How women can overcome obstacles in the modern corporate world?

While significant progress has been made in the corporate world, women still face various obstacles. Overcoming obstacles in the modern corporate world can be challenging for women, but there are strategies and approaches that can help. 

At the fourth edition of Women Achievers Summit and Awards, Siddharth Kumar, Consultant, Edelman got in an engaging conversation with Priya Patankar, Head of Communications, PhonePE, Shivani Sharma, Chief Operating Officer, On purpose, Anindita Mookerji Sinha, Senior Communication and Advocacy Professional, Ena Chakravorty, VP- Communications, PR, Digital & CSR Roadis to understand their challenges as women leaders in the modern corporate world.

Patankar believes it is important to get the right break to overcome most gender bias challenges in the communications industry. And by that it means to not go for a workplace that pays the highest but the one that helps a fresher learn the most.

“The organisation might not be large but it should be right for you in terms of starting out,” she added.

Further, in the middle management women continue to work hard and continue to do what they are doing, she noticed. This won’t help them reach the next level but gets more of the same work. To scale up, women need to do something different. 

Patankar added, “And when we do something different we should make sure we highlight it. Women tend to be apologetic about their wins and successes.”

In the senior management, the issue is most decisions are already made outside the meeting room during smoke breaks and other informal meetups. She said, “So, we as women don't find many allies inside the meeting room.”

Adding to her, Chakravorty highlighted how important it is for women to network in an effective manner within and outside the workplace. The Roadis executive said, “Also sticking through is necessary. Jumping from one organisation to another for just a 10-15 percent hike is never enough. Finding your place, finding your strengths and finding your allies is equally important than finding just a job.”

Sharma of On Purpose believes all organisations are focussing a lot today in ensuring women empowerment. The bigger challenge is that, not just in PR but all industries, you have enough women at entry level and mid level but beyond that they start prioritising their personal life. Now at that moment women have to make a choice, have supportive bosses and families.

She further commented, “It's also important to create a guilt-free environment. Many times men and women both rather feel either they are ignoring their work or their families. If people aren't made to feel guilty about taking days off, that’s the kind of culture we need to bring.”

But more than the corporate, we need to create that guilt-free culture at home, said Sinha. “Till the time we keep believing a certain JD of your household belongs to women. This very mindset needs to change. Every child in the house should grow up with the feeling that chores in the house are every individual’s responsibility.”

Towards the end of the discussion, Kumar asked how we can ensure voices are heard, considering meetings are still virtual or hybrid. 

The Roadis executive opined, “The most important factor is to know whether you are even required in the meeting. Further, the least one can do is go prepared and you should know what you are speaking. Lastly, switch on your cameras, that's the best way to be seen.”

PhonePe’s Patankar had a slightly contrary viewpoint. She said, “There were a lot of teams where women were not speaking up in an offline world but were more comfortable in the online world. The anonymity of the screen probably made them feel more confident.

Be it online or offline, the mantra remains the same for Sharma, that you have to speak up to be heard. “If you feel someone else will speak on your behalf that is not going to happen.”

Challenges are more at home according to Sinha. “We shouldn’t think like while working in the kitchen, we can do the meeting. Women need proper infrastructural support at home. A woman can be equally heard, confident, and visible as long as in your mind you know your home is your office at the same time in the virtual world.”