You don’t need a degree to justify whether you can or cannot do a job. Too long women have hidden behind the prejudice and officious domination of men. If we want to do something about this we’d better try now, for no one is going to save our rights if we ourselves become a damsel in distress
Journey as an entrepreneur
They say, “No journey is long when dreams are big and the sky is the limit.” Well, this one was gruesomely extensive, to say the least. Apart from the initial prejudice, every woman in India faces today, from being held back from the courses I wanted to pursue, to being denied the international exposure every wandering mind deserves, I found several euphoric bumps along the way – all of which molded me into who I proudly am today.
It was after marriage that my struggles were truly prominent, seeing as I was involved in the business for the first time, since the first day, not to mention the new atmosphere I was exposed to in Mumbai.
I always wonder how I received the courage to alter a business built at midnight on a second-hand desktop PC to a seven storey empire with 300 employees in a relatively short time span of 13 years without any experience. Training my children for the real world, moulding their souls into that of a respectable human with a spark of passion in them has always seemed like a never-ending matter, but today, their independence surprises me. However, my accomplishment is the feeling of patriotism I have incorporated into my children, my husband, and my friends. Then the globalisation of PARASCADD in order to contribute to India’s economy and stay true to my country. My greatest accomplishment is to Make in India.
Role model
Indra Krishnamurthy Nooyi has always inspired me, and I am proud to say that she is my role model. From juggling her children’s education, values, and character, along with household responsibilities, to managing work without any hesitations, Indra Nooyi has managed to become Chairwoman of PepsiCo and raise it to the second largest food and beverage business in the world – something I can only hope of accomplishing in the near future.
Work-life balance
Today, we women, comprehend the importance and difficulty faced in balancing children, work and finding time for ourselves amongst all these responsibilities, I shall not dwell much on that. On the other hand, we must first understand that there is no one, not even Indra Nooyi who has been able to achieve a perfect balance between these two extremely important aspects of our life. However, it is imperative to set our priorities straight first – how important that PTM is, how much time that conference needs, how much exercise do I need; all of which are extremely handy to stream through when arranged in a chronological order in your head. As a mother, a wife and an entrepreneur, I have always faced instances where I overlook an obstacle of importance, and have constantly found that taking five minutes to calm my mind, think of absolutely nothing and show my gratefulness to the one above has always enforced these capabilities, refueling and inspiring me to face the day with new found courage.
Women in IT – a rare breed?
I simply fail to comprehend the reason behind women failing to be involved in IT when I know these brave souls, who have compassion, dedication and passion have all the abilities to do so. Today, the world is all about innovation and creativity – you don’t need a degree to justify whether you can or cannot do a job. Too long women have hidden behind the prejudice and officious domination of men. If we want to do something about this we’d better try now, for no one is going to save our rights if we ourselves become a damsel in distress.
Life ahead
I have a dream that PARASCADD will be one of the top IT companies on a global level, with more than 1,000 employees by 2020.
I feel women should be able to talk about menstruation freely. Women overpower men in the IT industries that women fight back for their rightful position in today’s society. And, I will do anything to make these dreams come true.
