I’m sure most of us love to watch movies and almost all of us are fans of the
and almost all of us are fans of the
and almost all of us are fans of the superheroes Marvel’s Avengers
superheroes Marvel’s Avengers
superheroes Marvel’s Avengers and DC’s Justice League may I request
and DC’s Justice League may I request
and DC’s Justice League may I request all of you to quickly close your eyes
all of you to quickly close your eyes
all of you to quickly close your eyes for a couple of seconds and visualize
for a couple of seconds and visualize
for a couple of seconds and visualize your favorite superhero by show of hands
your favorite superhero by show of hands
your favorite superhero by show of hands how many of us visualized Superman
how many of us visualized Superman
how many of us visualized Superman spider-man Batman Incredible Hulk
spider-man Batman Incredible Hulk
spider-man Batman Incredible Hulk invincible Iron Man Thor now for some
invincible Iron Man Thor now for some
invincible Iron Man Thor now for some quick responses how many of us
quick responses how many of us
quick responses how many of us visualized Black Widow as our favorite
visualized Black Widow as our favorite
visualized Black Widow as our favorite superhero to share some trivia here
superhero to share some trivia here
superhero to share some trivia here Black Widow is a founding member of
Black Widow is a founding member of
Black Widow is a founding member of Marvel’s Avengers how many of us thought
Marvel’s Avengers how many of us thought
Marvel’s Avengers how many of us thought of the Wonder Woman for the uninitiated
of the Wonder Woman for the uninitiated
of the Wonder Woman for the uninitiated The Wonder Woman is another founding
The Wonder Woman is another founding
The Wonder Woman is another founding member of Justice League
member of Justice League
member of Justice League superheroes are typecast to be men who
superheroes are typecast to be men who
superheroes are typecast to be men who are waiting to rescue women most often
are waiting to rescue women most often
are waiting to rescue women most often on the other hand need to be rescued now
on the other hand need to be rescued now
on the other hand need to be rescued now quickly close your eyes for a couple of
quickly close your eyes for a couple of
quickly close your eyes for a couple of seconds again and let me ask you to
seconds again and let me ask you to
seconds again and let me ask you to visualize your favorite person you would
visualize your favorite person you would
visualize your favorite person you would want standing next to you when you fell
want standing next to you when you fell
want standing next to you when you fell sick
sick
sick god forbid by show of hands please tell
god forbid by show of hands please tell
god forbid by show of hands please tell me how many of you visualized a feminine
me how many of you visualized a feminine
me how many of you visualized a feminine figure she could be your mom your sister
figure she could be your mom your sister
figure she could be your mom your sister girlfriend nurse this is the irony the
girlfriend nurse this is the irony the
girlfriend nurse this is the irony the pharma industry is synonymous with care
pharma industry is synonymous with care
pharma industry is synonymous with care caregiving 66 percent of caregivers are
caregiving 66 percent of caregivers are
caregiving 66 percent of caregivers are women but we have far less women in our
women but we have far less women in our
women but we have far less women in our workforce today I’m not here to share
workforce today I’m not here to share
workforce today I’m not here to share statistics on the abysmally low gender
statistics on the abysmally low gender
statistics on the abysmally low gender ratios that our pharma industry is
ratios that our pharma industry is
ratios that our pharma industry is struggling with
struggling with
struggling with nor am i here to cry out host to you
nor am i here to cry out host to you
nor am i here to cry out host to you that we need women leaders in the pharma
that we need women leaders in the pharma
that we need women leaders in the pharma industry or neither am i going to try to
industry or neither am i going to try to
industry or neither am i going to try to reiterate to each of you that our
reiterate to each of you that our
reiterate to each of you that our industry requires an urgent perception
industry requires an urgent perception
industry requires an urgent perception makeover the perception being that we
makeover the perception being that we
makeover the perception being that we need male medical representatives you’d
need male medical representatives you’d
need male medical representatives you’d probably find numerous well-written
probably find numerous well-written
probably find numerous well-written articles that Google will throw at you
articles that Google will throw at you
articles that Google will throw at you at an instance and speaking of Google I
at an instance and speaking of Google I
at an instance and speaking of Google I think it was a wise man who once
think it was a wise man who once
think it was a wise man who once remarked Google is a woman she throws
remarked Google is a woman she throws
remarked Google is a woman she throws out suggestions even before you can
out suggestions even before you can
out suggestions even before you can finish a sentence I think the power of
finish a sentence I think the power of
finish a sentence I think the power of digital communication is the talk for
digital communication is the talk for
digital communication is the talk for another TEDx table today I am here to
another TEDx table today I am here to
another TEDx table today I am here to share my experiences with each of you as
share my experiences with each of you as
share my experiences with each of you as a career woman whose career has been
a career woman whose career has been
a career woman whose career has been associated with the conventional
associated with the conventional
associated with the conventional male-dominated industries of
male-dominated industries of
male-dominated industries of manufacturing auto engineering and now
manufacturing auto engineering and now
manufacturing auto engineering and now in pharma a quickly mind I was brought
in pharma a quickly mind I was brought
in pharma a quickly mind I was brought up by a young widowed mother and I must
up by a young widowed mother and I must
