“Women are naturally better wired to stay calm in the face of adversities”

We, at Adgully, have always saluted and honoured women managers and leaders across diverse fields. W-SUITE is a special initiative from Adgully that has been turning the spotlight on some of the most remarkable women achievers in M&E, Advertising & Marketing, PR & Communication industry. In the refurbished series, we seek to find out how women leaders have been managing their teams and work as well as how they have been navigating through the toughest and most challenging times brought about by the global pandemic.

ALSO READ: “Don’t give a leadership position to tick a check box of gender sensitivity”

Dr Pallavi Rao Chaturvedi is the Executive Vice President of the AISECT Group, a leading social enterprise that has been working extensively towards imparting skills & ICT based education and services across the semi-urban and rural regions of the country for over three decades.

She handles the organisation’s national sales force, marketing strategy for the various AISECT brands as well as the Human Resources for the Group. She is responsible for the welfare of about 15,000 rural entrepreneurs associated with the organisation as well as over 80,000 people who are employed within the widespread AISECT network.

In conversation with Adgully, Dr Pallavi Rao Chaturvedi speaks about  women leaders and crisis management, work-life balance in the new normal, lessons she learned as a woman leader and more.

How do you think the role and scope of women leaders has widened in the post-pandemic world?

While the path towards leadership has not been the easiest for women, the landscape has seen changes in the post-pandemic world owing to ease in geographical restrictions and a hybrid model of working. Embracing technology and connectivity has played a pivotal role in paving way for a level playing field for women leaders across industries. Flexible work schedules have ensured improved productivity while providing opportunities that are unparalleled, women leaders across the globe have secured opportunities that have enhanced their leadership journey.

As it comes naturally, women leaders have been able to navigate through multiple challenges to ensure business continuity without giving into pressure and uncertainty posed by the pandemic. 

The rapid transition to digital, an uncertain economic landscape, charting unknown waters, working from home – how have you been navigating during the COVID-19 times? How are you maintaining work-life balance in the new normal?

During the onset of the pandemic, we were not sure of the impact that it would have on the world around us. As life we once knew changed overnight, we should take credit for being resilient and embracing change in the best possible way. With multiple roles and responsibility at professional and personal level, the one thing that has made a difference is delegating. I had to actively delegate roles and responsibilities in order to ensure none of us are bogged down my pressure.  Staying connected with our teams virtually helped keep our spirits high while we seamlessly worked to ensure optimum productivity. 

Staying indoors for extended period of time with no end in sight can be daunting, I ensured to connect with friends and family, disconnect from work post work hours and spend quality time with people who matter.  It has also been a good opportunity for me to revisit my hobbies and set aside time to enjoy things that fuel my creative juices.

Multiple studies have shown how women leaders performed better during the COVID-19 crisis. According to you, what makes women the best in crisis management?

Women are naturally better wired to stay calm in the face of adversities. We have an inherent trait to work around stressful situations and juggle multiple responsibilities with ease. As most women are primary caregivers at their family, while managing work, personal commitments and overall development, it has helped us prioritize and plan our schedule better.

It has been years of perseverance that has helped us stay calm in a situation that got the better us, while ensuring home and work run like a well-oiled machine.

What are the five most effective lessons that you have learned as a woman leader?

While leadership is an ongoing journey of learning, unlearning and relearning, a few aspects are core to having an impact on people around you:

• Empathy – Having an empathetic approach to your team is one of the most crucial aspects that can move you from being a good leader to a great mentor
• Perseverance – While the going gets tough, it is important for us to keep a brave front and lead the team from front, with a never say die attitude
• Learning from mistakes - It goes without saying that we learn the most from the mistakes we make. It is important to acknowledge our shortcoming and actively works towards addressing them
• Innovation – In today’s rapidly changing world, we need to be on our toes to come up with ideas that have an impact and make a difference. Thinking out of the box and being solution oriented is the need of the hour
• Collaboration – Effective collaboration is extremely important to build high performing teams, especially in a world that is governed by virtual channels

Gender sensitivity and inclusion in the new normal – how can organisations effectively encourage and groom women leaders in challenging times?

By providing a level playing field, organisations can herald more women towards their leadership journey. Organisations can help by providing effective training and development, opportunities to try different roles and encouraging women to think beyond the horizon. Remote and hybrid work culture has been one of the biggest game changers to enable women rejoin the workforce and pursue their passion. While women have been doing exceedingly well in leadership roles across industries, the need of the hour is to recognize talent and provide opportunities that will chart their success journey.