According to Raja Kumari, the need of the hour is encouragement, engagement, taking on that leadership role and being vocal.
She’s fierce, fun and a feminist. Indian-American rapper Raja Kumari carved her own path by deciding to enter the music industry instead of following in her parents footsteps and becoming a doctor – something, which at that time, was expected of her.
The rapper has worked with artists like Iggy Azalea, Gwen Stefani and Fall Out Boy and was also nominated for a Grammy Award in 2015.
In a quick chat with ET Panache on Women’s Day, Kumari shares her advice for young women who want to make their own choices and tells us how we all need to give the ladies in our life a sisterly shove in the right direction.
"Mentoring is the greatest gift you can give and it doesn't cost a dime,” Raja Kumari says. We before me “Women need to connect with each other more fiercely, mentor one another, ensure our voices are heard at the table and create sustainable opportunities for one another,” Kumari tells ET Panache. She says that when women come together, great things can happen and that we need to stop being threatened by the success of other women.
“Your success is not diminished by the success of another. Being a cheerleader for one, casts a wider net.”
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The need of the hour, according to Kumari, is encouragement, engagement, taking on that leadership role and sometimes, just being vocal about the good and the bad. “Women can learn from each other’s mistakes and achievements, but only if we narrate and retell those stories. Representation matters, so share your story. Mentoring is the greatest gift you can give and it doesn't cost a dime,” she says.
Some of the women Kumari looks up to include Madhuri Dixit, Lauryn Hill, Kamala Harris, Missy Elliot and Beyonce. And one of her takeaway lessons from them is to just be yourself. “Own your lane, and never stop when someone tells you can’t, I always think it’s best to listen to what you want as opposed to what other people expect out of you, that’s the only way to be happy.”
Respect Life, Upskill & Plan A Sustainable Future: Everything Women Bosses Learnt During The Pandemic
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Change is the constant, they say. And the past year was one of change as the world moved to a new order. Offices moved home, the home space shrunk and boundaries got a bit blurred. New skills were picked up and novel ideas executed, at home and work.
We checked with a few lady bosses on what realisation the pandemic brought in its wake, and the new skills that they ended up adapting.
Here is what some of them learnt, and unlearnt over the course of the past year:
Change is the constant, they say. And the past year was one of change as the world moved to a new order. Offices moved home, the home space shrunk and boundaries got a bit blurred. New skills were pi..
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Looking back at the pandemic, Dildeep Kalra says that it made her realise that it’s easy to lose track of things one is passionate about in the daily rigmarole. 2020, the Director at Massive Restaurants says, was a year of self-revelation as she tried her hand at singing, writing poetry, perfecting the art of making a good biryani.
In a post-Covid workplace, women must learn to strategise - both at work and in life - as that is going to be a much-needed skill.
Looking back at the pandemic, Dildeep Kalra says that it made her realise that it’s easy to lose track of things one is passionate about in the daily rigmarole. 2020, the Director at Massive Restaura..
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Kumpal Vaid feels that the pandemic hasn’t been kind to women in corporate set-ups, and has widened the gender disparity. The founder & principal designer of design firm Purple Backyard feels that women have to learn to upskill themselves as it will help them make the most of the work-from-home opportunity in a fast-changing world. Women, she feels are invincible when it comes to multitasking - and also being collaborative. And these two traits will come handy and open many doors and help form better networks.
And while adapting to the next normal is not going to be easy, this design firm boss reiterates that work-from-home does need a lot more discipline than we think. Shutting shop at 7 pm, and transitioning into home life is not the most easy, she adds.
Kumpal Vaid feels that the pandemic hasn’t been kind to women in corporate set-ups, and has widened the gender disparity. The founder & principal designer of design firm Purple Backyard feels that wo..
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The pandemic taught Lisa Rath that nothing can be taken for granted in life, and one needs to respect life and nature. The co-founder of Itu Chaudhuri Design says it also taught her to pause and reflect on design and how it can help in such unprecedented times.
The architect-designer took her culinary skills a notch higher in the lockdown by whipping up doughnuts, jalebis, gulab jamuns at home for the first time. She also invented new dishes, which were christened by her son as Pizzattees and Nargisi-goes-south, and she seems chuffed with the honour!
The pandemic taught Lisa Rath that nothing can be taken for granted in life, and one needs to respect life and nature. The co-founder of Itu Chaudhuri Design says it also taught her to pause and refl..
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Naina Ruhail says that the pandemic was a good time to think more about what’s happening around us and how we can do better for this society as a whole. The co-founder & CIO of Vanity Wagon feels that the key takeaway for her is the realisation to contribute more to the environment, health and society as a whole, thereby building a sustainable future for the next generation.
The beauty-prenenur took a step in the direction by starting yoga during the lockdown, and says that it is her go-to activity now as it brings a sense of calm and relaxation before the start of a usually busy day.
Naina Ruhail says that the pandemic was a good time to think more about what’s happening around us and how we can do better for this society as a whole. The co-founder & CIO of Vanity Wagon feels tha..
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The pandemic was a reality check. But it also showed the resilience of humankind when faced with extraordinary adversity, says Stuti Jalan who founded WIN – Women Inspiring Network - during the pandemic. With a community of 5000 women, this first-of-its-kind digital network is designed to power women professionals with information and help build networks
Women, she feels, are bona fide ‘multitaskers’ as they perform their duties well enough while managing different things and the quality to persevere. And this is one trait which sets them apart and allows them to make relevant changes in the society
The pandemic was a reality check. But it also showed the resilience of humankind when faced with extraordinary adversity, says Stuti Jalan who founded WIN – Women Inspiring Network - during the pan..
