2018 09 23 business today

OC SPEC IAL ISSUE www.businesstoday.in September 23, 2018 I `100 T S O E H T M L U F R E W O P N E M O W S S E N I S U B 018 IN Y M ONO & EC FROM THE EDITOR http://www.businesstoday.in Editor-in-Chief: Aroon Purie Group Editorial Director: Raj Chengappa The Gender Pay Gap T OC HERE ARE numerous studies which show that having more women in the workplaces is good for business – not because it is the politically correct thing to in today’s era, but because it is better for the bottom line Two years ago, a study by EY and Peterson Institute of the US, looking at 21,000 companies in 91 countries, showed that companies with more women in their leadership teams had better bottom lines Two McKinsey reports – one in 2015 “Why Diversity Matters” and another in 2018 “Delivering Through Diversity” – came to similar conclusions Companies with a higher number of women in top management ranks were more likely to outperform those with lower gender diversity in top rungs And these are not the only ones – there have been SPEC IAL ISSUE multiple other studies, both sectorspecific as well as country-specific, which have reinforced the findings But even while companies and governments are trying to improve THE L gender diversity at all levels – through FU R E W O P MENESS both HR policies and government WO IN BUSIN policies – another issue is cropping up This is about gender pay parity – or rather disparity – at all levels in the organisations It has become a bit of a cause célèbre in both the US and the UK Several high-profile cases have been fought and are being fought over gender pay discrimination And it is an issue in India as well, though most of the senior women leaders we talked to wanted to speak off-the-record But they pointed out that in many cases, there is both conscious and unconscious bias that comes into play, especially against women who have just married or have just had children and are coming back from maternity leave Sometimes, well intentioned laws play their own role For example, the law on six months maternity leave often means that women coming back after child birth get assessed for only six months, while their male colleagues are assessed for the full year Our cover story in this year’s Most Powerful Women special issue takes a close look at the problem and the possible solutions Another article looks at the problems that women entrepreneurs face, which their male counterparts not have to deal with, when starting up a company Of course, not miss the profiles of the fascinating women leaders who make up our list of 30 Most Powerful Women in business and economics this year And also the 16 women who have won our social impact awards for their work at the grassroots level www.businesstoday.in September 23, 2018 I `100 MOST & ECO NOMY 2018 prosenjit.datta@intoday.com @ProsaicView Editor: Prosenjit Datta Group Creative Editor: Nilanjan Das Group Photo Editor: Bandeep Singh Managing Editor: Rajeev Dubey Executive Editor: Anand Adhikari SPECIAL PROJECTS AND EVENTS Senior Editor: Anup Jayaram CORRESPONDENTS Senior Editors: P.B Jayakumar, Nevin John, Goutam Das, Ajita Shashidhar, Joe C Mathew, E Kumar Sharma, Anilesh Mahajan Senior Associate Editors: Dipak Mondal, Manu Kaushik, Sumant Banerji Associate Editor: Nidhi Singal Assistant Editor: Sonal Khetarpal RESEARCH Principal Research Analyst: Niti Kiran COPY DESK Senior Editors: Mahesh Jagota Associate Editor: Sanghamitra Mandal Chief Copy Editor: Gadadhar Padhy Senior Sub Editor: Devika Singh Copy Editor: Aprajita Sharma PHOTOGRAPHY Photo Editor: Reuben Singh Deputy Chief Photographer: Shekhar Ghosh Principal Photographer: Rachit Goswami Senior Photo Researcher: Sudhansh Sharma ART Assistant Creative Editor: Safia Zahid Deputy Art Director: Amit Sharma Associate Art Director: Ajay Thakuri Chief Designer: Raj Verma Designer: Rajesh Singh Adhikari PRODUCTION Chief of Production: Harish Aggarwal Senior Production Coordinators: Narendra Singh, Rajesh Verma LIBRARY Assistant Librarian: Satbir Singh Publishing Director: Manoj Sharma Associate Publisher (Impact): Anil Fernandes IMPACT TEAM Senior General Manager: Jitendra Lad (West) General Managers: Upendra Singh (Bangalore) Kaushiky Gangulie (East) Marketing: Vivek Malhotra, Group Chief Marketing Officer; Vipul Hoon, General Manager Newsstand Sales: D.V.S Rama Rao, Chief General Manager; Deepak Bhatt, General Manager (National