Women in the Workplace’, conducted by The star in me – a global career advancement platform for women, in collaboration with the IIM Kozhikode Alumni Association. The survey received over 400 responses from alumni and current students across the 20 IIMs, with the majority of respondents working at mid to senior management levels across industries.
“There is a significant gender gap in the workforce and the gap tends to get amplified at leadership levels. The survey results demonstrate that even though progress has been made in enhancing gender diversity, organisations need a renewed focus on eliminating unconscious bias, strengthening mentoring and sponsorship initiatives and creating a level playing field for women,” Uma Kasoji, Co-Founder of The star in me and an IIM alumnus said.
As per the survey, more than 65% of the respondents said that female representation in their organisations’ top leadership tier is insignificant and that they need more women role models to look up to. Over 60% said that their organisations provide a flexible work environment and invest in up skilling, however only 45% said they have initiatives for mentoring and sponsorship. While women agree that strong professional networks are essential for success, 71% of them said they take a passive approach towards building a network. When questioned about the challenges they faced at work, respondents stated the lack of mentorship, lack of strong professional networks, gender discrimination and unconscious bias as the key challenges. Interestingly, while women agree that strong professional networks are essential for success, 71% of them said they take a passive approach towards building a network.
One-third of the respondents took time to share suggestions on how organisations can help women scale their careers. Key recommendations included flexibility at work, leadership commitment to diversity, offering a level playing field to women, sensitising male colleagues, formal mentoring, sponsorship and networking initiatives and smoothening re-entry for women post a career break.
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Kasoji added, “It was refreshing to see such candid responses and inputs. While many organisations have diversity policies in place, effective execution is key to success.” For instance, several respondents felt that unless leadership openly demonstrates their commitment to diversity, the message does not cascade down to managerial levels.
When presented with a list of the top 50 firms that visit IIMs for campus recruitment, respondents chose Google, Amazon and McKinsey & Co as their dream companies.
IIFL Wealth Hurun India List: Meet India’s Richest Women
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The IIFL Wealth Hurun India Women Rich List is out. In its second year of existence, the list continues to celebrate women wealth creators in the country. And despite strong murmurs of an economic slowdown, this list has something to cheer about, after all.
The number of women in this year’s rich list has grown to 152 women. And while that can hardly be called an equal representation - with just about 16 percent of the total number of individuals - it’s a leap from previous years where women were hardly visible.
Here's a list of this year's entrants:
The IIFL Wealth Hurun India Women Rich List is out. In its second year of existence, the list continues to celebrate women wealth creators in the country. And despite strong murmurs of an economic sl..
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The 37-year-old HCL Technologies scion tops this year’s women rich list at Rs 36,800 crore. Roshni Nadar, the only child of Shiv and Kiran Nadar, is also the only woman in the top 20 that boasts of the usual suspects including Mukesh Ambani, Azim Premji and Gautam Adani. Roshni, who is married to Shikhar Malhotra, also serves as the Executive Director and CEO of HCL Enterprise. Ranked 51 in the Forbes Power List 2018, she has been driving change via diversity and philanthropy through the Shiv Nadar Foundation.
The 37-year-old HCL Technologies scion tops this year’s women rich list at Rs 36,800 crore. Roshni Nadar, the only child of Shiv and Kiran Nadar, is also the only woman in the top 20 that boasts of t..
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Smitha V. Crishna ranks second on this year’s list at Rs 31,400 crore. A third-generation heir of the Godrej Empire, she has a one-fifth stake in the Group, along with her brothers. Her brother Jamshyd runs consumer goods firm Godrej & Boyce. She is married to Vijay Crishna, a well-known theatre actor, and has a daughter Nyrika Holkar who also works in the group. In 2014, she purchased a bungalow belonging to the late atomic physicist, Dr. Homi J. Bhabha, for ₹371 crore. The bungalow was demolished two years later, with reports of a high-rise being planned in its place. This move was met with much displeasure by the Indian scientific community.
Smitha V. Crishna ranks second on this year’s list at Rs 31,400 crore. A third-generation heir of the Godrej Empire, she has a one-fifth stake in the Group, along with her brothers. Her brother Jamsh..
