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This year's International Women's Day campaign theme is 'Inspire Inclusion', which means inspiring others to understand and value the inclusion of women, which ultimately leads to a better world.
The first Women's Day was celebrated over 100 years ago in March 1911. What's important for us to remember is that it's the stories of women from all walks of life who are important to hear. Their struggles, tribulations, victories, and the road ahead.
That's why this year, we spoke to some women leaders to tell us what this day means to them and the challenges they've faced along the way. If you want to know more, please read below.
Naiyya Saggi, Co-Founder, Good Glamm Group
I wish for a just world where every day is Women's Day, but the reality is that it is not. That's why I think Women's Day is so important. Because Women's Day sets aside a day dedicated to highlighting the stories of women from all walks of life.
When I found out I was pregnant, very real questions came to mind as a leader and a mother. Very few women have talked about their journeys to being mothers and entrepreneurs/leaders in public, so here are some role models and stories of women who have achieved both and how they achieved both. There was very little talk about it. More importantly, the theory that mothers are leaders was not mainstream.
That was the paradigm we tried to change with The Moms Co Mompreneur Show. The Moms Co Mompreneur Show is now one of the world's largest platforms supporting mompreneurs at scale, bringing together a community of top leaders, mompreneurs, and emerging mompreneurs. Over 100,000 mothers have registered as part of the platform, and we have partnerships with the Government of India (Startup India), Whatsapp, Strides, Ficci Flo, and more to create both podcasts and support the creation of podcasts. I signed up for. The world's largest platform supporting the potential of mom entrepreneurs through access, awareness and aspiration. Most importantly, we hope this platform will mainstream discussions and role models around motherhood and leadership, and align with other women as well as men across India.
Shruti Malani, Bedi Co-Founder, Century Mattress
Women's Day reminds us that despite all the achievements we have made, there is still work to be done towards gender equality. We must continue to recognize and recognize the tremendous achievements of women, and ensure that young girls around the world have access to a diverse range of role models that demonstrate their potential.
Finding a balance between personal obligations and business pursuits was one of my biggest challenges initially as an entrepreneur. Balancing growing a budding business with meeting the needs of family responsibilities, relationships, and young children requires careful time management, prioritization, and sometimes painful sacrifice. did. However, managing this precarious balance has given me valuable insight into the critical role that self-care plays in maintaining flexibility, resilience, and long-term success.
My experience as an entrepreneur emphasizes how important it is to embrace loss as a necessary experience for growth and draw valuable lessons from it. It requires making smart choices while maintaining a laser-like focus on long-term goals while paving the way for the next wave of women entrepreneurs. Despite all the prejudices that women face on a daily basis and the constant attention it receives especially when it comes to issues like maternity leave, I would advise women to remain strong in their resolve and move forward in their careers. think. Furthermore, this experience made me more aware of the difficulties female employees have in balancing family and work. as a result.
Swati Bhargava, Co-Founder of CashKaro and EarnKaro
On International Women's Day, we celebrate the incredible achievements of women around the world and celebrate their resilience and achievements in various fields. For me, this day symbolizes continued progress towards gender equality and empowerment. Throughout my entrepreneurial journey, I faced the challenge of succeeding in a male-dominated environment and had to break through stereotypes and prejudices. From being selected for a prestigious scholarship as a young girl to navigating male-dominated sectors such as finance and technology, I learned the importance of perseverance and self-confidence. Despite the hurdles, I am proud of how far I have come and remain committed to pushing boundaries and inspiring others.
Aditi Shrivastava, Co-Founder and CEO, Pocket Aces
Women's Day is important to celebrate because it reminds everyone to value what they do for women within their own organizations and what they do for women in their consumer set. It's a day. Do they go out of their way to understand their own preferences, which may be different from those of the men in that set? I think most importantly, this is a reminder of all these things.
My journey as a female entrepreneur has certainly been one of its challenges, which I've talked about before, especially as a young-looking woman. It used to happen a lot when I went to meetings with male colleagues, but that doesn't happen anymore. The attention my male co-worker receives is much more than that even though he reports to me, even though he knows I'm the founder and he's the head of a very important department. is. It used to bother me a lot, but now it doesn't bother me a bit. Of course, as you get older you start to look older, so I think this problem has been resolved to some extent.
During the fundraising process, I was thankfully asked only once if I wanted to start a family. Basically, they were asking me if I was going to have children, if I was going to have them, and when I was going to have them, and I realized that the question was coming from a woman, a very senior woman in a very well-known family office. So I was a little surprised. Thankfully, we were in a position where we didn't have to take money from them.
I answered her question in the most roundabout way because I knew what she wanted, but I wanted her to ask me directly if she wanted to know. So I told her and she was like, “Oh, so what about your family?” And I told her all about her own family, her parents, her in-laws, her siblings, etc. And she had to say, oh, are you going to have kids? So I answered her question. So I think it was just one of those things that happened. But other than that, I was very fortunate to not feel discriminated against for most of my entrepreneurial journey.
Panchami Gabri, Casting Director
To be honest, I never really believed in celebrating specific days. I think it was a Hallmark marketing gimmick at the time. But the idea of celebrating women in general is very close to my heart. I'm so proud to be a part of it, I wouldn't have gotten it any other way. I have been surrounded by the most impeccable and powerful women in my life. Of course, it all starts at home, with my mom and sister, my mother-in-law, my sister-in-law, and a host of girlfriends who keep me grounded. The women I have met at work continue to inspire me. Therefore, celebrating them should not be focused only on her day. In some way, they influence who I am today.
I think having my parents separated at a young age was a huge challenge in adjusting to the new normal. I was so inspired and what a powerful mom I was. She took it all in her stride and rose like a phoenix! It has given me and her sister core values that are very important. She taught me from an early stage the importance of being financially independent, especially as a woman.
Celebrity chef Sarah Todd
Women's Day is an incredibly special day. Not only because it's a day to celebrate the incredible strength, resilience, and beauty of women around the world, but also because it's the same day as my son's birthday.
Along my journey, I have encountered my fair share of obstacles, each of which taught me a lesson and helped shape me into the person I am today. However, one of the most important challenges I faced was navigating the complexities of starting a business in a field that is unfortunately still predominantly male-dominated. As a woman and a mother, my journey was more than just breaking through a glass ceiling. It was about breaking stereotypes, balancing the demands of motherhood with professional aspirations, and proving that my passion and vision for cooking has a place in this competitive industry. This challenge tested my resilience, dedication, and ability to stay true to myself. This challenge wasn't just about me. This reflects the hurdles many women face in various fields and fight to have their voices heard and their talents recognized. But it was this challenge that strengthened my belief in the power of women to overcome, innovate, and lead with grace. This experience taught me the importance of perseverance, embracing my identity as a woman and mother, and paving the way for future generations of women to pursue their dreams without boundaries.
The author can be contacted at [email protected]. Instagram.com/kabirsinghbhandari
