When women take the streets, they can light fires: Babita Baruah

Babita Baruah, Managing Partner, GTB India, made a strong case for gender equality in the workplace as well as all spheres of life in her address on ‘The Glint of Broken Glass: Breaking The Glass Ceiling’ at Zee Melt 2018. 

While stating that this topic was close to her heart, Baruah added that she had always thought a lot about how to have more women in corporates – not in terms of mere numbers, but in terms of decision-making roles and how this journey can be kept going. “Melt and, of course, any forum where you have the industry coming together is a good place to start off this kind of conversations to get points of views. 

Baruah stressed, “I think it is important for women to share their personal journey. Because there is a lot of learning from what someone has gone through. And a narrative or story-telling is always a good way to connect.” 

She further said that it was very important to create one’s own code to be the best in the business. “You have to be sensible for sensitivity,” she added. 

Baruah lamented that women always had to give reasons for taking leave from work. “The ladder is broken and it is up to us women to mend it,” she said, while asserting that women will make the workforce more smooth and inclusive. 

She also noted that every choice had a price, “and mine fuels me to do better”. “We have to be loved in the atmosphere full of criticism, because without criticism nobody will adore you,” she added. 

Speaking about her own life and experiences, Baruah said, “I have learned to embrace my scars early in life and I still carry them with pride.” 

She traced her career in advertising, having started out with JWT, and going on to be with WPP for 21 years. Baruah recalled that things weren’t easy when she had joined. “I had to go through various ups and downs. I remember one day, when I was appreciated, but somebody came and told me that my dress was not appropriate. At that time I thought that my wardrobe wasn’t good enough, but my work was. My work never got such kind of adverse comments,” she said. 

Baruah went on to say that for her, winning was not everything, but when she went back to her studies in 2004, she considered winning as everything. So much so that when her family wanted her to be a mother, she thought that she would her progression. 

“But today, let me tell you one thing motherhood is a natural progression, it’s not an interruption. There are lot of things that we have to do apart from our jobs,” Baruah stressed. 

A legacy that she wants to leave for her daughter Zoya was the many mindful souls to mentor her. 

On a parting note, Baruah said, “Its good be feminine and bold, because it’s our strength that we bring to the table.”

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