Women CXOs on Prioritizing Personal Growth, Building Support Systems & More

By: WE Staff

Indian women leaders are transforming the workforce and corporate sector by breaking the glass ceiling and creating a new landscape where diversity and inclusivity are seen as powerful drivers of innovation and success.

Despite facing significant challenges, these women are defying the odds and emerging as strong role models for future generations. They have fostered an environment that encourages the advancement of other women in the workplace, promoting diversity, inclusive leadership, and mentorship, according to reports. Indian women lead the world in receiving growth opportunities and share higher loyalty, productivity, motivation, and belongingness in organizations.

Sound Advice Drawn from Personal Experience

Leadership is often an uphill battle and women leaders have it much tougher. Successful women leaders from the banking and insurance space share personal insights and advice for aspiring women leaders in their respective industries.

Alpana Singh, Head- Bancassurance, Agriculture & Government Business, Bajaj Allianz General Insurance, Geethaa George, Sr. Executive Vice President - Human Resources, HDFC Bank & Amita Karadkhedkar, SVP, Citi says highlight the importance of continued growth, learning and being oneself.

Bringing the perspective from her experience in the insurance space, Alpana Singh mentions, “In insurance, successful innovations often come from systematic feedback. Leaders should prioritize initiatives based on this feedback as they are more likely to resonate with both customers and bank staff, thereby supporting the overall business strategy. As a fearless woman leader, it's essential to always be willing to learn, continuously update your knowledge, enjoy the work you do, and never feel that being a woman makes you less than anyone else.”

Geethaa George stresses the importance for women leaders to say their stories out loud. She says “I do think that women in leadership should not shy away from sharing their journeys. They will never know, who out there is struggling with a dilemma in her career or life, and that one conversation could make all the difference. By putting themselves out there and telling their stories, they could impact a young woman somewhere.”

Geethaa also highlights the key role played by solid support systems in helping women professionals excel. She says, “To all the young women, know that you can have what you want. Ambitious women who want both a successful career and a strong family need to build a solid support system around them. Be okay to ask for help, occasionally let others in your support system take the credit, and slow down when you need to so you can surge forward. Your life will be the total of the choices you make…so make them with awareness and responsibility.”

The power of personal growth is immense as demonstrated by the advice from Amita Karadkhedkar, SVP, Citi. She says,“ Believe in yourself and be aware of external factors that can lead to a sense of worthlessness. In today's world, FOMO is high, and people often show off for validation and gratification. To navigate these aspects, it is essential to have faith in oneself and constantly check what you learned today. The rule of 8 x 8 x 8 is a helpful guide for personal growth, including emotional and mental growth. Spending time in solitude, expressing gratitude, and spending time with friends and family can help maintain self-confidence. Avoid getting bogged down by corporate hierarchies and focus on personal growth as a human being, rather than focusing on financial gain.”

Mentorship for Growth & Development

Suneela Thatte, VP and Head, of Merck Healthcare R&D India urges women to be bold, and adventurous, and seek mentorship for professional growth. She says, “My message to all the women is, be bold, be adventurous, and raise your hand when you see an opportunity. This applies to mentorship as well. Do not wait for your organization to assign you a mentor – find one yourself. Talk to your manager about your professional goals and the skillsets you want to develop. Take charge of your growth and drive your development!”

We hope these pearls of wisdom from successful women leaders aid aspiring women professionals to achieve more in the Indian corporate sector.