Women calling the shots in unicorns to evolving corporate culture

“I've noticed that women often find it challenging to get into inner social circles at workplace. This happens especially in teams where women are underrepresented”

From Unicorn to corporate culture, women are playing a key role in today’s world.

Bizz Buzz interacted with some women leaders in the corporate world to take their opinion and the way forward to consolidate their respective roles.

“As more women achieve significant success, with some even leading unicorns today, I see a profound shift underway in the corporate culture. While many are breaking barriers and taking charge, others still face societal and cultural biases. In meeting rooms, I still observe that some women hesitate to voice their opinions, unlike their male counterparts, who speak with ease,” says Rashmi Dalal, VP (MD & CEO office), Magma HDI General Insurance.

She says, “I feel confronting internal barriers like self-doubt, fear of failure, and the juggling act of personal and professional responsibilities, is an integral part of the professional journey. Overcoming these challenges demands courage and unwavering belief in oneself. When that little voice inside doubts you, it's crucial for every woman to have her own inner cheerleader, reminding her of why and how she can conquer any challenge. I truly believe in fostering this growth mindset, and it's something I actively cultivate among my fellow female colleagues.”

Believing in ourselves is the first step toward gaining the confidence of others. I urge all women to push past these barriers and outshine in the best way possible, as the most spoken success stories often have their share of unspoken downs as well. Together, let us cultivate a more inclusive and supportive environment where every voice is valued, she added.

“While leading teams comprising diverse genders, I've noticed that women often find it challenging to get into inner social circles at workplace. This happens especially in teams where women are underrepresented. The inclusion of new male members into informal gatherings such as tea-breaks or smoking groups is quite seamless, but some find it difficult to establish themselves in such settings. And these circles serve as hubs for significant information exchange and networking opportunities, posing a notable challenge for women in the longer run,” she goes on.

Smita Jain, Head of L&D (HR), Magma HDI General Insurance, says, “This difficulty in networking also translates into challenges in finding career sponsors. A sponsor is someone who enhances your visibility at work, ensures you receive credit, defends you in your absence, and even places you in new roles. I believe today's ambitious women are well-prepared for success; what they truly need are sponsors, not just mentors, who can accelerate their career growth.”

And this is where women in leadership can make a significant impact. We need to step up as sponsors for the brilliant women out there, opening doors of opportunity for their professional growth, she said.

Women have faced challenges faced in their professional journey to reach at the level where they are today, she adds.

Bhavna Verma, actuary at IndiaFirst life Insurance, says, “I started my professional journey in the field of actuarial science after graduating in Mathematics. A niche profession and slightly unconventional field where you learn while you earn, the challenge in the early years was to balance study, work and life. I leaped straight from qualification as a Fellow into motherhood and maintaining the rigour and focus to continuously upskill professionally was certainly a challenge in the initial months. Soon after, accelerating my career growth needed me to move to new cities with my family, which was a difficult decision, considering I had never attempted it before.”

She added, “After having my second child, I again took a leap of faith and moved into a critical regulatory role. Wanting to do it all is challenging for a woman and in the current phase of my life and career, multi-tasking and sound time management take me through every single day, fuelled by my utmost focus on physical and spiritual wellness.

In my case, I believe taking the road less travelled and making brave choices, supported by the people around me and enabled by and ecosystem I have created over the years has made the difference.”