Women have always had the caliber to think, assist, assign and tackle difficult situations
Q. Give us a brief of your role at KTA Spindle Toolings. What does a typical day in your job involve?
I am an integral part of the KTA management team, focusing more on the sales section. Exports are the top priority in my list of responsibilities. I selected the exports department to contribute to India’s growth and standing in exports. From day-to-day reporting to product promotions and export figures, my day varies from intense to very intense on different days. I am personally involved in supporting the company in every department and in every way possible.
Q. Why is gender balance and having a more diverse workforce important, especially in senior management teams?
Gender balance helps in creating a diverse atmosphere where various perspectives are entertained. Unlike the male opinions, female opinions often come from a place of empathy and lean towards creating an equal and healthy atmosphere. I always observe women around me to get a feel of different strata, opinions, thoughts and ideas. I feel I am always learning from other women because every woman has a unique quality which she should be appreciated for.
Q. Why does the tech sector attract more women than the manufacturing sector?
We see more women entering the STEM fields because there’s early conditioning of girls to lean towards these fields. People’s perspective of a ‘manufacturing floor’ has to change. Women hesitate to take up education or careers in the field because they view the factory floor as a male-dominated space. This is where having more women in the workforce will help – it will erode the belief of the so-called ‘male dominated’ environment surrounding the manufacturing sector.
Q. What could manufacturing companies learn from tech and service companies when it comes to employing and retaining the female workforce?
I think change needs to come from within the sector as well as outside. For one, the industry must understand that the world has changed. Fieldwork, machine work or any kind of mechanical work cannot and must not be restricted to men only. At KTA, we have always believed in this and can proudly say that 30% to 35% of our workforce is female. Companies must also invest in teaching their male workforce to work shoulder to shoulder with fellow female coworkers, thus making the surroundings more congenial.
Q. What one piece of advice would you give any aspiring female business leaders reading this?
Believe in yourself, bank on yourself. Women have always had the caliber to think, assist, assign and tackle difficult situations. Women are natural multitaskers. It gives us a natural advantage in positions of leadership.