Also read:
'Career women still have a long road to travel'
'Women in India have made their mark'
'There is a glass ceiling for women at the top'
With Women's Day coming up on March 8, rediff.com decided to speak to career women at the top of their game -- corporate hotshots in positions of professional power.
Here, Renu Sud Karnad, Exectuve Director of Housing Development Finance Corporation Ltd. speaks her mind about issues related to professional career women.
What do you feel makes you a successful career woman? What is your advice to young women poised to start their careers?
I feel being a woman has helped me do better in my career. When I started my career at HDFC, the concept of housing finance was still nascent and customers were very sceptical of the very concept of borrowing.
Since for most Indian families buying a home is a big event, many sentiments get attached to it, which makes property mortgage sensitive turf. I believe most women are naturally inclined to tackle sensitive issues better, since they are soft, caring and prone to establish quick relationships with all. This makes them more convincing. Moreover, being a woman multi-tasking came naturally, as we do it all the time to meet the demands of our children or different family members.
My advice to all young executives is that they should get rid of this concept of gender differences when it comes to work. Each individual is different and each one has the potential to contribute in his or her own unique way. It is important that one is aware of one's own talent, so that he/ she can work on it. Success will surely follow.
How are working women in India, across all sectors, faring, compared to women in other countries? Are they getting the right kind of jobs, salaries, promotions and status?
It is unfair to compare, as we have our unique social structure and a very different past. For years, Indian women have remained behind the veil and they were largely deprived of formal education. Liberation has taken its time in India, but the change is definitely visible. There are more jobs opening up for women and even society has started viewing women's contributions differently. Today's working women are as confident and successful as their male counterparts. When we look at the corporate sector, especially in the metros and other larger towns, the gap is negligible. However, the situation is still different in the unorganised sectors and in rural markets. The change needs to take place there.
Is the men-women ratio skewed in favour of men in corporate India? Will it continue to be skewed and why? What can be done to augment the women workforce?
In the last few decades, India has seen a large number of women entering the workforce. Several sectors that were male-dominated now have many women employees. Even the financial sector has witnessed this phenomenon, where the participation of women is significantly large in comparison to the last decade. However, there is still a long way to go for complete parity to set in, especially in the unorganised or indigenous industries, which employs a large number of women. With education levels going up and our social structure becoming more conducive for women workers, we are sure to see more women participating in the corporate sector in the future. To make this happen, large corporations should also acknowledge the unique requirements of their women workforce and create flexible rules and avenues, which will encourage more women to work without having to compromise a healthy family life.
For many potential career women striking a balance between home and work is often too challenging and they are lost to the workforce. What is your advice to women planning to attempt the balancing act?
All I would like to say is that we should not try to be 'superwomen', for there is nothing like a super woman. Learn to deal with the challenges by accepting that there will be some chaos. By 2020, internationally, India should be a power to reckon with. This will call for consistent growth, which can only happen when a larger percentage of women starts contributing to the economic development of the country. This can be directly or indirectly. More and more women should join the workforce or work from home. Talent should to be commercially employed. Women should know that they have the power to dream and contribute towards the making of the nation.
Also read: 'Career women still have a long road to travel'
'Women in India have made their mark'
'There is a glass ceiling for women at the top'
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