‘Industry forums heavily male-dominated’

Hyderabad Throwing light on discrimination, and gender disparity, especially in male-centered platforms, the former Chairperson of Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) Telangana Vanitha

Datla shared her experiences with women at an event held here on Saturday. She gave away leadership lessons to the women participants and sharedher take on imposter syndrome and dealing with under-confidence.

The Vice Chairperson and Managing Director of Hyderabad-based Analytical Instruments design and manufacturing company Elico Ltd, was a panelist at the ‘Women Leadership Conclave 2023,’organised by Global Woman Foundation, where she spoke on ‘Women and Leadership-challenges and road ahead.’

“I did not have the expertise to head Industry forums that are heavily male dominated. Trade bodies such as CII are rarely chaired by women, Shobana Kamineni the president of CII in 2017, being the only exception. When my name was suggested for the position I was flabbergasted as I did not have any experience discussing industry matters with the government, and speaking ondiverse sectors,” said Datla. She was the Chairperson of CII-TS from 2014 – 2016 and of Indian Women Network, CII - Southern Region from 2017-2018. Datla further said that she took the opportunity as a challenge. “After I was chosen, there was ill will among the men who were eyeing the position. If that position was given to a man then he would have walked in as he was entitled to it. I was humble and learnt from all,” she explained on leading CII-TS from a collaborative and cooperative approach.

On being questioned whether putting aside ego meant being under-confident, she said, “Under-confidence comes from own imposter syndrome. Other people might be under-confident but they fake it. I learnt across the journey to fake it until I make it.”

Sharing leadership skills, she learnt seven years back in Japan, with women entrepreneurs and women in professional fields, Datla stressed on instilling ‘six Up’s,’ -- Look up,Team up,Do not give up,Lift others up, Speak up and Show up. “Recently, I spoke up on behalf of my co-female members of CII.I attended the CII State Council meeting, the person convening it mentioned all male speakers with great pride. I questioned him about diversity and why women have been left out. Then, he asked me to sharenames of women speakers and so I did.”

The other speakers for the day included Amala Akkineni, Director, Annapurana College of Films and Media; Kiran Soni Gupta, IAS; SainaNehwal, Badminton player; Uma Sudhir, Executive Editor (South), NDTV; Sunisha Ahuja, Education Specialist, UNICEF and Dr Suvarna Alladi, Professor of Neurology, Nimhans.