Sales); Vipin Bagga, Deputy General Manager (Operations); Rajeev Gandhi, Regional Sales Manager (North) Vol 27, No 19, for the fortnight September 10-23, 2018 Released on September 10, 2018 Editorial Office: India Today Mediaplex, FC 8, Sector 16/A, Film City, Noida-201301; Tel: 01204807100; Fax: 0120-4807150 Advertising Office (Gurgaon): A1-A2, Enkay Centre, Ground Floor, V.N Commercial Complex, Udyog Vihar, Phase 5, Gurgaon-122001; Tel: 0124-4948400; Fax: 0124-4030919; Mumbai: 1201, 12th Floor, Tower A, One Indiabulls Centre (Jupiter Mills), S.B Marg, Lower Parel (West), Mumbai-400013; Tel: 022-66063355; Fax: 022-66063226; Chennai: 5th Floor, Main Building No 443, Guna Complex, Anna Salai, Teynampet, Chennai-600018; Tel: 044-28478525; Fax: 044-24361942; Bangalore: 202-204 Richmond Towers, 2nd Floor, 12, Richmond Road, Bangalore-560025; Tel: 080-22212448, 080-30374106; Fax: 080-22218335; Kolkata: 52, J.L Road, 4th floor, Kolkata-700071; Tel: 033-22825398, 033-22827726, 033-22821922; Fax: 033-22827254; Hyderabad: 6-3-885/7/B, Raj Bhawan Road, Somajiguda, Hyderabad-500082; Tel: 040-23401657, 040-23400479; Ahmedabad: 2nd Floor, 2C, Surya Rath Building, Behind White House, Panchwati, Off: C.G Road, Ahmedabad-380006; Tel: 079-6560393, 079-6560929; Fax: 079-6565293; Kochi: Karakkatt Road, Kochi-682016; Tel: 0484-2377057, 0484-2377058; Fax: 0484-370962 Subscriptions: For assistance contact Customer Care, India Today Group, A-61, Sector-57, Noida (U.P.) - 201301; Tel: 0120-2479900 from Delhi & Faridabad; 0120-2479900 (Monday-Friday, 10 am-6 pm) from Rest of India; Toll free no: 1800 1800 100 (from BSNL/ MTNL lines); Fax: 0120-4078080; E-mail: wecarebg@intoday.com Sales: General Manager Sales, Living Media India Ltd, B-45, 3rd Floor, Sector-57, Noida (U.P.) 201301; Tel: 0120-4019500; Fax: 0120-4019664 © 1998 Living Media India Ltd All rights reserved throughout the world Reproduction in any manner is prohibited Printed & published by Manoj Sharma on behalf of Living Media India Limited Printed at Thomson Press India Limited, 18-35, Milestone, Delhi-Mathura Road, Faridabad-121007, (Haryana) Published at K-9, Connaught Circus, New Delhi-110 001 Editor: Prosenjit Datta  Business Today does not take responsibility for returning unsolicited publication material All disputes are subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of competent courts and forums in Delhi/New Delhi only For reprint rights and syndication enquiries, contact syndications@intoday.com or call +91-120-4078000 www.syndicationstoday.in SEPTEMBER 23, 2018 COVER BY Nilanjan Das VOLUME 27 NUMBER 19 28 THE MOST POWERFUL WOMEN IN BUSINESS Wages of Inequality THE PAY GAP BETWEEN FEMALE AND MALE EMPLOYEES NOT ONLY EXISTS BUT ALSO INCREASES AS THEY ADVANCE IN THEIR CAREERS WHAT CAN BE DONE TO REVERSE THE TREND? 40 WOMEN IN BUSINESS Aarthi Subramanian Alice G Vaidyan Ameera Shah Apurva Purohit Aruna Jayanthi Aruna Sundararajan Ashu Suyash Debarati Sen Debjani Ghosh Falguni Nayar Harshbeena S Zaveri Indu Malhotra Jyotsna Suri Lakshmi Venu Nadia Chauhan Neeru Chadha Nisaba Godrej Pallavi S Shrof Prathiba M Singh Priya Nair Radha Chouhan Rekha Menon RM Vishakha Shobana Kamineni Shweta Jalan Usha Sangwan Vanaja Sarna Vani Kola Vibha Padalkar Zarin Daruwala IMPACT WOMEN START-UPS & SHE Why so few women are taking the start-up route ILLUSTRATION BY AJAY THAKURI Aditi Gupta Anuradha Kapoor Latika Thukral Noorjehan Safia Niaz Phoolbasan Bai Yadav Praseeda Kunam Prukalpa Sankar Rani Bang Ratnaboli Ray Rukmini Banerji Sabarmatee Shayara Bano Suhani Mohan Sumita Ghose Surga Thilakan Vijayalakshmi Das I BUSINESS TODAY I September 23 I 2018 THE BUZZ > BUSINESSTODAY.IN > 10 DEMONETISATION EFFECT SMEs hit hard, India still remains a cash economy STAY CONNECTED WITH US ON www.facebook.com/BusinessToday@BT_India PERSPECTIVES A Loss-making Unit for Almost a Decade, AI Has No Reason to Exist THE HUB > For an airline surviving on `4,600-crore annual bailout package, the reasons for its existence have to be extremely convincing businesstoday.in/ai-bailout “TRADE WARS TO HAVE LESS DIRECT IMPACT ON INDIA” Google Turns 'desi' in a Bid to Tap New Users in India Ira Kalish Most updates by Google are aimed at tapping the vernacular user-base in India, which is growing at a rapid pace businesstoday.in/google-language 118 Why Telecom Players Will Offer Aadhaar-based Face Authentication UIDAI has to work with all biometric device