Time and again, industry re- ports and global research have suggested that firms with greater gender diversity among senior leaderships perform better, but have also pointed out the eco- nomic disparities between men and women globally.
Sapna Srivastava, Editor, Realty+ initiating the dialogue expressed, “Numerous studies corroborate that gender-diverse leadership enhanc- es company performance, yet they also highlight persistent economic gender gaps worldwide. Intriguingly, a recent survey reveals that over 63% of women in Bharat aspire to start their own business, reflecting a strong desire for financial indepen- dence and self-reliance.”
Anshu Sarin, CEO, 91Springboard, agreed, “Financial independence empowers individuals and women are no different, from whatever economic background they come from. It provides them confidence to face life's challenges. This personal independence allows you to be yourself and approach the world with a newfound sense of self-worth.”
Bhavna Bindra, MD- India, Middle East & Africa, The Lubrizol Corporation, added, “Financial in- dependence is not only earning money but also getting a say in the household financial decision-making, yet our country still has a way to go before most women see themselves as key decision-makers in terms of family finances. While we're moving towards autonomy and representation, both personal and corporate, it will take time, effort, and persistence to truly effect a meaningful change.”
Nidhi Marwah, Group MD, South Asia & Middle East, The Executive Centre, concurred that having a seat at the decision-making table means having both choice and control, which are key to personal happiness. “In corporate world, although the road to equal representation in funding boards is long, the shift from traditional career discussions to conversations about women's financial empowerment in business is surely a positive change.”
Sarina Menezes, Head & VP - Brand Marketing & Corporate Communication, Oberoi Realty on a postive note added, “Over the past few years, the presence of women in real estate and hospitality has surged to 40%, especially among the under-40 demographic, a change supported by the confidence, the higher education instils in them. Their growing desire for financial independence fuels their contribution to the household and paves the path for leadership roles — a trend we must wholeheartedly nurture.”
ENCOURAGING WOMEN LEADERSHIP
Reflecting on the fewer numbers of women on CXO level not only in In- dia but worldwide, Sapna Srivastava shared a statistic, “Only 10 percent of Fortune 500 companies are led by women, that too some by virtue of being family businesses. In India there are only near about 20% of women entrepreneurs which means 80% are male. In my personal experience also, I have seen that though female students’ percentage is much higher in architectural colleges, we see only a handful of them later on leading their own design firms. This raises the question of either the lack of support or aversion to risk for women.”
Nidhi Marwah dismissing the no- tion of women being risk-averse stated, “I argue for a shift in societal norms to endorse equal opportunities, includ- ing the safe inclusion of women in all aspects of society. It's imperative we collectively support a cultural trans- formation that encourages women to pursue their potential in every field, from the kitchen to the boardroom.”
Bhavna Bindra said, “Decisions about career shifts, whether to chase entrepreneurial ventures or excel within established organizations, are deeply personal choices, not dictat- ed by risk aversion. What matters is where we feel we can both maximize value and derive joy, regardless of gender or societal expectations.”
As per Anshu Sarin altering mind- sets is the key. “While society influences our judgments of risks and actions, we must challenge stereotypes and realize that traits judged harshly in women are often praised in men; it's essential to confront these biases head-on.”
Serena Menezes added, “Success in business hinges on talent, perseverance, and innovation, not gender; while society must shift its perceptions, women entrepreneurs require the same robust support systems at personal and work level as any other professional to thrive.” Pointing out to another glaring disparity Sapna Srivastava shared, “Worldwide merely 13.2% of founders of start-ups are women (Ratio of 6 men to 1women). With the world's third-largest startup ecosystem, surprisingly, only 18% are woman-led. Is it due to bias when it comes to funding for women led start-ups?”
Nidhi Marwah responded, “Entrepreneurial success hinges not on gender, but on the robust nature of the business proposition. However, fi- nanciers do get sceptical in case of a women entrepreneur as they are not sure of the long-term commitment, that might be hindered by marriage or children.”
Articulating her standpoint Bhavna Bindra said, “It goes both ways, women too should not have a sense of entitlement due to their gender. Work-life integration through gender neutral - flexible hours and part-time work addresses everyone's needs, fostering an in- clusive culture that acknowledges both men and women's historical demands and shared responsibility for care without entitlement.”
Anshu Sarin agreed that there are visual biases. “Investors do have concerns as to what happens to the start-up if the women get married or has children, but again, there are equal number of males led start-ups that have not taken off.”
Serena Menezes suggested, “You should be able to walk the talk, have the confidence to be able to say, how are you going to take it from point A to point B? And you should have the mettle to give a person the confidence that you are the person who can do it. Entrepreneurship is gender agnostic.”
Women by nature have a tendency to second guess themselves on everything, unlike male counterparts. Embracing courage, resilience, and grace are the sure shot ways to success - Anshu Sarin
Subtle biases due to societal conditioning of men are still at play. But, empathy and professionalism in bridging gender divides are key to be recognized as a leader and not being labelled 'a woman leader- Bhavna Bindra
Learning to abandon guilt and embracing leadership despite failures have been my foremost lessons. Focus on your goals and never let anyone else's opinion dictate your destiny- Nidhi Marwah
Women need to effectively harness personal branding for their presence to be taken seriously and must remember that advocating for oneself is crucial, nobody else will do it for you- Sarina Menezes
While, much onus is put on the society, some push needs to come from women as well, in terms of being ambitious about career and amplifying their achievements to get ahead in their respective fields- Sapna Srivastava
