My father always taught me that “The key to success is breaking the stereotypes”. Coming from a humble background himself, my father became an engineer and joined Coal India Limited. I have heard my grandmother telling stories of how he managed to save for his studies by living in a cow barn and teaching students as a part time job. Being a self-made man, he always encouraged me to follow my dreams. I remember him setting me free and letting me take my own decisions even as a child, but watching me from a safe distance to catch a hold of me if I fall down.
I was working in a multinational company when I realized that I want to pursue MBA and the next day I started preparing for CAT. Because of the high-demanding nature of my job my preparation was getting affected and I had to quit. Leaving a stable and a rewarding job for something uncertain was a difficult decision to make. But finally the hardship paid off and I made into Indian Institute of Management, Ranchi.
Preparation of the next phase of life included buying a formal suit. To our surprise, even after the presence of so many malls and established brands, the options for formal wear for women were a few! Thankfully Allen Solly came to my rescue. However this experience sparked a thought that the dearth of choices in women formal wear is a reflection of low share of women in the formal workforce, especially in senior positions in India, hence low demands for formal wear. Then I found in a research that women account for approximately 17 percent of senior management.
So where is the question of breaking the stereotypes?
My father hails from a small village in MP, which is still disconnected from the outside world. There is no railway connectivity, no proper roads. Encouraging his daughter to be independent is breaking the stereotypes of a conservative and backward society which still believes that girls are meant to do the household chores. I am fortunate to have him but many girls aren’t.
Given the masses and the conditions in India, we need many leaders to come up and support the girls who aspire to achieve something but are underprivileged.
Aditya Birla Group touches almost every walk of life but it is their values that matter the most. Reaching out to 7.5 million people annually in multiple ways and hence making their presence massive, they are transcending the conventional boundaries of business. As quoted by Mrs. Rajashree Birla, “To actively contribute to the social and economic development of the communities in which we operate. In doing so, build a better, sustainable way of life for the weaker sections of the society and raise the country’s human development index”.
Working for a cause like this not just supports many lives but also inspires others to lead the path in the same way. Looking at me and my father, many others in my village have now started investing in their girl child’s education. I associate the actions of ABG with that of my father in terms of ‘How do you inspire people around you?’ and this is why its presence is massive in my life.
In the pursuit of success, I strive to work hard and contribute to the society with the belief that –
“The brightest stars are those, who shine for the benefit of others”.