providers to integrate face modality into certified registered devices businesstoday.in/aadhaar-face.authentication In Defence of Mutual Fund AMCs THE BREAKOUT ZONE > 126 WEAR YOUR COACH Wearables, especially watches, are all about fitness Now, Google wants to throw in a special assistant An Feature From time to time, you will see pages titled “An Impact Feature” or “Advertorial” in Business Today This is no different from an advertisement and the magazine’s editorial staff is not involved in its creation in any way Why SEBI Chief Ajay Tyagi is not right in harping on the need for more competition in the mutual fund business businesstoday.in/sebi-mutualfunds NEWS Panel Suggests Cap on Independent Directors' Compensation The independent directors are paid in two ways – sitting fees and commission While sitting fees is not a big issue, it is the commission that raises many eyebrows businesstoday.in/independent.directors-payments JSW, Tata in Race to Become Steel Bellwether Reports say that both JSW and Tata look to submit bids for Usha Martin's MT steel unit businesstoday.in/steelindustry-race Flood-ravaged Businesses in Kerala Stare at `40,000 Crore Loss Consumer durables sector and tourism industry are badly hit by floods And retail sales will also be down 40 per cent during the peak Onam season businesstoday.in/keralaflood-losses I BUSINESS TODAY I September 23 I 2018 P.128 HOW TO KEEP YOUR KIDS SAFE IN THE DIGITAL AGE FITNESS TECH WEAR YOUR COACH Wearables, especially watches, are all about fitness Now, Google wants to throw in a special assistant Illustration by Raj Verma P.134 WHEN PCOS STRIKES P.138 LEADERSPEAK: CARRIE TEFFNER W EARABLES ARE always focussed on activity and fitness for want of something better to The ability to track in real time has opened up new opportunities for companies to tack on features based on the data from smartwatches, rings and even earbuds Beem United’s earbuds, for example, monitor heart rate so that with a glance at the companion app, you can pace yourself as desired Soul Electronics goes a step further to keep tabs on how you are running by measuring cadence, stride and other parameters, which will enhance the routine The company also leverages user data and artificial intelligence to give recommendations on running Smartwatches for mainstream consumers are also centred on fitness features, with Apple leading the way with Apple Watch Of course, no outright coaching is involved here, but there are always encouraging messages to motivate a user to meet the day’s target or keep up the exercise the next day Some products such as homegrown Goqii smartband have a human coach assigned to each user Discussions between the coach and the user (usually via e-mail and messengers) mostly include nutrition and exercise goals, but some extensive advice is also provided Now, Google is planning to put a coaching feature into its next watch, according to the website AndroidPolice Referred to as Google Coach, for now, it will come up with smart notifications based on a user’s SMARTPHONE  
exercise and eating patterns Given that Google already has so much data on its users, it can undoubtedly develop algorithms to make suggestions that will be more than ordinarily useful because these will be extremely personalised For example, if a user missed a workout on a particular day or for several days, the Coach could give specific advice on appropriate workouts to ease her back into the exercise routine Although details are sketchy at this point, it is not difficult to envisage how proactive suggestions will work Sleeping late could be corrected by encouraging a better rest pattern Logging one’s food intake could also generate better diet choices Entire meal plans for the week can also be made as Google is often aware of the user’s calendar In case you use Google Tasks and Reminders, it will even know your task list for the day and sync the same with AS GOOGLE ALREADY HAS SO MUCH DATA , IT CAN DEVELOP ALGORITHMS TO MAKE SUGGESTIONS THAT WILL BE MORE THAN ORDINARILY USEFUL daily activity and health plans Not everyone would take kindly to being nagged by technology to something in a certain way and get constant advice and suggestions via notifications, even if these are clubbed into manageable chunks On the other hand, many people may welcome the help According to AndroidPolice, this feature could be extended beyond the smartwatch to smartphones, Google