8 January2021`Never underestimate the power of a woman', the aforementioned sentence is not merely a quote, it is actually a fact that everyone should believe, understand and follow. Things have changed, we are post the days when our society was dominated by males; now it's different, in contemporary times, women are breaking the trend and coming out of the shadows in an all-powerful avatar. In the past couple of decades, the status of women in Indian society has changed drastically. Indian women have come a long way from being just a homemaker to business, inventions, and leading new ideas. Not just that, but women are now taking charges of their family business. While earlier sons were the heir-apparent of the family business, the trend is gradually changing. Today, women are increasingly taking over the reins of businesses that their fathers and earlier generations set up, taking them to newer heights. But, what they achieve costs a lot to them. Indeed it's their talent and hard work that leads them to the success, however, what others are unable to see is the path of struggle, which they have to cross in order to reach their destiny. Here are some instances:Story Of StruggleValli Arunachalam's fight to find a space in the all-male board of her 119-year-old family business is a reminder of the struggles, women continue to face in the corporate world and the widespread gender bias that continues to haunt the Indian workplace. A nuclear scientist, with ample work experience and education, Valli wants a board seat on Ambadi Investments Ltd (AIL), the holding company of Chennai-based $5.7 billion Murugappa Group, of which her late father M.V. Murugappan was the executive chairperson. The 59-year-old alleges the members of her family "cannot tolerate women in their boardrooms," which is why they have appointed a 23-year-old male heir to the board, she claims.The question of qualification often comes up as a big issue, with some families still believing that women may not be capable enough. In 2013, for instance, Madhu Kapur fought a legal battle with her brother-in-law and Co-Founder of Yes Bank Rana Kapoor to get a say in the nomination of her daughter Shagun Gogia for a board seat. Besides wanting to assert her rights as a legal heir to the business, Madhu also proved that her daughter was qualified enough to take a board position. The Bombay High Court passed the judgment in her favor two years later.Success StoryWhen Akshali Shah decided to join Parag Milk Foods, she knew that there would be no short-cuts. That she was the daughter of the Founder-Chairman of the company - makers of Gowardhan, Topp Up, Pride of Cows and Go Cheese - did not make things any easier for her. She had to go through the grind as any other employee. After obtaining an MBA in Family-Managed Business from SP Jain University, Mumbai, she joined the company as a management trainee. However, started as a dairy by Devendra Shah, Parag Milk Foods is now a pan-India brand. Akshali can claim a significant share of the credit in increasing its popularity in recent years. Under her supervision, IN FOCUSSTAFFByWOMEN BUSINESS SUCCESSORS - TRANSFERRING POWER IN THE FAMILY BUSINESSES
< Page 7 | Page 9 >