This Women’s day Medianews4u.com is acknowledging some women leaders of the Media, Marketing and Advertising fraternity who have given more than expected.
Presenting to you Women leaders from Zee Entertainment Enterprises Limited (ZEEL), who share their experiences of breaking the gender stereotypes and how they continue to inspire many other women who are true leaders in the making.
Nimisha Pandey, Head – Hindi Originals, ZEE5
Inspiring Women
Being a content creator, the ability of stories to touch people’s lives inspires me. To know that these stories can give people comfort, hope, joy or escape makes me want to do this every day. Travelling is another thing that truly inspires me as it makes us see new things and sometimes same things with new perspective. It keeps you humble and teaches you to adapt. My message to women co-workers would be to not let anyone else define who you can or cannot be. It is difficult for people to accept women in commanding positions but do not let that discourage you. There were several times when I was leading a team of male members behind the camera who found it extremely tough to take directions from a woman in that was traditionally perceived as a male bastion. My passion and determination kept me going. My advice would be to prepare yourself for any role life has to offer you and believe in yourself and your potential. Always remember, the world will never see you as a leader, if you don’t see yourself as one.
Empowering Women
I believe the conversation needs to move beyond just the workplace to the entire ecosystem. How do we as women leaders become voices for the several others in this industry and encourage them to take on leadership roles. For me, its not just about empowering my co-workers but also being the voice for women content creators in the M&E ecosystem and giving them a platform to narrate stories. We need to encourage more opportunities for women not only across organisations, but also in the production ecosystem even if it means we all need to walk the extra mile to give them this platform. More than empowerment, I feel we need to be cheerleaders for each other from time to time and push one to go beyond and do more.
Archana Anand, Chief Business Officer, ZEE5 Global
Inspiring Women
I’m at my most inspired and driven when I’m working on something where I have the ability to impact real change and make a difference. It is this that drives me, and what I would share with all my co-workers. Find that project or initiative where you can make a clear, tangible difference. This is what will keep you charged and inspire you to come into work day after day. Fight to be a part of such opportunities and the inspiration will follow. This would be my message to all my co-workers and not just the women because for me, work and leadership are gender-agnostic. I don’t walk into work thinking of myself as a woman leader, but merely a leader with things to do and goals to achieve.
Empowering Women
I look to empower my entire team, not just the women. I have a young team and I’ve seen, especially over this past year, that both the men and women face the same issues and challenges of balancing work and home. I’ve seen the men play a very equal role in shouldering responsibilities and managing home and work. As a leader, it is important for me to enable my team to succeed, and I operate very heavily on trust. I guide, set context, and give complete ownership. Then I back them and cover them if they fail. So trust, ownership and enablement is how I empower my team and encourage them to lead their teams in turn, and I do hope I lead by example.
Shyamala Venkatachalam, Chief Legal Officer, ZEE
Inspiring Women
I’m inspired by people who take joy in resolving problems and making our world a better (and more egalitarian) place.
My message to women co-workers is this; “Every individual is unique, and brings fresh perspective to group thinking and dynamics. Each one of you has an equal opportunity to serve, shine and to succeed.”
Empowering Women
Simply by treating each individual as an equal contributor to group success, regardless of gender.
I always advise my women colleagues to celebrate and preserve their individuality by balancing responsibilities at work and home…to never sacrifice one for the other. Independence is the foundation of true (and fair) interdependence.
Shailja Kejriwal, CCO, Special Projects, ZEE
Inspiring Women
Storytelling is the single most powerful agent of social change! This thought inspires me in my writing, producing or launching a brand like Zindagi and my message to all my co- workers is to use this power responsibly.
Empowering Women
By not thinking of them as women but as collaborators and by encouraging socio-political discourse in general!