Home speakers and television September 23 I 2018 I BUSINESS TODAY I 127 HOLDABLE COMPANIES, even the most innovative of them, have run out of new things to with smartphones When the new flagships are launched every year, there is disappointment all around at the lack of radical new designs and features Maybe it is the right time for someone to finally come up with that elusive foldable phone that has been discussed for years There have been flip phones before, but the foldable phone of not-too-distant future is meant to be much more than a screen, a small keyboard and a hinge in the middle It may even have a foldable screen, an idea more associated with Samsung than with anyone else Samsung wants to be the first off the mark to make that phone and D.J Koh, head of Samsung Mobiles, has confirmed as much by saying that the company not only wants to come up with a world-first but spark off a new line instead of a one-off Several concepts have been featured on the Internet to predict the possible form a Samsung folding phone might take (one is expected to be launched later this year), but no one, not even Samsung, thinks such a phone will have mass appeal because of its pricing It is bound to cost a fortune, thanks to the cost of manufacturing But then, a folding phone with two large, bright displays could be used to boost productivity, multitask, make gaming more exciting or handle phone cameras in more interesting ways THE BREAKOUT ZONE PERSONAL TECH UNDER PARENTAL GUIDANCE TIPS TO FILTER WHAT YOUR CHILDREN ARE EXPOSED TO By Nidhi Singal I N THIS ERA OF INVASIVE TECH, kids get to interact with gadgets galore at a very young age, can navigate most of them (especially the handy ones like smartphones or tablets) and also learn to surf and download Gadgets are great learning tools, but they also provide access to the Web’s endless flow of information and entertainment, which could be both addictive and dangerous (think of binge gaming, life-threatening games like the Blue Whale Challenge or rising child abuse on the Internet) So, digitalage parents have a formidable responsibility – that of keeping their children safe from inappropriate content, malicious trolls and outright predators One way of doing it is to keep gadgets (and the Internet) off-limits If that is not practicable, go for the next best thing – make gadget rules and use technology to implement them There is a bunch of tech tools out there that can provide all the help you need – right from managing the devices your children use to limiting access to generating activity reports Let us start with Apple’s iPad, one of the most popular tools among kids 128 I BUSINESS TODAY I September 23 I 2018 as interactive content makes learning fun and easy But instead of worrying all the time what the child could be doing, set up parental control to stay safe From September onwards, you can download Apple’s iOS 12 that comes with a Screen Time feature and monitors your kids’ activities, be it website visits, app usage or overall device time It will work better if the child has an iCloud account Under Family Sharing, you can add that account to your iOS device and thereafter, will get an approval request every time an app is purchased You can also set ‘downtime’ under Family Sharing, and apps cannot be accessed during that specified period When you set up App Limits, you can choose from a number of options such as All Apps and Categories, Social ILLUSTRATION BY RAJ VERMA Networking, Games and more When the child reaches the limit you have set, the app will stop working He/ she can request more screen time for which you will get a notification on your device You can either ignore it or grant more time, much like what your parents did with TV watching Content and Privacy Restrictions can also be used to determine the websites your child can visit This new feature gives you access to activity report right on your iOS device so that you know what is keeping your child occupied Those using iOS 11 can go to Settings to enable these controls and turn off app usage, installation, deletion and in-app purchase You can also restrict website access or create your list of red flags Apple is not the only company IF YOUR CHILDREN USE YOUR SMARTPHONE OR TABLET FOR GAMING, SURFING OR CLICKING PICTURES, YOU CAN CREATE A GUEST PROFILE FOR THEM OR A SECOND SPACE WITH RESTRICTIVE ACCESS THAT WILL GIVE YOU CONTROL OVER THE