Army Daughter to Microsoft Woman

Time! When the mind is buzzing with ideas and the heart is willing, the only thing holding you back is time. As women, most of us clearly have 2 priorities in life – profession and family (not necessarily in that order!). The challenge is the division of time between the two, such that we do justice to both in equally delightful measures.

Educational Background

An Armed Forces daughter, I have had the wonderful opportunity of attending 8 schools across India, followed by an Economics Hons degree from Lady Shri Ram College in New Delhi and an MBA from IMT Ghaziabad. Recently topped it up with a short corporate program on Strategic Management from INSEAD, France.

Family Background

Growing up as an Army daughter was the most wonderful experience. An adventurous and loving ‘Col Saab’ (yes, with those fauji style moustaches!) for a father, a doting mum and a friend-more-than-a-sis older sister offered me a wonderful childhood. Today I am married to a Vascular surgeon, and we are blessed with 2 beautiful children age 11 and 9.

Working in Male-dominated field of IT

Organizations today are working towards creating a diverse and inclusive workplace. I am fortunate that I work in one such wonderful organization. If your skills are directionally right and growing, if your attitude is in the right place, you will not be impacted negatively by the gender ratio. With huge awareness around this, the gap is directionally flattening out over time.

Does a Glass ceiling exist?

The road is steeper, I will admit – and its steeper for reasons – both internal to us and external, environmentally. Women generally tend to juggle with a lot more in their personal lives, hence slowing themselves down a bit at work, at times. And yes, sometimes unconscious biases do exist in each of us as well. That can sometimes be construed as a ‘glass ceiling’. However, there is a way. Go out, prove yourself, most importantly ask for what you want and you should be able to get through that ‘ceiling’.

Hobbies

I am passionate about sharing experiences with young minds – and I care about working with women aspiring to find their place at work. So as a hobby, I am a Speaker – at Keynotes, Corporate Events, MBA and Engg colleges and at platforms that give me access to that audience.

Future plan

To create an impact in my area of work. If it does not help others’ lives get better in some way - it does not matter anyway.

High-Five:

Your Fitness Mantra: If I can climb up 10 flights of steps without losing my breath, I am fit!

Your De-stressing Mantra: Important to find the ‘me’ time in each day! Even if its 30 mins, do whatever calms you down – and that you enjoy the most.

Where you like to shop? At airports between travel!

Your favorite holiday destination: India: Goa. Overseas: Scotland

5 things you cannot live without: My Thar jeep, my mobile J, ‘Me’ time, My laptop and a family dinner every night.

Workday

Wake up at: 5:30 am

Morning activities: Kids school drop 7 am

Leaving Office at: 9 am

Ist half in office: Strategy and Execution with Partner Ecosystem

Lunch: 1pm ish

Post Lunch: Leadership Connect, Market working and Partner Ecosystem connect

How you spend your evenings: Kids – homework – wind down – me time - bed

Sleep time: 11 pm