About me: A mechanical engineer, a working professional in manufacturing and e-commerce, a mother of a 16-year-old – I’ve seen it all. I’m passionate about bringing positive changes in women in the workplace, school, and college and motivating them with my experiences.

“All the world is a stage”, said William Shakespeare. So, let me show you mine in three stages.

Stage 1: 1982-2004

I’m a late millennial, first-born daughter in a lower-middle-class South Indian family. Does it fit the template of a daily soap? Growing up, I’ve only heard people say “Oh, they are two daughters and no brothers, eh?”

With sponsorships and an educational loan, I completed my engineering course; from there, I saw plenty of restrictions – right from choosing a field to getting a job – these were not normal for girls per se. But I went ahead and chose my career in line with my degree and that made a lot of difference – I was the first lady on the shop floor in the factory where I joined. At this juncture, I could only think of Robert Frost’s poem “The Road Not Taken”- quoting the last three lines.

“Two roads diverged in a wood, and I- I took the one less traveled by,

And that has made all the difference.”      My first learning in life: STEP UP for YOURSELF!

Stage 2: 2004-2020

This was the era that normalized working women; the manufacturing industry thought otherwise. Every time I entered the factory or the shop floor, I understood that I was the only woman employee. While I was proud of the fact that I had started a relay (with no one to pass the baton), I was equally uncertain of how my career was going to proceed in this estrogen-less field. As a visual and kinesthetic person, I found this job interesting by the day. Focusing on my career, I moved the length and breadth of the organization. I took a leap by moving closer to the office; I saved money but lost my comfort zone of friends, family, and city space. I came forward in leading projects and taking up extra initiatives beyond my scope –to prove myself. The initial three years were all about thriving and proving myself in the field – to create history. It was neither for a promotion nor for a change of role. But for earning my place in the team - not as an 11th man [sorry, woman] but be there at the vanguard whose contributions would be recognized. All of this gave me a very sweet fruit – a beautiful journey to cherish.

My second learning in life: NEVER QUIT!

Like everyone, I also had a turning point in my life. The next 16 years gave me a golden opportunity to win my game with a manufacturing giant, followed by a 5-year stint continuing with an e-commerce giant. I was also blessed to find my better half in my workplace, who is my inspiration, my mentor, and my ally, who celebrates me every single moment.

Stage 3: Giving back to the society

One of the toughest times I had to go through was leaving my 6-month baby girl with her grandparents and not quitting my job. While I resumed work after a maternity break, simultaneously judged by people around me, she grew up there until she was ready to go to a full-day school. Today, she’s an independent teenager and as I look back celebrating my 21st year, I understand that it is my decision and my choice to be in operations.

I am a strong believer in personal space; everyone has their own space to grow. It’s all about my individual journey and I compare my own to get clarity of my destination. Similarly, the career path of women cannot be compared with that of men. It is definitely going to be different and unique due to marriage (trail spouse), maternity, and childcare - and that is, again, a choice.

Gratitude:

I have been associated with PUTHRI - the NGO wing of Avtar group for 8+ years, where I contribute by delivering STEM/career counseling sessions, and life skill sessions to girls of Government schools in and around Chennai.

If we take a quick look at our history, it was in 1848 when India got its first girls' school – thanks to Savitribhai Phule and her husband Jyotirao Phule. We may think 170 years would be a good enough time for India to go from receiving its first female graduates to reaching gender parity in the labor force. However, the case is not true even in 2025. Data from the International Labor Organization (ILO) states that only 26.5% of women (ranging from 20-60 years) exist in the labor force. While I’m more than glad to be a part of the force, I wish and hope the percentage increases.

My third and most important learning in life: When it’s time to give back to society, every small move is progress.