CONTENT THEY ARE ACCESSING providing online security Google, too, has a Parental Control option that can be set up via Play Store Settings and Android users should try it When you set it up for the first time, it will ask you to enter a September 23 I 2018 I BUSINESS TODAY I 129 personal identification number Once turned on, it can be used to restrict downloads and purchases from the Play Store Plus, you can restrict content based on age appropriateness For instance, apps and games are rated for 3+, 7+, 12+, 16+ and 18+ age groups For movies, you can select from U (most restrictive), UA, A, S or all Access to music can be cut off if it is marked ‘explicit’ Google’s Family Link app offers a more extensive control where a parent can approve/block app download, manage screen time and check up on how often the child is on his/her favourite apps With this app, you can lock the child’s device or hide specific apps whenever it is time to play, study, eat or sleep The app was released last year but is not available in India yet If your children use your smartphone or tablet for gaming, surfing or clicking pictures, you can create a guest profile for them or a second space with restrictive access It will prevent them from accessing the data on your device and give you control of the content they are accessing Windows 10 devices also allow parents to determine what applications their children can use, what websites they can visit and how much time they can spend These can also track activity and even locate kids by tracking device locations Parental controls can be turned on by clicking Windows Defender Security Center/Family Options or from Settings/Accounts Create and add your child’s account to Family and click on View Family Settings (same path as above) Now log in using your Microsoft account and the web page will show the child’s profile as well as data on activity, web browsing, screen time and more Using these, you can disable InPrivate browsing, block access to inappropriate websites, give permission to selective sites and control spending on purchases For older version of Windows devices, there is a Family Safety option on the Control Panel @nidhisingal THE BREAKOUT ZONE SAMSUNG GALAXY NOTE9 Note Worthy By Nidhi Singal T HIS YEAR’S GALAXY NOTE is not about innovation but perfection Besides the best-in-class display, fine build quality and great performance, what makes the Galaxy Note9 special is its S Pen stylus that Samsung has enhanced over the years But its new features make me wonder why it took Samsung so long to incorporate them Tucked neatly towards the right on the bottom panel, the S Pen done in bright yellow and gold looks quite stunning A simple press unlocks the stylus, and I was able to take down memos on the locked screen, similar 6.4 INCH SUPER AMOLED display with 2,960x1,440 resolution to that of Note8 I continued to use it as a stylus to take down notes, draw and navigate through the device as the addition of Bluetooth connectivity to the S Pen enables remote functionality For instance, instead of touching the screen and capturing an image, you can it by pressing the physical button (Pen button) on the S Pen I mounted the Note9 on a tripod and clicked away using the stylus Plus, the Pen button switches functionality depending on the apps When used with the music player, it can skip tracks, or you can use it with DeX to 130 I BUSINESS TODAY I September 23 I 2018 CONNECTING OVER BLUETOOTH, the Pen button can unlock the phone, capture photos, and more THE TIP WITH 4,096 PRESSURE LEVELS replicates the pen-and-paper feel MP FRONT CAMERA can capture bokeh selfie pull up presentations/slideshows Unlocking the Note9 with the Pen button was what I liked most although this feature was turned off by default It only works when the S Pen is connected to the phone and is already in use When I forgot the stylus behind, an alarm popped up on the locked screen, reminding me to insert the stylus back The Note9 does not look too different from last year’s Note8 although it does not fit in the Note8’s back cover With the dual SIM tray on the top, the power button on the right panel, volume control and the dedicated Bixby button on the left, and the Type C charging port, speaker grill, 3.5 mm jack and the S Pen at the bottom, the Note9 has a neat and simple design It houses a glass front and back, and the front features a 6.4 inch Quad HD+ Super AMOLED display