Women's Day: Industry Folk on Why Women Make Better Leaders

By: WE Staff

Priyanka Mohanty, Vice President - Global Corporate HR & Global Head Talent Management, Startek

Championing Human Centric Approach Workplace Culture More Adaptive & Engaged

18 years into my professional journey, I firmly believe that leadership and success are agnostic to gender. These are primarily driven by vision, execution, resilience and capability. However, certain qualities like emotional intelligence, empathy and communication have an edge when it comes to creating workplaces where individuals feel valued, heard, and empowered. And leaders who embrace these strengths can navigate the complexities of the modern workplace where diverse voices thrive. Championing a human centric approach contributes to a leadership style that makes workplace culture more adaptive and engaged, thus driving organizational success. When women lead, these qualities are not optional but essential and become powerful leadership tools that drive results.

Empathy, Collaboration, Communication, Emotional Intelligence & Resilience Driving Force Behind Navigating Business Challenges

Success is not about power, it is about influence, and leadership isn’t about gender – it is about impact. Time and again, empathy, collaboration, communication, emotional intelligence and resilience have been the driving forces that have helped me navigate business challenges. These principles have shaped my approach in multiple situations – whether it was addressing employees during mergers and acquisitions, remodeling people policies to facilitate a seamless transition to remote work during the pandemic, driving change management initiatives like eliminating unconscious bias and formulating the business case for DEI. From stakeholder management to fostering inclusive leadership, these skills have been instrumental in leading meaningful transformation. I strongly believe that when we put people first, we drive sustainable business success.

Own Your Journey & Lead with Confidence

Own your journey, trust the process, push boundaries and chase your dreams fearlessly. Embrace the 212-degree philosophy – that one extra degree of effort in life and work which makes all the difference. Your leadership is not just about breaking barriers but paving the way for others to rise because every time you lead with confidence, you inspire another woman to believe in her power. From a complete non-trekker to scaling Everest Base Camp at 17,500 ft. and summiting Mt. Kilimanjaro, the world’s highest free-standing mountain at 19,500 ft., I can undoubtedly say that success isn’t about speed, it is about showing up, pushing forward and believing yourself every step of the way because when you do, then there is no limit to what you can achieve.