Check out 16 Return-To-Work Programs In India For Ambitious Women Like You!
For many women, careers are like a marathon, as Prof. Vasanthi Srinivasan shares, three key elements to building one’s career.
“Dreams are lovely, but they are just dreams. Fleeting, ephemeral, pretty. But dreams do not come true just because you dream them. It’s hard work that makes things happen. It’s hard work that creates change.” – Shonda Rhimes
What does it take for a woman to be successful in her career? This is a question that I have been asking myself for many years now. It began the year I had my first child, and I had to come to terms with the fact that I could not work as many hours as I would like or need – eventually prompting me to make the conscious decision to take a break from work. Now, after two kids and a lot of conversations with myself and other women, I seem to be closer to answering this question for myself.
The idea of can a woman “have it all” continues to be widely debated. This article in The Atlantic in 2012 prompted many discussions around what it took for women to succeed in the corporate world – a world traditionally created by men, for men. An interview by Indra Nooyi for Forbes also seemed to reinstate the fact that, actually, women can’t “have it all.” Women all over the world juggle multiple roles and responsibilities – caregiver being one of the primary roles played by women till today. With the responsibility of ensuring children, elderly and others in the family are taken care of, it is no wonder that a woman either forgets what her own career aspirations were or that those aspirations take a back seat.
But what if this need not be the case? What if what we needed to focus on was not if women can have it all (implying career success by traditional and, I argue, male perspectives), but rather, re-framing what the idea of “it all” means? Because after all, does “it all” even mean the same for any two people? I am a self-confessed workaholic – I love my career, and I love working. Which is why, for the longest time, it bothered me to no end that wanting to have a career and wanting to have children did not seem to coexist in the corporate structures I saw around me. It is heartening to see that today, many organisations have taken it upon themselves to change this narrative in their own corporate culture – and yet, the representation of women in the workforce is declining, globally.
Re-framing narratives around career success takes time, especially since these have been around for decades now. More importantly, doing so will not be possible until women understand and accept that our careers are not linear, and very often, do not stick to the same timelines as men’s careers. For many women, careers are like a marathon, as Prof. Vasanthi Srinivasan shared in her interview with us. I believe there are three key elements to building one’s career, with intention-
Identifying and understanding our values is not something many of us are exposed to, especially early in our careers. And yet, this is the foundation on which one needs to base not just their careers but their lives (what we like to call ‘leading from within’ at Shenomics). Identifying one’s core values takes a lot of introspection and self-awareness, but once that is done, the values act as a guiding light for many crucial decisions in life. Here is a handy guide of values you can choose from, if you would like to get started on this immensely fulfilling journey.
My journey of identifying my core values was filled with trial and error. Distilling what I liked to do from what my core values were was not an easy task, and in hindsight, I am so glad I took the time to find them. It also helped that I was surrounded by those who supported me in this journey (more about this in my next point) of self-introspection, including a brilliant coach. Some of the questions I asked myself during that time were:
There is a common saying that we are the average of the five people that we spend the most time with – and we all know that is true. I believe I am truly blessed to have some inspirational women (and men) in my life – and I meet more of them each day through our work at Shenomics. I learn immensely from my community, and I have come to realize that I am a better person because of them. I also know that I have come this far in my career because I have had their support, encouragement, advice, and because they have held me accountable to the goals and aspirations I set out for myself.
This is something that has become crucial in today’s world. Learning is an element of personal growth that I believe one needs to take complete ownership of – and invest in. Today, thanks to everything going virtual, there are some amazing programs that have become available to all of us – some which we would not have access to, otherwise. I have had the opportunity to be a part of global programs during this pandemic, which have expanded my world view, along with helping me connect with people from parts of the world I had never imagined!
At the end of the day, each of us defines what it means to “have it all” for ourselves – and each of us has a distinctive journey to success. I hope we can embrace our unique career journeys, not forgetting to enjoy it every step of the way.
Divya Martyn is the Head of Client and Community Engagement at Shenomics, and a passionate coach. She is excited to support women in their journey to becoming a Conscious Woman leader!
First published here.
Image source: Unsplash
read more...
This post has published with none or minimal editorial intervention. 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.
Stay updated with our Weekly Newsletter or Daily Summary - or both!
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.
Please enter your email address