with 2,960x1,440 resolution (but by default, the 2,220x1,080 resolution is turned on) One can switch to the higher resolution from display settings There are very thin bezels on the sides, but thick ones on the top and the bottom – Samsung has not opted for the ‘notch’ display September 23 I 2018 I BUSINESS TODAY I 131 The device comes with Samsung’s custom UI and is free of bloatware Still, some might complain about the dual browser app and the e-mail client on board Swiping towards the right from home page loads its Smart Assistant Bixby that brings together all relevant information on one page Swiping up from bottom loads the app tray Running Android Oreo, the Galaxy Note9 is powered by the octacore Exynos 9810 system-on-chip processor Of the two variants available, my review unit was the entry-level one with GB of RAM and 128 GB of internal storage However, it could easily handle non-stop video streaming and multiplayer gaming for hours Video editing also went smoothly The camera on the Note9 is a dual 12 MP system at the back, including a wide-angle lens with switchable apertures and a telephoto lens The Live Focus captures stunning bokeh images, and with a single tap in the gallery, I was able to switch to the wide-angle image The camera app also features auto-scene detection when used in regular photo mode The MP front camera also features selfie focus that blurs the background Samsung has relocated the fingerprint scanner below the horizontal camera module, which makes it easy to access and quick to unlock To live up to the new fancy features, the Note9 packs in a 4,000 mAh battery, which managed to last me a day with heavy usage including video streaming, continuous push mail notifications, S Pen use, browsing and camera usage I still had close to 20 per cent charge left at the end of the day, but it took a little over two hours to get a full charge @nidhisingal THE BREAKOUT ZONE EXECUTIVE HEALTH WHEN PCOS STRIKES POLYCYSTIC OVARY SYNDROME, OR PCOS, IS THE MOST PREVALENT CAUSE OF INFERTILITY AMONG WOMEN By E Kumar Sharma I F YOU ARE A WOMAN aged between 20 and 40, and experiencing specific syndromes such as severe acne, dark skin patches, excessive hair growth on face or stomach, weight gain or irregular/no periods, these could be warning signs You need to see your doctor and find out whether you are suffering from polycystic ovary syndrome, or PCOS, a hormonal imbalance that affects a woman’s ovaries Diagnosing PCOS is not difficult, though You should either go for a simple blood test to check the level of androgen (a male hormone) or get an ultrasound done to find out if you have cysts in the ovaries Left untreated for a long time, it could result in diabetes, hypertension, heart conditions and other obesity-related issues as well as delayed pregnancy, a risk of abortion or infertility Globally, one in five women of reproductive age gets affected, but very few get the right diagnosis early on as the condition has not received a lot of attention “PCOS is on the rise,” admits Dr Sapna Raina, Senior Consultant, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, at Narayana Health, Bengaluru “Unfortunately, many of the women executives who consult me have some form of PCOS It is a growing trend and has doubled over the past five years or so.” Doctors point to several factors behind PCOS, and list obesity and stress as significant risk factors The condition could also be genetic It could be typically linked to the kind of lifestyle most working women have nowadays – sedentary and stressful with rapid changes in work schedules What can women to prevent or control the condition as there is no cure yet? A good starting point is to lose weight and keep it off A fit body will ward off many problems, including hormonal imbalance Take to more physical activity – walk, climb the stairs, walk up to a colleague’s desk instead of speaking over the phone Watch out for periods issues and visit a doctor if there are irregularities It also helps when you go for healthy eating A high-fibre, low-carb diet with minimum sugar intake is always recommended For overweight patients, weight loss, exercise and lifestyle changes are recommended as initial options Women suffering from metabolic complications such as diabetes or hypertension at an early age and planning for a baby might be prescribed insulin sensitisers such as metformin, thiazolidinedione or clomiphene