up by a young widowed mother and I must admit that my family has very strong
admit that my family has very strong
admit that my family has very strong matriarchal roots owing to the fact that
matriarchal roots owing to the fact that
matriarchal roots owing to the fact that we hail from God’s own country I am
we hail from God’s own country I am
we hail from God’s own country I am surrounded by strong-willed women who
surrounded by strong-willed women who
surrounded by strong-willed women who are not afraid of making bold decisions
are not afraid of making bold decisions
are not afraid of making bold decisions meet my grandmother my mother my sister
meet my grandmother my mother my sister
meet my grandmother my mother my sister and now even my 10 year old niece did
and now even my 10 year old niece did
and now even my 10 year old niece did this debtor me from entering into a
this debtor me from entering into a
this debtor me from entering into a world full of male colleagues and I
world full of male colleagues and I
world full of male colleagues and I representing the minority class did it
representing the minority class did it
representing the minority class did it intimidate me no it didn’t matter it
intimidate me no it didn’t matter it
intimidate me no it didn’t matter it didn’t matter because I was fortunate to
didn’t matter because I was fortunate to
didn’t matter because I was fortunate to have colleagues who are progressive in
have colleagues who are progressive in
have colleagues who are progressive in their thinking I was fortunate to have
their thinking I was fortunate to have
their thinking I was fortunate to have bosses who appreciated my hard work and
bosses who appreciated my hard work and
bosses who appreciated my hard work and fired me with equal gusto as they did my
fired me with equal gusto as they did my
fired me with equal gusto as they did my male counterparts because gender did not
male counterparts because gender did not
male counterparts because gender did not matter
matter
matter unfortunately numerous Indian
unfortunately numerous Indian
unfortunately numerous Indian women are not as fortunate as I numbers
women are not as fortunate as I numbers
women are not as fortunate as I numbers are not as encouraging as my experience
are not as encouraging as my experience
are not as encouraging as my experience the catalyst points out that 50% of
the catalyst points out that 50% of
the catalyst points out that 50% of working women in India drop out between
working women in India drop out between
working women in India drop out between the junior and middle management levels
the junior and middle management levels
the junior and middle management levels as compared to 29% in Asia a credit
as compared to 29% in Asia a credit
as compared to 29% in Asia a credit suisse Report ranked India as the second
suisse Report ranked India as the second
suisse Report ranked India as the second lowest in terms of women in senior
lowest in terms of women in senior
lowest in terms of women in senior management levels a KPMG study pointed
management levels a KPMG study pointed
management levels a KPMG study pointed out that there are several factors that
out that there are several factors that
out that there are several factors that hinder the hire of senior women managers
hinder the hire of senior women managers
hinder the hire of senior women managers two reasons caught my attention one
two reasons caught my attention one
two reasons caught my attention one existing gender stereotypes and to
existing gender stereotypes and to
existing gender stereotypes and to inadequate role models for senior women
inadequate role models for senior women
inadequate role models for senior women this I think has a lot to do with the
this I think has a lot to do with the
this I think has a lot to do with the way we women are wired
way we women are wired
way we women are wired most of us women have three weird
most of us women have three weird
most of us women have three weird strains of DNA in us the first one is
strains of DNA in us the first one is
strains of DNA in us the first one is our inert need to be best at everything
our inert need to be best at everything
our inert need to be best at everything we do we think and we think and we start
we do we think and we think and we start
we do we think and we think and we start working just to prove a point to our
working just to prove a point to our
working just to prove a point to our male colleagues on a lighter note I
male colleagues on a lighter note I
male colleagues on a lighter note I think women spend more time thinking
think women spend more time thinking
think women spend more time thinking what men are thinking rather than what
what men are thinking rather than what
what men are thinking rather than what men spend thinking what does it do to us
men spend thinking what does it do to us
men spend thinking what does it do to us it exerts so much pressure on us that we
it exerts so much pressure on us that we
it exerts so much pressure on us that we burn out at work much before our male
burn out at work much before our male
burn out at work much before our male colleagues do and this is a researched
colleagues do and this is a researched
colleagues do and this is a researched fact young millennial women burn out at
fact young millennial women burn out at
fact young millennial women burn out at work as soon as they touch 30 the second
work as soon as they touch 30 the second
work as soon as they touch 30 the second were we our DNA that most of us possess
were we our DNA that most of us possess
were we our DNA that most of us possess has been very clearly articulated by
has been very clearly articulated by
has been very clearly articulated by Sheryl Sandberg she says ask a man a
Sheryl Sandberg she says ask a man a
Sheryl Sandberg she says ask a man a question how did you do the great job
question how did you do the great job
question how did you do the great job the reply I’m awesome obviously why do
the reply I’m awesome obviously why do
the reply I’m awesome obviously why do you even ask ask a woman the same
you even ask ask a woman the same
you even ask ask a woman the same question how did you do a great job
question how did you do a great job
question how did you do a great job the reply I worked really hard I’m
the reply I worked really hard I’m
the reply I worked really hard I’m really lucky somebody really helped me
really lucky somebody really helped me
