The Health of Women (H.O.W) Forum recently hosted the ‘Corporate Diva’- an event in Bengaluru that celebrates women at work for their strength, substance and intellect. Eighteen corporate divas from across the country gathered for the grand finale and showcased their business brilliance.
This International Women’s Day, Baishakhi Dutta of Electronics Bazaar had an exclusive interaction with the First Runner up of Corporate Diva’s 3rd edition, Shweta Dhadwal Baid, Broad Marketer at Renesas Electronics India Pvt Ltd who shared with us how women empowerment in business is gradually making its place by cutting through the year-old mindset of the society. Here is a sneak peek into the candid conversation…
- What is the success strategy that has helped you come a long way?
I believe in myself and my ideas. Whenever, an idea flashes by I try to put it into effect with full perseverance. Results are always not desirable, but every effort comes with a new learning experience. I strongly adhere to the ideology that if something doesn’t work out the way you desire or if you are not confident about the right way of implementing it, experimentation seems to be the need of the hour then. Unless we start experimenting, we will never get the chance to cultivate the innovative side rooted within us.
Last but not the least, I ensure to have some free time for my family and friends. It helps you to value relationships, understand thoughts of every age group and helps you to be a better human being. The boost and confidence that you can get from your family and friends is incomparable
- How did you get where you are today?
Talking about the industry, I believe change is the only constant. The environment around us is constantly changing and one needs to adapt themselves with the constant motion. Skilling up also plays an important personality development trick. In the due course of time I have picked up many courses to strengthen my skills and it was not necessarily related to the current job profile. Infact I took up digital marketing, just because I saw it trending on social media, and now I am a digital marketer! I was actively involved in building industry-academia program and I believe this has been one of my biggest contribution to the electronics industry so far. I believe this is how things should roll.
- What do you think are the major barriers to female leadership?
I feel a major barrier to female leadership is the traditional mind-set of both the genders in the society. However, it is prevalent in India. But on the other hand, I have heard from some of my Asian friends that the three most important criteria a Japanese or a Taiwanese girl seeks in a man to get married is – better education, better income and better height. This has become a benchmark for many girls who restricts themselves from breaking the traditional mindset because somewhere we women take immense pride in having a male partner who is better than us in all sense. So, this thought has eventually become a barrier, creating more opportunities for men to grow than a woman.
- Who is the woman personality that inspires you and why?
I feel every woman is an inspiration in one way or the other. On the professional front I really admire Indra Nooyi for the kind of aura that she carries. She isn’t someone who has climbed up the ladder just by sheer luck. Every step taken by her is accompanied with nurturing herself with her knowledge, her skills, her attitude and her thoughts. Women are not so popular in holding positions in the finance sector, but one person who has proved this incorrect is Indra Nooyi when she got appointed as CFO before becoming CEO of PepsiCo. However, on the personal front my mother has inspired me the most by imbibing within me immense self-confidence and gut feeling.
- What will be the biggest challenge for the generation of women behind you?
With changing times, I see challenge cropping up for both men and women. The major challenge for all of us will be to stay focused and not getting diverted from our goal. There are many things to do, but one needs to stay focused to achieve success in what one really wants to.
- What will be your advice to women entrepreneurs especially in India in the way to success?
“Go for it” will be the main success mantra. I am picking this phrase from 2018’s Corporate Diva winner, Kavitha Rao, who is an owner of Learner’s Route. Corporate Diva has acted as a platform that has pushed working women beyond their comfort zone of a 9–to-6 job and has inspired them to be an innovator. The concept of ‘She-Innovator’ has brought in immense innovative business and social ideas to the platform.
On the side line, what I have learnt at the Corporate Diva 2018 and what I would like to advice to the women entrepreneurs is, ‘Push yourself beyond your comfort zone and you will soon realise that something really big is waiting for you. Try your limits and you will be amazed to see yourself succeed’.