citrate THE PUZZLE AND THE CURE OVER THE YEARS, doctors and researchers have struggled to deal with PCOS There has been a lab-level breakthrough as researchers could cure it in mice and a clinical trial has been scheduled, the New Scientist reports A new set of worldwide clinical guidelines has also been released and more than 70 countries have agreed to implement them Research is on to understand the genetic basis of metabolic abnormalities in PCOS patients for possible gene therapy Researchers are also trying to unravel whether PCOS in moms leads to autism in newborns A new study published in Molecular Psychiatry shows that the hormonal imbalance could raise the rate of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in children Dr Raina concurs, saying women with untreated PCOS face abortion risk in 40-50 per cent cases while their babies could have ASD in 50-60 per cases 134 I BUSINESS TODAY I September 23 I 2018 THE BREAKOUT ZONE Nevertheless, SHE Persisted: True Stories of Women Leaders in Tech By Pratima Rao Gluckman Publisher: FriesenPress Pages: 330 Price: `1,622 (PB); `2,447 (Hardcover) EX-LIBRIS A LONG WAY TO THE TOP GENDER PARITY IS LACKING IN STEM PROFESSIONS AND LEADERSHIP ROLES, BUT SOME WOMEN CONTINUE, UNDETERRED By Neharika Vohra ARE YOU A WOMAN in the field of technology, feeling stuck or pressured and contemplating to give up? A male manager asked to diversify the workforce or one with many women on your team or the mentor of a bright woman who will be just another statistic in a leaky pipeline? A parent of a young girl and wondering if you should tell your daughter to take the beaten path because so few women are doing what your daughter wants to do? A husband who is unable to understand why your wife needs to work so hard? Well, here is a book that will motivate you and help you find some relevant answers Pratima Rao Gluckman has explored the unique journeys of 19 women from different parts of the world, all working in technology companies and many of them in leadership roles In their interviews, all of them appreciated the early head start they had, thanks to a parent or a teacher, which got them to believe in themselves, and how the career interventions and the encouragement kept them challenging themselves All of them related how they invested in themselves to learn the right skills and remain at the cutting edge Better still, none felt discouraged for long when hit by a roadblock – there was always a way around it for moving ahead 136 I BUSINESS TODAY I September 23 I 2018 The women in this book, as in many books of this genre, speak about the importance of cultivating a network and negotiating with bosses, peers and family members about what they want and what they are willing to give in return The enabling role of special institutions such as the Anita Borg Institute or the Women Who Code is also evident from their stories The absence of role models in this space could make one want to give up, but that is why the importance of being a role model to the younger generation becomes a crucial responsibility Leadership also requires BOOK TALKS purposeful action that aligns with one’s values and the collective good The struggle people (both men and women) face when they step up from being producers/individual contributors is etched in many of these stories The change in role requires new skills, including negotiating for the team, building emotional resilience, taking charge of others’ careers and more So, high-quality leadership training to deal with the well-known producerversus-leader dilemma is necessary for the leap A theme that resonates and is most heartening in the stories is that these women are reflective and consciously trying to help other women The takeaway: Women owe it to themselves and all those who invested in them and the future generations to make the best of their opportunities and contribute to their chosen fields In India, where the percentage of working women is declining contrary to the global trend, the need for an enabling system is as critical as women’s perseverance We need more role models and more stories of real women who have managed to crack the proverbial glass ceiling Nevertheless would have been more fulfilling if the stories were tighter and the author put in fewer comments Allowing readers to make their inferences is always better than telling them what to look for Some phrases stick, though, telling