FINANCIAL SECTOR IS STILL CONSIDERED A BOY’S CLUB. HOW DID YOU LADIES BREAK INTO IT?
Binitha Dalal- All sectors are male-dominated. No matter which sector you are, breaking barriers is what we are doing everyday. The fact is, how you approach the challenge in daily situations As a marketing professional, for me, finance happened by chance.
Ruchita Maniar- When I started in 2005 it was a heavily male-dominated industry. There were situations in conferences where I would be the only woman present and it meant speaking up but, culturally we are conditioned not to speak up. I had to put extra efforts to be heard and put my point across after a few attempts. It has been a slow journey but things have certainly changed.
Gitanjali Mirchandani- As a B-school graduate, my major was finance, which decided the future course of action. Being in finance and that too in real estate was a tough choice, but I was very lucky, my first boss in ICICI Bank was a woman. Though, convincing a client that you are equally competent as men colleagues, did take a while. The scenario is definitely changing for the better with more women now being seen in real estate and finance sector and are rising to the top positions.”
ONE OF THE BIGGEST CHALLENGES THAT YOU FACED AS A WOMAN PROFESSIONAL?
Ruchita Maniar - On professional front, the lack of mentors and at the personal level decision to choose a career and leaving the children at home.
Binitha Dalal - I joined the company really young as an undergraduate. The entire journey to walk into banks and financial institutions and represent a developer and to be taken seriously was challenging, being young and a woman in the field.
Gitanjali Mirchandani - The biggest challenge is when you come back from maternity leave and so much has changed around you. Lots to do intrinsically with your own struggles, or with the guilt that you are doing right by your job and your family.
DO WOMEN NEED TO PROVE THEMSELVES MORE THAN THEIR MALE COLLEAGUES AS PROFESSIONALS?
Gitanjali Mirchandani - Women leaders are still in minority. Statistics prove that out of the number of people who start climbing the corporate ladder and be on top, women form a minuscule number of that. Statistics show that women on top are paid a less percentage than men on top doing exactly the same amount of work. We indeed have a long way to go.
Binitha Dalal - I don’t think women need to, but mind-set wise they are conditioned to think that way. Working women balance between kids and families and between work and therefore feel more compelled to prove their competence at the workplace and even at home. I really hope somewhere that mindset changes.
Ruchita Maniar –There are two sides to the coin, on one end, women need to become more dynamic and forthcoming in their opinions and on the other, a lot of emphasis has to be played on the male colleagues who do not even realise the prejudices they practice. It is only going to change by conditioning and awareness.
WHAT WAS THAT ONE BEST WORK-RELATED ADVICE YOU RECEIVED?
Binitha Dalal – My best work lesson I got was from my male colleagues. Women are diligent at work and bring a lot of emotions to it, while men are able to maneuver their emotions. Women often get anxious but men have the ability to patiently navigate things. I learned the ability to balance emotion and passion at work.
Gitanjali Mirchandani - I was told very early in my career that if you don’t go and ask what you deserve you are never going to get. And I have always stood by that till date. We second guess ourselves. That is one thing I was told by a very dear boss, a mentor and a good friend. That was the biggest learning and advice I received.
Ruchita Maniar – The advice I got was to look at the career as a marathon and not as a sprint. We need to speak about the long-term growth and impact and not necessarily get bogged down by one lost business or promotion. After 17 years in the profession, I truly subscribe to this advice.
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