Striding Towards Equality in Leadership

Recently, I had the pleasure of being at We The Women Asia's 'Women in Leadership' conference in Bangalore. It was a great collective of inspiring women from varied walks of life. There were several stories of courage, resolve and sheer grit that were captivating, moving, and humbling. Like the story of 82-year-old Coimbatore based Kamalathal or 'Idli Amma,' who has been feeding the poor for 30 years. Today she spends hours every day preparing at least a 1000 idlis that she sells for a meagre Rs 1 each. When I asked her why, she simply said that she is old, and doesn’t need much money. 

I was on a panel with four other women leaders who have managed to break the glass ceiling. We dipped into our own experiences to talk about the reasons why there are fewer women in leadership. Is it because women have different leadership skills, or are less capable than men?  

Our stories were different, but our perspectives were similar. What was clear is that leadership is a gender-neutral behaviour – with an individual’s education, experience, competence, and the exposure they get being the real differentiators. Women also often bring different skill sets such as their approach to risk or their ability to empathize, and these capabilities if harnessed appropriately can help organizations thrive. Finally, we recognized that questioning established socio-cultural norms is the first step towards realizing women’s leadership potential, and courageous men are as important as strong women to drive systemic change. 

There are five points that particularly resonated with me: 

1.    A culture of equality starts at home: While mothers are important role models, fathers are crucial influencers and enablers. Men everywhere need to recognize this responsibility and shape their everyday behaviors accordingly.

2.    Prepare for take-off: Others can provide a launch pad, but it’s women who have to take the leap. At a fundamental level, women must strive for independence and self-reliance. For those already in work, developing a career strategy is essential.

3.    Stand up to seek support: Women tend to be good at multi-tasking, yet it can come at a huge personal cost. Asking for help is not a sign of weakness, and women must develop and use support networks.

4.    Break the rules: Knowing your mind, and unapologetically focusing on what matters is crucial for success. Women must pick their priorities, and say ‘No,’ to things that don’t matter. 

5.    Lift as you rise: If you’re in a leadership position and can help someone else break through their barriers, don’t think twice.  

More women in leadership is not a good-to-do, but a must-do for inclusive growth. Let’s take strides where we can, and inch ahead where needed - let’s keep moving.

You can watch the full panel discussion here.