How Women Leaders Use Empathy & Authenticity to Drive Impact

By: Nandita Kamath, CMO Dairy, Britannia Industries

Nandita Kamath is a strategic marketing leader with over 16 years of experience shaping and revitalizing some of India’s most loved consumer brands. With a strong foundation across retail and FMCG, she blends consumer insight, creative storytelling, and data-driven strategy to deliver impactful, scalable brand growth.

In an insightful conversation with Women Entrepreneurs Review Magazine, Nandita reflects on how authenticity, empathy, and lived experience are reshaping modern leadership. She shares powerful moments from her journey, navigating ambiguity, empowering teams, and redefining resilience.

To explore Nandita's perspectives, key lessons, and the experiences that shaped her leadership philosophy, read the full article below.

How have you seen women leaders redefining leadership norms in dynamic industries. What unique strengths do they bring that are shaping teams and organizational culture?

I’ve watched women leaders quietly — and powerfully — reshape what leadership means by leading with empathy, curiosity, and a genuine sense of humanity. These qualities are no longer soft skills or nice-to-haves; they’ve become real strategic advantages in how teams and organizations succeed today.

For a long time, leadership was measured by authority and decisiveness. But many women are redefining that model — showing that collaboration, emotional intelligence, and inclusivity drive not only stronger cultures but also better business outcomes.

In my own experience as a CMO, I’ve seen how an empathetic and values-led approach can completely transform a team. It fuels creativity, builds resilience, and creates a deeper, more authentic connection with customers. To me, leadership today isn’t about standing at the front and directing — it’s about standing at the center, listening, guiding, and empowering others to rise with you.

Reflecting on your own journey, can you share a moment where embracing your authentic leadership style influenced your team’s performance or decision-making in a meaningful way?

In the corporate world, moments of chaos and ambiguity are inevitable. In marketing, they often come in rapid waves - from navigating shifting consumer expectations, to dealing with a competitive surprise or a sudden budget squeeze, it’s a space where even the best strategies get tested in real time.

I remember one such moment when our team was in the middle of a critical brand transformation. The stakes were high and there was increasing competition pressure. The team was feeling overwhelmed – Competing opinions, tight timelines and dealing with the pressure to ‘get it right’ had started to take a toll. My instinct was to step in and control the narrative, but instead I chose to pause and have an open conversation with the team.

Demonstration of my vulnerability and acceptance of not having a ready solution completely changed the dynamic. It created a space for my team to voice their point of view candidly, which lead to breakthrough creative thinking we might have missed otherwise. The team started taking more ownership and collaboration increased significantly.

By leaning into an authentic, transparent style rather than the traditional top-down approach, I saw trust deepen and performance accelerate. The final campaign not only exceeded our targets but also strengthened the team’s confidence in tackling ambiguity together.         

Empathy is often highlighted as a woman’s leadership strength, how have you used it to build stronger teams, foster collaboration, or gain a strategic advantage in your projects?

In my experience, empathy fosters a culture of transparency and trust within a team – and that foundation is absolute essential for true collaboration. When people genuinely feel heard and understood, they strive harder to bring their full selves to the work, and that can be very transformative.

When you understand that, you can align individual strengths with organization goals in a way that feels purposeful. It helps crate teams that are willing to go the extra mile because they feel part of something bigger.

I’ve seen this play out in my day-to-day interactions with the team. By taking the time to listen – to not just what my team members say but also need – has enabled us to make smarter and faster decisions with much less friction. It sparks a level of creative energy that is a true competitive advantage.

Balancing professional responsibilities with motherhood can be transformative. How did navigating both roles deepen your perspective on leadership potential, resilience, and inspiring those around you?

Personally, for me, navigating motherhood and professional responsibilities has been nothing short of a roller-coaster ride. It’s been messy - definitely not an easy journey.  My biggest learning has been that you can never truly ‘have it all’, at least not all at once. Balancing both roles inevitably comes with trade-offs and choices that every woman must consciously make.

But what the journey has taught me is power of prioritization and perspective. You learn to focus on what truly matters — at work and at home — and to be fully present wherever you are. Over time, that practice shapes you into a more intentional leader.

It’s made me more patient with people and more accepting of imperfection — both in myself and in my teams. I’ve learned that leading with understanding and flexibility doesn’t dilute performance; it strengthens it.

In many ways, navigating both worlds has been my greatest leadership training. It taught me resilience, perspective, and the value of grace — with others and with myself. And I’ve found that being open about that journey often gives others permission to lead and live more authentically too.

Can you share a specific instance where integrating empathy, ambition, and personal experiences led to a breakthrough decision, campaign success, or team achievement you’re proud of?

One instance that stands out is during a new campaign that we led right after the pandemic. I was part of a fashion retail brand – consumer sentiment and priorities had changed dramatically, the willingness to shop offline saw an impact and each one of us was battling our own personal challenges. It was a moment that demanded empathy, resilience and bold decision-making.

Instead of jumping straight to strategy mode, I took a step back to listen – To the team, to the customers, to what everyone was genuinely feeling. Their concerns, their hope, their priorities. What this revealed was a need for connection and not a brand trying to push its own narrative. That insight became the foundation of our campaign – we pivoted from product-centered communication to a more emotion-centered narrative that was relatable.

The results were positive, not in just business metrics but also in how the team showed up. For me, that moment reinforced the power of blending empathy with ambition — listening deeply, but still having the courage to make decisive moves.

LAST WORD: Advice for Aspiring Women Leaders on Embracing Authenticity & Overcoming Challenges

My advice to aspiring women leaders would be — don’t wait to feel ‘ready.’ Growth and confidence often come after you take the leap, not before it. The more you show up as your authentic self, the more you realize that authenticity is actually your greatest differentiator. It’s all about ‘Showing Up’. Each Day. Every Day.

There will always be moments of doubt or resistance — especially in industries that are still evolving. But instead of trying to fit into existing mould, focus on shaping your own. Authentic leadership isn’t about being perfect; it’s about being honest and consistent in your values, transparent in your actions, and courageous enough to use your voice even when it feels uncomfortable.