Here’s What Women Can Do to Support Other Women

At a time when the need for sisterhood is gaining momentum like never before, it is not just enough to stand up for one another. It is also equally important, especially for women in leadership positions, to mentor fellow women, personally and professionally, and encourage greater participation from them in all domains of life. Cosmo spoke to Vaishali Nigam Sinha, Chief Sustainability, CSR and Communications Officer, and Founding Chair, ReNew Foundation, on how this can be best done, and why #WomenEmpowerment needs to be the order of the day!

Vaishali Nigam Sinha

Cosmo: You are a strong advocate of women empowerment. What are some ways in which women in privileged, and in commanding positions, can mentor and uplift other fellow women?
Vaishali Nigam Sinha: “In my professional journey, I’ve had the opportunity to work with some of the finest men and women from across the spectrum. Through my interactions with women, I’ve realised that one of the surest ways to bring more women into leadership is to address two key issues: culture and systemic bias.  

And the best way to address these issues:

By Hiring Women For Leadership

Scores of studies have shown that having women in leadership positions is actually good for business. In India, too, more women are making their mark in corporate world, but we are still some way from achieving gender-equality. Most women still don’t have access to good job opportunities that are commensurate with their skills... And when they do, they end up dropping out due to ‘motherhood penalty’. Providing women with leadership opportunities and making them a part of decision making can go a long way in achieving women’s empowerment.

Mentoring Women, Professionally and Personally
It is critical to get more women into work. In Indian context, women have historically been consensus builders in the family. This communal upbringing ties their hands, and often forces a ‘We’ thought-process, instead of an ‘I’ every time there is a crucial decision to be made. Having women role models and mentors, who have been through similar situations earlier in their career, acts as a motivation and confidence-booster. 

Creating Jobs for Them and Paying Fair Wages
Is your organisation hiring more women? Are you paying them the same as you would to men doing the same work? If you are a woman and/or a business leader, then, perhaps, it is time for you to review policies from a gender-lens and revisit hiring practices, earmarking ‘women-only’ roles. Ensure pay parity across levels and run audits to ensure zero discrimination. 

Investing in them
One of the most effective ways of tackling gender-inequality is by entrusting women with entrepreneurship. There are several women-led start-ups in cities, and women head self-help groups in villages, working to help women come up and realise their dreams. If you are a woman leader, it may be truly well worth the time to take one such enterprise under your wings and help them grow. By investing in women’s education and providing them with entrepreneurial opportunities, the unequal pay gap is effectively ruled out, encouraging women to increase their participation in the supply chain.

Addressing Systemic Biases
Women in senior leadership often find themselves competing against systemic challenges rather than business and strategic issues for which they were originally brought on board and have worked hard for. A significant majority of women also find that while they had support on their way up, they don’t quite enjoy the same support when they have reached the corner office. Systemic biases are one of the biggest reasons why women leave the leadership roles. As an organisation, it is imperative that we find a way to ensure that the system that propels women to the top, retains them there. We need to advocate for gender neutrality more than gender parity.”

C: Was it tough growing in an industry that is traditionally male-dominated?

VNS: “Investment Banking is a male dominated industry. The corporate sector and the bureaucracy are, too! But it will always be up to women whether we see that as an insurmountable obstacle or a challenge. For me, it wasn’t tough. It got me to think on ways in which I could strive harder and be a better advocate for myself and my capabilities. It moulded me to push against stereotypes and assert my identity which has helped me in the long run.

I often found myself as the only Indian woman in meetings both in India and overseas when I worked in London and NYC. One often got judged by what one wore, and if another male was in a meeting, it was funny that they were assumed to be the more senior one in the team. It was a bit of a struggle to get that balance right in the first five minutes of the meeting. Once that was set, the rest was in place. So I did find myself having to work harder and more assertively, on such accounts. I feel that as women, we owe it to other women to help them thrive and do our bit to ensure that they come up. We should also get the men to see this. I am delighted to see that our young generation of girls are super-impressive in influencing and clarifying what they expect. More power to them!”

