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If each of us could mentor other women at work and support their rise in our way, the 'power of us' as women would be truly realised!
If each of us could mentor other women at work and support their rise in our way, the ‘power of us’ as women would be truly realised!
I am sure we all have heard and read a number of times about the phrase ‘breaking the glass-ceiling‘ and how the glass ceiling acts as a barrier, so subtle that it is transparent – yet so strong that it prevents women from moving up the corporate hierarchy.
Over the past few years, we, as a society, have been some inroads to break or at least make some cracks in this ceiling. Some partial success has been achieved, but there is still a long way to go. Courtney Banghart, head women’s basketball coach at Princeton University, once said, “As individuals, we can put cracks in the glass ceiling. But when you invest in the women around you, you create the collective force needed to not just crack, but shatter the glass. Lift as you rise!”
Courtney’s words remind me of women who have invested in me and offered opportunities, women who have been my coaches and sponsors, who not only believed in me but also made me believe that I can do more by pulling me out of my comfort zone, gradually helping me grow as a woman professional. I admit, I have been blessed to have these exceptionally wonderful women in my life and I thank them for helping make a meaningful difference to my career.
So the question is – how many of us, women, have thought of returning this favour to help the next generation of women achieve their aspirations?
For those of us who have the desire to contribute or to foster other women around, I think there are countless opportunities every day that can help women gain confidence and skills to lean in and take the lead. Our efforts can make a lot of difference, it’s simply a matter of time, we just have to look beyond our usual chores.
Maybe we don’t have to search really far, and I am sure there are plenty of examples in our office cubicles, our homes, where our little contribution can make a lot of difference. You will find women/ girls fighting their own battles, in their own silos, to make a slight crack in the so-called big bad glass ceiling. What is needed is if we can be their ally in this and help them through their journeys.
With International Women’s Day on 8 March, we saw a number of activities being planned, including women focussed firm-wide initiatives, events happening to celebrate this spirit of womanhood, to make our women feel valued. Well, I am in complete agreement to celebrating such initiatives, such successes, as it inspires and impacts many lives; but at the same time I feel that over and above such onetime efforts, we as women have to contribute more by giving it back to the society – a society that is not expected to achieve gender parity until the next 170 years – according to global consulting firm EY’s Woman Fast Forward initiative.
A simple request to each one of you reading this article is to close your eyes and think of at least two women (to begin with) in your lives, and think of ways through which you can foster their careers or uplift them in the corporate hierarchy. It doesn’t matter, what stage of our career we are in, we still can help other women, as we all have great learnings from our past.
I believe that we should never underestimate the power of our inputs, our experience, no matter how small they are… As Sheryl Sandberg beautifully puts it, “It’s never too early to be a mentor; we can mentor other women at any stage in our careers.”
So, act now! Contribute your bit.
#TogetherWomenCan #BreakTheGlassCeiling #WomenFastForward #LeanInTogether
First published here.
Aanchal Makkar is a senior research analyst covering energy sector at Ernst & Young, a strong believer of women empowerment, a doting mommy and travel freak with her partner in crime- hubby read more...
Women's Web is an open platform that publishes a diversity of views, individual posts do not necessarily represent the platform's views and opinions at all times.
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Neena was the sole caregiver of Amma and though one would think that Amma was dependent on her, Neena felt otherwise.
Neena inhaled the aroma that emanated from the pan and took a deep breath. The aroma of cumin interspersed with butter transported her back to the modest kitchen in her native village. She could picture her father standing in the kitchen wearing his white crisp kurta as he made delectable concoctions for his only daughter.
Neena grew up in a home where both her parents worked together in tandem to keep the house up and running. She had a blissful childhood in her modest two-room house. The house was small but every nook and cranny gave her memories of a lifetime. Neena’s young heart imagined that her life would follow the same cheerful course. But how wrong she was!
When she was sixteen, the catastrophic clutches of destiny snatched away her parents. They passed away in a road accident and Neena was devastated. Relatives thronged her now gloomy house and soon it was decided that she should be married off.
Women today don’t want to be in a partnership that complicates their lives further. They need an equal partner with whom they can figure out life as a team, playing by each other’s strengths.
We all are familiar with that one annoying aunty who is more interested in our marital status than in the dessert counter at a wedding. But these aunties have somehow become obsolete now. Now they are replaced by men we have in our lives. Friends, family, and even work colleagues. It’s the men who are worried about why we are not saying yes to one among their clans. What is wrong with us? Aren’t we scared of dying alone? Like them?
A recent interaction with a guy friend of mine turned sour when he lectured me about how I would regret not getting married at the right time. He lectured that every event in our lives needs to be completed within a certain timeframe set by society else we are doomed. I wasn’t angry. I was just disappointed to realize that annoying aunties are rapidly doubling in our society. And they don’t just appear at weddings or family functions anymore. They are everywhere. They are the real pandemic.
Let’s examine this a little closer.
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