Women in leadership: The glass ceiling is barely cracking

Today is International Women’s Day. As we celebrate with extra CSR activities, product discounts for ladies, and long speeches, The Tech Panda takes a look at the state women leaders out there.

It’s 2023 and we have achieved a lot, but we still can’t see that equality in the boardrooms. In 2022, Deloitte reported a global average of just under 20% (19.7%) of board seats held by women. India’s percentage is 17.1%, compared to 23.9% in the US and 43.2% in France.

We asked women what their thoughts are on women leadership in India, and they had a lot to say.

Monica Kapadia, VP Strategic initiatives, Leap Scholar

“A 2020 report revealed that only 14% of senior management roles in India were held by women, and the barriers and preconceptions that hold women back remain largely unchanged. The only way to address this is to have more women in positions of leadership; providing the support and role models women desperately need to advance in their careers and bringing about much-needed changes in the workplace benefitting both genders.

True empowerment in the workplace comes when women are trusted to lead and make important decisions at the table

“True empowerment in the workplace comes when women are trusted to lead and make important decisions at the table.”

Tarusha Mittal, COO & Co-Founder, Dapps & UniFarm

“Creating an environment that encourages and supports women in leadership is crucial. This means breaking down systemic barriers that hinder women’s progress and providing them with the necessary resources to succeed. By celebrating the achievements of women leaders and striving for gender equality in all spheres of life, we can pave the way for a more inclusive and equitable society.

By celebrating the achievements of women leaders and striving for gender equality in all spheres of life, we can pave the way for a more inclusive and equitable society

“Moreover, women’s unique perspectives, life experiences, and ways of thinking can offer valuable insights that drive innovative solutions to complex problems. A diverse group of leaders fosters creativity and creates an inclusive environment that leads to better decision-making. We must recognize and embrace the value that women bring to the table and actively work towards increasing their representation in leadership positions.”

Sybil Shiddell, Country Manager India, Gleeden

“I would advise female leaders of today to speak out and push for change. Become a vocal advocate for laws that favor an egalitarian workplace. Promote equitable compensation and the inclusion of women in leadership positions.

I would advise female leaders of today to speak out and push for change. Become a vocal advocate for laws that favor an egalitarian workplace

“Advising other women to pursue leadership positions and advocate for themselves at work. Last but not least, support younger women and offer mentorship possibilities. Make connections with other women who have succeeded in the corporate world and learn from and with them. We can collaborate to build a more equitable workplace ecosystem and support the success of today’s female leaders by combining these techniques.”

Ravneet Kaur, That Couple Though

“Despite the progress in gender equality, many women still face discrimination and bias based on their gender, particularly in male-dominated industries or leadership roles. This can include pay disparities, limited opportunities for advancement, and being undervalued or overlooked for promotions or leadership roles. There are still very few women in leadership positions in many industries, making it challenging for women to find role models and mentors to guide them in their careers.

It’s important to have confidence in your abilities and value as a leader. Don’t let negative stereotypes or biases hold you back

“Women often have to juggle multiple responsibilities, including work, family, and caregiving, which can make it challenging to balance their personal and professional lives. Women are often stereotyped as emotional, weak, or irrational, which can impact their ability to be taken seriously in leadership roles. Despite efforts to eliminate bias, many people still have unconscious biases that can affect how they perceive and treat women.

“It’s important to have confidence in your abilities and value as a leader. Don’t let negative stereotypes or biases hold you back. Overall, it’s important to be aware of the challenges and to actively work to overcome them. Women can continue to break down barriers and pave the way for future generations.”

Gayatri Mohanty, Mountaineer, Fitness Coach, Nutritionist & Model

Putting forth your opinion and spreading your wings to fly high is the aim that every woman should carry

“In terms of advising today’s women leaders, if they are comfortable with what they are doing that’s more than enough. Respect given in the work environment and a platform to put forth your ideas is the utmost thing for a woman. Putting forth your opinion and spreading your wings to fly high is the aim that every woman should carry”.

Reji Rajendran, Associate Director, Technology Strategy & Planning, Verizon India

“As much as we focus on the external challenges like societal expectations, stereotyping or disparity, we should be aware of the internal challenges that we deal with, like our own feelings of self-doubt, resistance to step out of comfort zones, lack of confidence and hesitance to seek support.

I believe that leadership success depends on how much value we bring to the table, our authenticity, knowledge, and skills

“We should focus on overcoming these self-barriers, and embrace challenges and opportunities coming our way to realize our true strengths and potential. I believe that leadership success depends on how much value we bring to the table, our authenticity, knowledge, and skills. The focus should be on building and nurturing the foundational qualities like hard work, integrity, courage, empathy, and gratitude.”

Ankur Bansal, Co-founder & director, BlackSoil Capital

Women in roles of power have repeatedly been proven to improve overall performance of organisations

“Having women leaders brings a unique perspective to decision making processes and workplace policies. Women in roles of power have repeatedly been proven to improve overall performance of organisations. Apart from this, they also inspire future generations of women by serving as role models to become part of the workforce which is the need of the hour.”

Anup Jain, Managing Partner, Orios Venture Partners

‘On the occasion of international women’s day, we must recognise that their representation in boardrooms and companies in general is rising and needs to be further encouraged in the coming years.

I have personally experienced the balance between task orientation and relationship orientation in my past managers who happened to be women and noticed that at the leadership level, they bring a balance between ambition and responsibility

“I have personally experienced the balance between task orientation and relationship orientation in my past managers who happened to be women and noticed that at the leadership level, they bring a balance between ambition and responsibility. As we seek more and more compliance to a better planet, ESG and challenges like climate change, I see a greater role for women leaders in tomorrow’s roles.”