Showcasing success has no gender

Q.Tell us about your role and job profile at your company.

I am the co-promoter and director of RR Global. I also head the Marketing Communications team and responsible for the overall branding of all our brands/companies across the world.

Often, we as women, tend to underestimate ourselves and what we can achieve if we support each other despite the bigger hurdles we have to cross. We need to continue to believe in ourselves

Q.What made you choose a career in the wire and cable manufacturing industry?

This was not a career that I got out of choice per se. It was more out of circumstance; I am married to the co-founder and MD of the organization and was always inclined towards developing a career for myself. I could have easily sat at home and become a traditional housewife as most of my generation continue to do. But once my children were old enough and independent, I embarked on a journey that today helps me empower others. I am so happy life gave me these opportunities and I was able to grab them and make the most of it.

Q.Did you face any difficulty in coping in the industry (due to lesser women employees)? If yes, then please share anecdotes and your experiences.

Sadly yes, but that isn’t just restricted to our industry. I think that goes across borders and geographies and even affects industries where women have traditionally been part of. In my case it was particularly difficult. I came in at a higher position. A position of power and responsibility, most of our team at the time were men (both in senior and mid-level positions), many came from traditional mind sets so for them to take or accept decisions from a woman wasn’t easy. Every step, every decision was made after grave challenges. However, eventually once those decisions bore fruit, they understood that success or decision making isn’t gender specific.

Q.In your opinion, why only few women manage to climb the seniority ladder? What are the key barriers affecting career progression of women?
We often tend to blame men when we aren’t able to climb the seniority ladder. Even though that is an issue and it must be addressed, I think very often we as women forget to introspect. We tend to underestimate ourselves, underestimate our capability and what we can achieve if we support each other despite the bigger hurdles we have to cross. We have so many successful women at all levels of society from politics to major corporate roles to sports and science. We need to continue to believe in ourselves.

Q.What initiatives can we take to encourage more women to join the industry?

Our industry needs to present itself better to attract more women. We have to consider that both men and women are looking for continuous skill development throughout their career. That women want equal opportunity and pay, flexible working hours and maternity leaves and help. More female-related initiatives are required starting right from level of campus recruitment. How can women expect to work in this industry if it is not enticing enough for them? Why would they choose a career in this field if they feel there are not enough well-paying jobs? The ‘male dominated’ tag that is perpetually related to this industry needs to go. We can learn from how other industries are engaging women and use similar principles here.

Q.What advice would you give to women to be successful in the industry?

My advice is short and sweet. Three-point strategy: –

• Self Belief
• Hard Work
• Aim higher and do not settle for less.

Q.Tell us something about your CSR initiative ‘Mission RRoshni’.

RR Global and the founding family has always been focussed on giving back to the society. Mission RRoshni is only a name to give this a holistic meaning and consolidate what we have been doing for years. Through this program, we continue to educate children in the most remote parts of the country, empower women by helping them develop their skills and engaging with farmers in the most draught ridden areas to teach them in better and more effective harvesting techniques. The objective of Mission RRoshni is to enlighten people’s lives by making a difference to their livelihood. We can only stay true to ourselves if we give back to the community. There is so much more that Mission RRoshni does every day, I encourage your readers to visit our website (www.missionrroshni.com) to know in detail how we help.