C: As women, what do we need to do more of?

VNS: “I’d say:

Take What’s Yours

Indian society has for the longest time groomed women to be submissive and sacrifice their ambition and wishes in favour of communal ties at home. This is changing now, and women need to make the most of it. A confident woman in society who is out there and staking her claims on the merit of her education and capability is a very pleasing sight.

Prioritise And Have Confidence

Women especially in India need to push the envelope on self-confidence a little harder. We need to be in the field, perform and deliver. It is imperative that we recognise and understand what are we willing to give up and what are we willing to preserve. Making the choice between long-term goals and short-term gains is a significant skill that women should learn, and fast! Because while the societal attitudes may be changing, it is still a long process, and women need to consistently push themselves to deliver. 

Speak Up!

What women should also do more of is to be out there and advocate for oneself! Very often, we often don’t publicly talk about our achievements and capabilities which often hamper our growth. This needs to go. 

Find Able Mentors 

Women also need to find themselves guiding forces who build them and help their growth. If you are a woman and a leader, then it’s your responsibility to mentor other women... and influence the men in leadership to advocate for women and shape the narrative on having more women in leadership, their impact on business, and their need for success of organisation. 

Learn To Reset 

It is a very important skill. Our environment often does not allow for expression of our feelings. The ability to let go of disappointments and bouncing back from failure and set back are critical components of success in life.”

C: And what do we need to do less of?

VNS: “That would be:

Less Need for External validation

Women need to realise that nothing pleases like success, and nothing stings like a failure. It is imperative that we chart out our course and don’t seek approvals for our actions from anyone. It may be easier said than done, but when it’s done, that’s when magic happens.  

Less Distraction

Business and professional sphere are not the spaces for popularity contests. You may be congenial, polite, and courteous, which is fine, but that should not distract you from the work and the bigger goals that you have set for yourself. 

Less Giving

It is ok to be a little less compromising and sacrificing. We don’t have to carry the burden of our family expectations all our lives. It is important to have that space in all relationships and to have little less guilt trips thinking about the impact of our actions on others.

Less Settling for Less!

I have seen many women content with just being there at work. Women need to realise that the times have changed. Men and women are now working together to achieve the same pot of gold at the end of professional rainbow, and the rise in hierarchy happens when you travel the distance from being visible to becoming invaluable at workplace.”

C: What’s the best advice you have ever received from anyone, perhaps another woman?

VNS: “Someone told me, ‘At the workplace, don’t bother to be a male or a female. Just be a good professional, wear your manhood or womanhood, but the success will be yours only when you focus on professional ethics’. 

I find that this holds true at work, and would like to offer the same advice to other women. It is easy to get lost in the conversation and forget that what brought here is the capability but what will take us forward is the dedication and persistence to learn and achieve goals. Our gender has no role in our career, what matters is our attitude, ethics and temperament to deal with setbacks.”

Vaishali Nigam Sinha with Bill Clinton

C: Who are some of the most inspiring women you know?

VNS: “There are so many women who have overcome great odds to reach pinnacle of success. I have been a great admirer of Ms Sushma Swaraj, the former external affairs minister of India, who brought so much grace and dignity to her role. Master orator and consummate politician, crisply clad in a cotton saree, she took on the mightiest of opposition and won at forums such as the United Nations. I had the opportunity to meet and interact with her on a few occasions and she always inspired me. She retained her womanhood in many ways and at the right time exuded power and left many powerful men in Parliament speechless!

While in America, I had an opportunity to attend a town hall chaired by former secretary of state Ms Hillary Clinton. No matter what the duress was she was always very calm and composed. Always sharp, clear headed, articulate and well-presented irrespective of her situation, she epitomises grace. I also like Sheryl Sandberg for the transparency and balance she strikes between personal and professional life. Her work for women is truly exceptional and she is a perfect representation of a modern, thinking women who has never let setbacks deter her from growth.”