Be it the corporate world or her personal life, a woman masters the art of managing things. A juggler, confidant and leader – a woman’s ability to lead a team and her family is simply magical. For many of her subordinates, a lady boss is someone whom they can trust at their time of need. She is the one who nurtures them, imparts valuable technical knowledge and oversees their growth. Even though she has to toil hard to prove her worth in the male-dominated corporate world, her humane side is still intact. She understands her fellow employees and makes them feel at home. That’s the reason why women in leadership positions are limitlessly flourishing these days. They soak up all the knowledge in the world and make sure to incorporate it at work and their family life. Most importantly, these lady bosses are the ones who encourage their team to achieve their goals. In the recently concluded Indian Women Business Conference and Awards, Mumbai, organized by Morpheus, Corporate Citizen caught up with a few of the lady bosses to get their views on the same
'A woman with a vision is admirable. And when she makes that vision into her passion, there's no stopping her'
SHARMIN DAVAR, Vice President, Sales and Leasing - Arihant Superstructures Ltd
‘A woman with a vision is admirable. And when she makes that vision into her passion, there's no stopping her. Women are born to be lady bosses. They are daring, compassionate and determined. On the projects or events they undertake, or for that matter any work, a woman will always make sure to give her best, no matter the situation. And the outcome is simply stunning. In fact, I feel that women are better at being bosses because they have the capability to be unbiased and they have a great sense of understanding. Their emotional and professional acumen is far superior. And let's not forget that behind every successful woman there is a tribe of other women who are relentlessly supporting them. Unfortunately, the woman who always pushed me to my limits is no more. My mother has always been my pillar of strength and I'm sure she must be smiling down on me from heaven. The best thing I have inherited from her was her fighting spirit. And that spirit has led me to conquer the world.’
'You shouldn’t go through life with a catcher’s mitt on both hands; you need to be able to throw something back'
NEHA GUPTA, Founder - Alchemy of Organisation Development
‘Women have the ability to work and connect in a holistic way. They can have a high level of empathy, which comes from deeply feminine traits of being a nurturer. Having said that, a mix of nurturing and razor-sharp focus backed by competence makes them excellent leaders. Young women leaders today need more and more role models to inspire them and lay out the path of success for them by eliminating second-generation gender bias. Women battle many self-limiting beliefs, generally embedded in their sub-conscious because of the patriarchal society. The fact that so many of them are rising above these makes them ideal for being the torchbearers for other women. Maya Angelou once said, 'I’ve learned that you shouldn’t go through life with a catcher’s mitt on both hands; you need to be able to throw something back.' Women like her and my own life experiences inspire me to work with women leaders who will shape the present and the future.’
‘Women who undertake leadership roles are task masters. And secondly, they being high on the emotional quotient as well, are blessed with the power to understand each and every employee at their workplace’
ITI RAWAT, Thinkhall Training and Consultancy LLP
‘Success isn’t about how much money people make. It is about the difference they make in people’s lives. Women who undertake leadership roles are task masters. And secondly, they being high on the emotional quotient as well, are blessed with the power to understand each and every employee at their workplace. Well, a woman is a combination of both these components, and that is what makes her a great leader and a splendid lady-boss. It is almost as if they are born with these qualities. They are great multi-taskers and take the team along towards success. One of the corporate leaders who I look up to is Indra Nooyi. This flamboyant changemaker has transformed her organisation into the most successful company worldwide. She has made a mark that many just dream of. Currently, only a few of the leadership positions are managed by women. In the coming years, I hope more and more women take this responsibility.’
‘I consider myself fortunate to have worked for two lady bosses in my career. The fact that I've grown leaps and bounds under their guidance is a testament of their calibre’
SHALINI AWASTHI, Manager – HR, Force Motors
‘I consider myself fortunate to have worked for two lady bosses in my career. The fact that I've grown leaps and bounds under their guidance is a testament of their calibre. When I entered the corporate world as a fresher, it was their warmth that made me feel secure. Their support meant the world for me. To watch them lead a team flawlessly was a treat for my eyes. Which in turn taught me leadership skills. Courtesy of those two lady bosses, I now possess the grit to lead my team. As per me, lady bosses are a bundle of joy, courage and talent. They teach you various aspects of work and at the same time, they make you feel at home. I began my career with ICICI Bank, and it goes without saying that back then I admired the way how Chanda Kochhar, former MD and chief executive officer of ICICI Bank, played a pivotal role in shaping the retail banking sector of India. Now that I'm blessed with a great team, I surely will follow the footsteps of my ex-lady bosses and make them proud too.’
