Hall of Fame

Old Boys' Club

Many women believe that if they do their work well, their efforts will inevitably be recognised and adequately rewarded. “But such is not the case - at senior levels visibility is as important,” says Bhattacharyya. Women's naivety in this matter hinders their corporate growth. “They have to be perceived as experts and thought leaders,” she adds. Networking plays a crucial role as induction into the board happens only through word of mouth - referrals from the Old Boys Club. Women need to create a personal brand. But as they try to do so, there is also the problem of the double bind. “Women have to do a tightrope walk,” says Kumar of Munjal University. “They have to be tough managers to get work done, but they also have to be perceived as empathetic or they will not be accepted.”

There are studies to show that displaying anger at the workplace is detrimental for a woman’s career, whereas a similar trait in men is seen as a strength. Even Hillary Clinton had to work to make herself ‘likeable’. At the eighth annual Women in the World Summit in April this year, Hillary Clinton linked her election loss to her success and ambition. She maintained that an unconscious bias creeps in - the more ambitious she is, the less likeable she became.

Kumar points to a study by BI Norwegian School of Management which showed that androgynous leaders - leaders with both masculine and feminine traits - were seen as more effective and able to create a good climate for innovation. Yet others disdain by trying to adjust personality to fit stereotypes. “I don’t understand the need to be masculine or feminine, you need to be more honest as an individual and as a professional,” says Nayar of Nykaa.

Far and Few

Over the years, as their working numbers have grown, women have learnt to navigate the corporate sea better. “They have learnt to strategically call out biases,” says Sangeeta Murthi Sahgal of gender diversity consultancy Diversity Dialogs.

The next few years will be critical in showing whether all the women- friendly policies that have been implemented do bring about changes in the workplace. What is positive is that companies are trying to change while women too have grown more vocal about their rights.

“The fact that conversations around women rights have moved from the streets to the corporate floor, to boardrooms and ministries marks the beginning of change," said Urvashi Butalia, founder of feminist publishing house Zubaan, at a women writers' festival organised by Vedica.

The balance is still tilted in favour of men. As long as there isn’t equal room for ladies at the top, Business Today will continue to chronicle the success stories of women through its annual Women’s Special issue. These are not just stories of success against odds, but of empowerment, of leading the way for new women leaders.

Turn over to get inspired. ~