From The Matrilineal Town Of Shillong To NITIE - Jaya Choudhary - Celebrating Womanhood On InsideIIM

I completed my schooling from Shillong, which is a small hill station located in the northeastern part of India. The culture of Shillong is a bit different in a sense that it has a matrilineal society. Almost majority of the women work. The women are liberal and independent and this culture is inculcated in all the people. Women are treated with respect. I learned to always be treated with respect women as an equal part of the society.

 

If money was no object, what would you do all day?

I would like to travel and spent some time staying in some other countries. At leisure time I would like to own a nice comfortable house with a lot of nice books and food of course.

 

What advice would you give to a 5-year-younger you?

I would advise her to act in a more matured manner and not jump to conclusions. Be more patient and enjoy more.

 

How do you think women are better equipped to deal with problems as compared to men?

Women look at a matter from many angles and understand it from different perspectives whereas men somewhere lack the capability to see it from many angles at the same time. I also believe that women are more sensible and patient.

 

Many IIMs and other b-schools award extra points for being a woman. What is your take on that? Do you propagate the concept OR Have you faced any backlash for the same?

I do not propagate this concept because I believe that one should get a seat only on the basis of merit. I have observed that some people think that women are inherently inferior and even if they are in a premier B-school, they made it because of their gender and not competence.

 

Name one incident that you encountered where someone told you, you couldn’t do something because you’re a woman.

During my work experience, I was supposed to be allocated a different department for a project. I met a senior manager. When he learned that I was assigned his department under him, he was irritated and said that "girls don't know anything". I didn't say anything then but later I proved him wrong and left him highly impressed by the end of the project.

 

If you are out on a date, do you prefer to pay yourself? If you insisted that you want to pay for yourself, how did the other person react?

When I go on a date, I pay alternate times. The other person agreed to the same.