As a woman, a daughter to an amazing mother, a sister and a leader, it’s been incredible to bear witness to the groundswell of support for gender equality this past year. We’ve watched women find their voices, and seen the world begin to listen more actively. In fact, over the last year, the world has searched for "gender equality" more than ever before. People are not just asking questions; they are looking for ways to understand inequality, seek inspiration, speak out, and take action.
This International Women’s Day, we’re recognizing what the world is searching for, and celebrating the strong, courageous women who are pushing us toward a more equal future. On our article today, we’re commemorating women whose stories are not often heard. Through this small article, we’re highlighting the voices of such inspirational women from all around the world, each sharing a personal story of a moment or event that impacted her life. Each artist featured in the Article tells a unique story, yet the themes are universal, reminding us how much we have in common. Below listed are some of our favourite inspirations who keeps us motivated.
Karthika Murali
Working as an Actor , Practicing Artist and Design Executive at DSM mumbai
1. What is that one thing that makes you get out of the bed?
My desire to create . I don't believe anything else brings me the kind of joy , fullfilment, excitement, exhaustion like being able to think and to translate that thought into reality be it a drawing, video, theatre, film, clothes .
2. How do you balance work and life responsibilities?
It's a different game everyday. Having choses arts as a way of life my work and life often have blurred boundaries and tend to borrow excessively from each other . The absence of assigned work hours tend to bring about stress on somedays but what I keep reminding myself is to be kind to myself . There are hectic weeks where I cannot cut myself any slack but like I take work seriously I am learning and reminding myself to take my vacations and cheat days with that much seriousness and more love. My father always said - If you do what you love, you will never have a JOB . I love that I am paid to do the things I love , I never want to feel like a have jobs to do but rather I am living life and getting money for it . Stress still manages to creep in and throw me off of my game sometimes but I am still in the process of mastering my dad's ideology.
3.What is some of the advice you share with young women entering a male-dominated profession?
Be kind to he other Women . Some women havnt learned to be kind to other women so they will see each other as competition , but that is not your problem . Be kind to the women around , make your tiny minority army of women . Working in South film industry where a crew has roughly 500 people out of which 497 are men and 3 women including me , I felt alone more than anything , not safe many a times but my face would light up when I saw a woman . They had their share of patriarchal influence too but what makes any proffession 'male-dominated' is their unity and we can change that game but we gotta start .
4. What advice would you give to the next generation of female leaders?
There is nothing stopping you . If the idea of being a female leader has crossed your mind you have been blessed by some kind of privelege already and god bless you for that. Take the baton and run . Only we can make this spread beyond us privileged women . The old structures and norms are crumbling . We are in the divine time of resources . Use them all but most importantly run the world with compassion and love and goddess energy not the already tried and tested male energy. Appreciate other women and men , treat people as people and life forces and not labour . Quality over quantity in every sphere. We have to use our kindness , compassion and grace to our advantage . It makes us stronger and undefeatable .
5. What has been the most significant barrier in your career? And how did you overcome it?
The biggest barrier in my carrier has been my weight . Being brought up as a girl child who was taught the importance of her voice and her ideas and that my appearance does not define me , the constant shaming and the industries skinny demands not only got me confused and defensive but some where brought down my belief in myself . It took me a while to get myself to understand and convince myself to start my journey of loosing weight for the screen. ' I am an actor, not an eye candy to be ogled at . I am educated , I should make the change , what's the point if I succumb to their shitty demands !' . All this made me hold on to emotional weight , no matter how hard my body worked my mind was stuck and I wouldn't lose a kilo. But what I have realised now is , the labels are all created by the old structures , and sadly the stakeholders of the old structures are still there running the industry and making them labels , the only way to bring about the change you want is to enter the fort and crumble it from the inside and me losing weight has only made me faster and mentally more focused to stand by my agenda and to make sure these old sexists, workoholic, labelling structures are gone for good. One step at a time but don't let them scare you .
Priyanka Mohata
Working with immigration authorities, Liverpool.
1. What is that one thing that makes you get out of the bed?
In one word: Responsibilities: Towards my family and community
2. How do you balance work and life responsibilities?
Planning quite in advance for regular work, organising my time and informing people who need to know my plan including my family.
3. What is some of the advice you share with young women entering a male-dominated profession?
Its a tough world. Be tough and keep going. Remember no one - not even richest person had easy life. Everyone faces challanges- its on oneself how they respond to it. If we learn how to respond - male and female won't matter.
4. What advice would you give to the next generation of female leaders?
Don't compare yourself with anyone - you are unique. We have that extra quality of being compassionate. We can use this quality to make difference in workplace. Family and work both needs you. Don't ignore one for another. Its a tough one but we have dual responsibility, balance is the key.
5. What has been the most significant barrier in your career? And how did you overcome it?
I have moved 3 countries and in 14 yrs of my marriage, I have lived in 10 houses, had two boys which I plan to raise as asset for the community. But this journey had taken toll on my career. I kept my professional skills and tech skills by extensive volunteering and became North UK educational lead for the charitu. When the time was right I jumped started my career. I gave my 100% at work. Keeping up my skills thru volunteering helped me a great deal. As a mature person I understand quickly and deliver the task correctly and in time. Last but not the least: positive attitude matters : be it high or low time of life, stay positive : as a general conception that staying positive is difficult, its in-fact not difficult at all. Count your blessings and be thankful.
Kuntal Vyas Aggarwal
Founder and Design Head RESAIKI INTERIOR
1. What is that one thing that makes you get out of the bed?
Initially it was my gym (I love working out) and now it's my baby!! He is that one thing that takes me out of my bed on a superficial level!! however if you talk where what keeps me motivated I think the love and passion for my work! And will to do something more than the regular!!
2. How do you balance work and life responsibilities?
I think it takes a lot..... in a women when it comes to managing a house, a home, managing everything that goes with it, raising a kid and loving your work n scaling that up too. this becomes difficult be done single-handedly by women. I think supportive n understanding husband very important. Then I invest is good support staff and a family you can trust and you they are just around when needed! All these factors cumulatively helps you grow in all the dimensions! And I am previledge with it!
3. What is some of the advice you share with young women entering a male-dominated profession?
One thing feel I did which was a huge mistake in my past when I just started my career was underestimating myself, my caliber and getting intimidated!
women have a lot more than anybody out there and we need to remind ourselves that things time and again! Reminding that we can do anything we can achieve anything and should not allow ourselves others to put us down!
4. What advice would you give to the next generation of female leaders?
Being updated.
In your profession, knowing the latest things, working on latest software will always keep us ahead in this man's work. Technically men are wired in a way that they can get these technologies faster n hence to keep up in this race knowing all this is a mandate!
5. What has been the most significant barrier in your career? And how did you overcome it?
I can't ask for work
N I can't ask for my own money! I lack in this so much because I work for passion, so money around it never made any sense to me...
However when I got into Business I understood earning money is just not for myself but for this amazing team I am working with.
I am still a bad negotiator but have got one gem on board to do it for me... that's My husband!!😀
Hope you have also gained some amazing insights learning from these leading ladies, we would love to hear your thoughts as well - your intention,journey or maybe struggles ?
Drop them in the comment section below.