Leadership not about position, power or gender: Debjani Ghosh, Intel India

NEW DELHI: Debjani Ghosh is not your typical high-strung CEO. As Intel India's first woman managing director in-charge of sales and marketing, she is a down-to-earth worker who has risen through the ranks since 1996 when she joined Intel.

She is just the perfect prototype of a typical Indian woman: straddling successfully the twin roles of a homemaker and top honcho of an American tech corporation in India. Today, as one of two women leading Intel's India charge, she is busy charting out her own territory.

As Intel rides out the challenge posed by old rival chipmaker AMD for computers market share in India, it is also trying hard to catch up with competition in the tablet and smartphone race, while using India as a major base for R&D.

Debjani is in-charge of the entire sales and marketing push for Intel products and technologies across south Asian countries, including India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bhutan and Afghanistan.

In an exclusive interview with Neeraj Saxena, she shared her experiences, and how 'women on top' is not just about the gender or position, but about leaving your individual best mark in every walk of life. Excerpts:

Does Women's Day have any special significance for you?
I would rather see us put some sincere efforts towards making India a more tolerant society where all citizens are treated with respect irrespective of gender, caste or socio-economic status. If we need to celebrate women, I would rather see us doing more to send our girls to schools rather than having the Women's Day as a special day to glorify women.

Why do you think there are so few women CEOs in Indian IT and fewer in decision-making roles overall?
The trend is definitely changing as increasing number of women are making their mark in politics, business and the field of science and technology. According to a study by the Credit Suisse Research Institute, companies with women on their boards performed better in challenging markets than those with all-male boards, suggesting that mixing genders may temper risky investment moves and increase return on equity.

As the awareness that diversity does add to the bottomline increases, we will see more and more companies opening their doors to women workforce and leaders. What is most needed is for women to believe in themselves and their ability to contribute and be confident about standing up and being counted.

Have you ever felt restricted as a woman CEO in any way?
Leadership isn't dependent on position, power, or gender. I believe it is about being the best version of yourself. It is about rising to the occasion when you are called. And I believe that all of us have the potential to be extraordinary, to be the best versions of ourselves. We just need to believe in ourselves and in our ability to step up in times of need and lead from your position. I actually believe that in today's business environment, being a woman is an advantage. As a woman, we are better programmed to handle ambiguity and chaos and it definitely is a highly valuable skill set in today's chaotic world.

Which are your role model women CEOs globally?
There are many women leaders I admire. Eleanor Roosevelt being a personal hero. In the recent times, young Malala Yousafzai has made us all realise the power we have as individuals to drive change. In the corporate world, I am a fan of Indra Nooyi.