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Kiran Nadar, who comes third in the list at Rs 25,100 crore, is a well-known art enthusiast. Under her patronage and guidance, the famed Kiran Nadar Museum of Art has provided a platform to young artists, and also helped improve the visual aesthetics of public spaces in and around the National Capital. Apart from art and aesthetics, the 67-year-old is also one of the top bridge players in the country and has represented India in several world championships. Last year, Nadar led her team to win Gold at the Commonwealth Bridge Games in Australia.
Kiran Nadar, who comes third in the list at Rs 25,100 crore, is a well-known art enthusiast. Under her patronage and guidance, the famed Kiran Nadar Museum of Art has provided a platform to young art..
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With a net worth of Rs 18,500 crore, Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw of Biocon retains the crown of the richest self-made woman in India. She founded Biocon in 1978 and has led its successful IPO in 2004. The Biocon Chairperson and Managing Director, who has 1.5 mn followers on Twitter, has often highlighted government apathy and policy failures on the micro-blogging site. A role model for millions of young women, she has also been conferred with the Padma Shri and the Padma Bhushan for her achievements.
With a net worth of Rs 18,500 crore, Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw of Biocon retains the crown of the richest self-made woman in India. She founded Biocon in 1978 and has led its successful IPO in 2004. The Bi..
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Irrespective of gender, pharmaceuticals has shone in this year’s rich list. Of the top ten entries, four belong to the domain. Manju Deshbandhu Gupta follows biocon entrepreneur Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw at the fifth slot with Rs 18,000 crore. She served as the Executive Director of Lupin till 2017, and has been a Member of the Board for over four decades.
(Image: Lupin)
Irrespective of gender, pharmaceuticals has shone in this year’s rich list. Of the top ten entries, four belong to the domain. Manju Deshbandhu Gupta follows biocon entrepreneur Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw a..
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The pharmaceuticals domain continues its golden streak in this year's IIFL Wealth Hurun India Rich List. Leena Gandhi Tewari, the chairperson of USV Private Limited which is a multinational pharmaceutical and biotechnology company, comes in at the sixth position. Her wealth is estimated at Rs 13, 200 crore. USV was founded by her grandfather Vithal Balkrishna Gandhi in 1961.
(Image: USV India)
The pharmaceuticals domain continues its golden streak in this year's IIFL Wealth Hurun India Rich List. Leena Gandhi Tewari, the chairperson of USV Private Limited which is a multinational pharmaceu..
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Hyderabad-based Nilima Motaparti comes in at number eight on the list. The daughter of Divi's Laboratories founder Murali Divi, her wealth is valued at Rs 9,800 crore. She has a masters in international business from Gitam Institute of Foreign Trade, Visakhapatnam, and masters in international finance from Glasgow University in the UK. At Divis Laboratories, she acts as the Chief Controller - Commercial, and handles finances and matters related to procurement.
(Image: Divis Labs)
Hyderabad-based Nilima Motaparti comes in at number eight on the list. The daughter of Divi's Laboratories founder Murali Divi, her wealth is valued at Rs 9,800 crore. She has a masters in internatio..
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The London-born, India-raised Jayshree Ullal ranks at the ninth spot. The President and CEO of Arista Networks, she is now one of the wealthiest female executives in America. She owns close to 5 per cent of Arista's stock, some of which has been kept for her two children, niece and nephew.She studied electrical engineering at the San Francisco State University. The 58-year-old lives in Saratoga, California.
(Image: LinkedIn)
The London-born, India-raised Jayshree Ullal ranks at the ninth spot. The President and CEO of Arista Networks, she is now one of the wealthiest female executives in America. She owns close to 5 per ..
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Sangita Jindal, the better half of steel magnate Sajjan Jindal, is ranked at the tenth position with Rs 9,600 crore. She is the Chairman of the JSW Foundation which drives social development projects within the Group. The 57-year-old also leads Jindal Arts Centre and is the President of Art India magazine that focuses on contemporary art practices and critical theory. She has one son and two daughters.
Sangita Jindal, the better half of steel magnate Sajjan Jindal, is ranked at the tenth position with Rs 9,600 crore. She is the Chairman of the JSW Foundation which drives social development projects..
