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 DAN India, 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.
Anupama Ramaswamy, National Creative Director, Dentsu Impact
There is a traditional way to write achievements, which are professional victories. But I think real achievement is best measured with growth, where you grow as a person, your brands grow beyond the market metrics and you embed people you work with higher values. While all the brands that I work with have been a joy to work but I take special satisfaction in the work for Maruti Suzuki. An industry that has been seen as a male bastion, based on the assumption that only men love and appreciate machines, there was a special joy in busting that myth and glass ceiling. Who works, who understands, even who drives were all defined in a unidimensional manner. It was a journey, where one had to bring about a change by removing one brick at a time. Today if you compare ads of the brand you will feel that growth. While this belief was personal, but this change was collective. We all grew together.
There is the unconscious bias around us, about what brands women should associate with, for example, fashion, food, kitchen or stuff for the home. But I believe we as women are the only ones who can overcome this. There are no rules on success but if you believe that you will succeed, there is a greater chance you will.
INSPIRING WOMEN
Most women believe that they need to choose between their profession or career and home and personal life. I believe their individual biases stop them from dreaming big or taking chances. My advice to them is to make that move, take your chance, the worst that can happen is that you may fail. Either way, you will learn something. Either, what one should do or what one should not.
But before anything else, believe that you will succeed. And in that, if anyone calls you aggressive so be it. Take it with a smile, and say you love being that. Instead of highlighting how hard it is to be a woman in advertising, share about your love for the work and business. When we love our work, I doubt we would think about work-life balance.
Sunaina Jairath, Director, Perfect Relations
As a working woman, I think every day of your life has testing moments! However, in context of the professional road traversed so far, there have been instances where clients have been dissatisfied with the services and in such cases instances of making excuses it is important to step up, own up to the gaps and prepare for course correction. Your team needs to see that as their leader you don’t shirk away from taking responsibility for missteps and prepare for correction.
Inspiring Women
I personally believe women need to get over the SuperWoman& Martyr syndrome. It is ok to take help and invest in self-care. As we juggle multiple roles and responsibilities, it is important to understand the need for self-care. Guilt is I think a woman’s constant companion – something we need to give up. Invest in a hobby, take some time even if it is 30mins for yourself – go for a walk, read, watch something – it is important to switch off. Personally, I don’t shy away from taking help from extended friends and families and my 1-hour at the gym is usually non-negotiable.
Madhura Ranade, Head Branded Content & Partnerships – Isobar India
I am not sure I can mention a single moment of success – for me it is a long road, a journey that is tough but sweet at the same time. If you are leader, it doesn’t necessarily mean you need to lead a large team of people to manage, but I am grateful to have experienced a one of kind setup, in handling a large team dedicated to a single account. It challenged me on a daily basis, it burned me out, but the work I was doing motivated me in a way that I had never experienced before – to wake up everyday and feel this way, for me, means you are on the path to success. To be able to do this daily, and be recognized for it is a special feeling– not because I was a woman leader, but, because I got the recognition in spite of being a woman. Unfortunately as women, need to push a little bit harder but you need to keep telling yourself it is going to be worth it.
Inspiring Women
This is something that I wish I had learned a bit earlier in my life but I feel that performance is actually improved when our life becomes well- balanced – don’t ignore your personal life to thrive in your professional life. The truth is that nobody reaches the top without help and support from others, especially family. As aspiring women leaders, remember to be constantly curious, push yourself to be better. You are your own competition. Always strive to be the hustler in the room. Internal self-motivation is what we need to seek, because if you’re not pushing yourself, who will?