‘Even if we fail, it’s most unlikely that women would give up, they would rather learn from the shortfalls and climb up again with more courage and enthusiasm’
POOJA VALEJA, Senior Manager, Wizspk Communications
Today, with changing times women have entered various streams and managed every role with complete dedication and integrity. From fabulous homemakers to successful business heads, the multi-tasking spirit, cognitive thinking and constant perseverance have been the core for managing tasks with a positive outlook. Being a boss is easy but bringing out the best from your team or employees is what makes one a "good" one. For women, I believe it comes naturally and since I personally handle a team, I understand the importance of knowing the minute details that could lead to major issues. There are various aspects like empathy, synergy and ability to hold things together that make us great leaders. Even if we fail, it’s most unlikely that women would give up, they would rather learn from the shortfalls and climb up again with more courage and enthusiasm. Women have always proven to be great entrepreneurs and I personally look up to a few that have inspired me, one of them being my mum who served as a government employee for over decades and simultaneously managed the home. Another inspiring lady is Anuja Choudhary, CEO of Wizspk, and a few others. Besides, I have always derived my inspiration and positivity from women from various walks of life. Actress Sushmita Sen and entrepreneur and publisher Sherita Kommal are just a few from my list, not that men are not inspiring. It’s important that we encourage, respect and support women who want to excel.
KIRAN SARKAR, Senior Manager, Mahindra and Mahindra
‘I started working in the manufacturing sector more than a decade ago. Back then, the scene was quite different. There were hardly any women in manufacturing. In fact, it was predominantly a male bastion. But now, times have changed. Women are taking up leadership roles and surpassing all set standards. I strongly feel that the priority for leadership positions should only be talent-driven, regardless of gender. Women have immense power and once they realise their worth, there is no stopping them.’
‘Women bosses, specifically, focus on the strength of the team and most importantly they treat everyone equally’
SUJATHA BALAKRISHNAN, Managing Director, Valtech
The sign of good leader depends on the number of leaders he/she creates. Being in a leadership position myself, I possess the ability to pick the traits of employees which will help them become leaders one day. Women bosses, specifically, focus on the strength of the team and most importantly they treat everyone equally. They are quite serious about their work and they are not afraid to embrace change.
My only aim is to nurture my team and lead them to their goals. Women bosses are empathic and trustworthy. That’s the reason why their teams never fail to fair well. It does not matter what sort of team you are leading, what matters is your courage and goal. For instance, Mother Teresa and Mahatma Gandhi are only a few of the great leaders who toiled hard to build a splendid society. They always believed in their team and that’s why I look up to them. For me, leading a team is a fantastic opportunity and also, it is a matter of pride. Currently, I feel, there are a good number of lady bosses in our country which speaks volumes about women’s empowerment. I hope and wish that this number grows exponentially.’
‘Why see them as women and not the ones holding the baton with the pride of being where they are?’
DIPTI MODI, Talk Tales, Founder
‘My mother empowered herself by pursuing education and constantly learning something new. She studied M.Ed after her marriage, more specifically after her first child. It meant a lot for me as her second child to look up to her. She was the boss of her decision and our house too. It amazed me to see how she balanced everything. My take on woman bosses is the same. Why see them as women and not the ones holding the baton with the pride of being where they are? As women, we are known to balance and act in every situation, at work or at home. I understand we are seeing progressive times where women are given opportunities. But it comes with the fact that it was we who had to step up in the world of the corporate and showcase our skills than wait for the opportunity to come our way. It’s the courage that will bring in the change. We do see names like Indra Nooyi, Shika Sharma or Arundhati Bhattacharya and they keep inspiring many. Women always were taskmasters and we still are, the only difference is the change which we are experiencing where we are seen around more, and the success of a woman is appreciated.’
by EKTA KATTI