the truth succinctly Years ago, when I first read Birute Regine’s Iron Butterflies, the metaphor emerging from the stories of successful women just stuck and did so much of explaining Here, too, it is a good attempt by a writer who is also a woman in tech It is as much a personal journey for her as it has been for others featured in her book The reviewer is Professor of Organisational Behaviour at IIM-Ahmedabad She has mentored several women leaders through her work and in personal capacity “I HAVE THE RESPONSIBILITY TO PUBLISH GOOD, SOLID CONTENT.” MILEE ASHWARYA Editor-in-chief, Penguin Random House India Q Your career choice Milee Ashwarya: To be honest, it was an accident I majored in English Literature, but was not much into MBA or civil services There were other options like masscom or advertising, but I was a very confused person at the time I could not imagine my life without books, though So, a friend suggested I should work in publishing I joined Rupa in 2006 and moved to Random House India two years later Q On leadership role It has been an exciting journey There is a lot of learning, and I feel very humble when I think of all the opportunities I had I was young and restless and wanted to try new things, and my bosses helped me push the boundaries It is our turn to nurture people so that they can take on new challenges, work on their ideas Q Your ideology and the way forward With passion, comes responsibility I am not here to promote any ideology; I am not a member of any party But I have the responsibility to publish good, solid content because it impacts our life Books are our windows to the world; they leave a lasting impression on our world view So, we need to be very careful about what we publish I am also keen to publish many more Indian writers Discovering new voices and excellent writing is a great experience Q Most challenging project Exam Warriors by PM Narendra Modi It is very rare for a sitting prime minister to write for the young people We made sure that the execution was flawless and finished it in about 10 months Q Three must-dos for new writers Writing is a tough job and you have to know what it requires Be authentic and original – be yourself and tell your story If you are passionate, willing to learn and ready to put in time and energy, it should work Finally, be disciplined There could be days when you can’t write, but generally, be serious about writing All great writers overcome distractions They have set hours, style, rhythm, and you should the same Q Five must-read books for women leaders A Lean In by Sheryl Sandberg and Nell Scovell; Feminist Rani by Shaili Chopra and Meghna Pant; The Inheritors by Sonu Bhasin; Thrive by Ariana Huffington and Daughters of Legacy by Puja Singhal and Rinku Paul As told to Sanghamitra Mandal LEADERSPEAK CARRIE TEFFNER CFO and EVP, Crocs Global Q The biggest challenge you faced in your career A Setting up a financial shared-service centre for a large multinational I had no previous experience, and it required me to relocate my family to another state, and it challenged me to lead, inspire and drive change on a scale I had never done before It was scary, empowering and a career-defining opportunity for me Q Your best teacher in business A There are many, but if I have to pick one, it will be David Bergeron, my second boss He took the time to teach me how to think, question who I am and understand the contribution I am capable of making By following his examples, I have learnt to be passionate about every job and made an impact wherever I worked Q Key management lessons for young people A I have a few guiding principles that may help Decide what is important, personally and professionally You have to figure this out to make career choices that will make you happy Own your own development; no one can it for you Move laterally early in your career Every new job need not be a promotion, but getting a breadth of experience will get you more opportunities Finally, take risks Projects that stretch you will help you learn what your true capabilities are PHOTOGRAPH BY SHEKHAR GHOSH Q Two essential qualities a leader must have A I have worked for many leaders in my 30-year career And I believe that people with high integrity and the ability to inspire are the best If you want to engage and retain employees, these qualities are critical  
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