International Women’s Day

It is Women’s Day and we #ChooseToChallenge conventional notions about women’s careers, biases in the workplace and the path towards gender equality. Women’s career goals are constantly evolving even as individuals set different targets as their horizons. In a post-COVID world, the playing field, the goalposts and the rules have all blurred.

We spoke to seven senior Aditya Birla Group women leaders to share advice on how women can strategise their careers and ultimately head towards a gender-equal future. Here’s some advice for women, from women.

Choose, plan and set goals

Choosing the right career and setting goals is important for a successful career, the importance of planning it cannot be ignored. Ms. Orawan Rakangsomboon, Company Secretary and Finance Manager, Birla Carbon Thailand, believes in starting early. She says, “Start planning your career from a young age. Do not box yourself into a particular role and avoid routines! Have a multi-disciplinary approach so that you can adapt to change effortlessly.”

Talking about setting goals, Ms. Anoma Basu, Sustainability Project Head – Coal, Mines and Minerals, Hindalco Industries Ltd., says, “Break up long-term personal and career goals into doable actions. Have meaningful conversations about your career with managers and mentors.”

Network and market yourself

Do not underestimate the power of a well-connected network, says Ms. Sunita Bangard, Group Head, Consumer Insights and Brand Development. She stresses the importance of networking and believes that many women don’t realise its importance. “It is important to meet people and build your network. While networking, market yourself. Talk about your achievements and express yourself clearly. Only when you network and communicate will people know you.”

Ms. Rakangsomboon concurs and talks about the importance of building connections with colleagues and managers. “Regular conversations with colleagues and managers helps you to understand the thought process and the approach of the management.”

Develop a growth mind-set

Ms. Pinky Mehta, Chief Financial Officer, Aditya Birla Capital Ltd., feels that a change in mind-set is important. She says, “Come out of your comfort zones and take up newer challenges and responsibilities. Don’t shy away from seeking help from a mentor or a coach. Remember, nothing is impossible. Actively build a growth mind-set and seek challenges and opportunities that will help you grow.” She also reminds women to get rid of a self-limiting approach. “Don’t ask for any concessions. You are capable of winning with your potential and hard work. Demonstrate these capabilities at every possible step.”

 Ms. Maria Valehrach, Director – Supply Chain (North America), Birla Carbon, agrees that a change in mindset is important especially now in a post-COVID world. She says, “Uncertainty was the highlight of COVID. It is now our responsibility to look at the positives instead of the negatives. Assess the opportunities carefully to see how you can contribute to them and how they benefit you. An open mind and a change in approach will create new opportunities.”

Upskill, Upskill, Upskill

Technology is slowly taking over our lives and making many skills redundant. But what does upskilling really mean? Ms. Bangard says, “Upskilling doesn't always mean you need to enrol in courses. Upskilling can also include talking to the top management, reading, staying abreast of industry trends and finding different perspectives.”

Ms. Tanvi Sondhi, Joint President – Human Resources, UltraTech Cement Ltd., explains that organisations are taking leaps towards women inclusion and women should leverage this trend by upskilling. “You need to stay relevant. Prioritise your careers through self-development and self-nurturing,” she says.

To drive home the point, Ms. Rakangsomboon shares a personal anecdote about how upskilling helped her achieve more. “Ever since I started working, I set myself a target of learning a new skill every year. I considered it as an investment in myself and it kept me challenged throughout and helped my career growth.”

Believe in an equal future

The power of confidence can be a game changer. Ms. Basu says that to become equal you must believe that you can be equal. “Start by saying to yourself that you are equal. Once you are convinced that you are equal, the way forward is easy, the rest just follows. Work like an equal and talk about it with confidence.” She quotes Shirley Chisolm – "If they don't give you a seat at the table, bring a folding chair".

Ms. Bangard is optimistic about an equal future. She says, “Awareness is the need of the hour. But it is also important to believe that you are equal. If you are confident about yourself and do a great job, nobody can treat you less.”

Team up and lean in

Ms. Rakangsomboon reminds us about the power of teamwork. She says, “A one-person show is not always possible. Teamwork is the backbone of any successful project. You must learn to ask for help and develop your innate networking and negotiating skills.”

Ms. Chandra Bhattacharjee, CHRO, Chemicals, Fertilisers, Insulators, lays emphasis on leaning in and asking for help if needed. She says, “Women should know that it is ok to be 60-70 per cent right and not have all the answers. They should lean in and raise their hand when a new opportunity presents itself.”

Ms. Sondhi sheds light on how a good mentor can shape your career. “Find a good mentor to guide and support you throughout your journey. They have an outside perspective and can help you stay on track. And more often than not, they know your capabilities better than you.”

This Women’s Day, let’s choose to chase goals and plan our careers. Let’s adopt a growth mind set to overcome self- limiting beliefs and learn to network and take pride in our achievements. Let’s decide to lean in when we need help and stand up for ourselves when needed. Let’s choose to challenge biases and work towards an equal future.