really lucky somebody really helped me women find excuses and reasons for their
women find excuses and reasons for their
women find excuses and reasons for their success
success
success another third viewer DNA is the fact
another third viewer DNA is the fact
another third viewer DNA is the fact that most of us women operate from
that most of us women operate from
that most of us women operate from biases that are already existing in our
biases that are already existing in our
biases that are already existing in our minds I am a proud owner of all these
minds I am a proud owner of all these
minds I am a proud owner of all these three weird strains I exert so much
three weird strains I exert so much
three weird strains I exert so much pressure on myself that I end up
pressure on myself that I end up
pressure on myself that I end up performing a juggling act on the home
performing a juggling act on the home
performing a juggling act on the home and work front
and work front
and work front I almost every time give the reason of
I almost every time give the reason of
I almost every time give the reason of working really hard as my reason for
working really hard as my reason for
working really hard as my reason for success and unfortunately I am a victim
success and unfortunately I am a victim
success and unfortunately I am a victim of the gender driven mindset thinking
of the gender driven mindset thinking
of the gender driven mindset thinking that I’m so used to to articulate the
that I’m so used to to articulate the
that I’m so used to to articulate the third point let me share with you a
third point let me share with you a
third point let me share with you a rather embarrassing incident that
rather embarrassing incident that
rather embarrassing incident that happened with me a couple of weeks back
happened with me a couple of weeks back
happened with me a couple of weeks back my son and I were invited for a birthday
my son and I were invited for a birthday
my son and I were invited for a birthday party before we went to the party we
party before we went to the party we
party before we went to the party we decided to go to Hamleys and pick up a
decided to go to Hamleys and pick up a
decided to go to Hamleys and pick up a gift for the birthday girl as if it was
gift for the birthday girl as if it was
gift for the birthday girl as if it was my second nature I knew exactly which
my second nature I knew exactly which
my second nature I knew exactly which section I had to be in I had been there
section I had to be in I had been there
section I had to be in I had been there so many times to pick up gifts for my
so many times to pick up gifts for my
so many times to pick up gifts for my boy and his friends so I went to the
boy and his friends so I went to the
boy and his friends so I went to the most comfortable zone of WWE action
most comfortable zone of WWE action
most comfortable zone of WWE action figures staring at me
figures staring at me
figures staring at me nerf guns surrounding me and building
nerf guns surrounding me and building
nerf guns surrounding me and building blocks here is where I condemned my
blocks here is where I condemned my
blocks here is where I condemned my foolish thinking I thought I would not
foolish thinking I thought I would not
foolish thinking I thought I would not find anything worthy in the section for
find anything worthy in the section for
find anything worthy in the section for the birthday girl worse still I thought
the birthday girl worse still I thought
the birthday girl worse still I thought she would be happy playing a board game
she would be happy playing a board game
she would be happy playing a board game or reading a book we as a society we as
or reading a book we as a society we as
or reading a book we as a society we as women had to move and transform
women had to move and transform
women had to move and transform ourselves from the thinking that is
ourselves from the thinking that is
ourselves from the thinking that is engraved in us girls love to play with
engraved in us girls love to play with
engraved in us girls love to play with dolls boys love cars we need to start
dolls boys love cars we need to start
dolls boys love cars we need to start thinking and treating them as equals and
thinking and treating them as equals and
thinking and treating them as equals and making them treat each other as equals
making them treat each other as equals
making them treat each other as equals it is only then when these youngsters
it is only then when these youngsters
it is only then when these youngsters grow up it’ll be natural for them to
grow up it’ll be natural for them to
grow up it’ll be natural for them to treat one another as equals oh how many
treat one another as equals oh how many
treat one another as equals oh how many of us have heard this the girl is too
of us have heard this the girl is too
of us have heard this the girl is too bossy
bossy
bossy our boys bossy or no they’re natural
our boys bossy or no they’re natural
our boys bossy or no they’re natural bosses they are meant to lead and what
bosses they are meant to lead and what
bosses they are meant to lead and what about the signature stereotype girls cry
about the signature stereotype girls cry
about the signature stereotype girls cry boys don’t the Geena Davis Institute
boys don’t the Geena Davis Institute
boys don’t the Geena Davis Institute conducted a study in India
conducted a study in India
conducted a study in India it showed that 94% of our professors are
it showed that 94% of our professors are
it showed that 94% of our professors are means 90 percent of our politicians are
means 90 percent of our politicians are
means 90 percent of our politicians are means 60 percent of our journalists are
means 60 percent of our journalists are
means 60 percent of our journalists are males and 85 percent of our doctors are
males and 85 percent of our doctors are
males and 85 percent of our doctors are means oh boy we do live in a patriarchal
means oh boy we do live in a patriarchal
means oh boy we do live in a patriarchal society and I’m quite aware that this
society and I’m quite aware that this
society and I’m quite aware that this one TEDx talk may not change the
one TEDx talk may not change the
one TEDx talk may not change the condition mindsets that we are so used
condition mindsets that we are so used
condition mindsets that we are so used to but if I can engrave in each of you
to but if I can engrave in each of you
to but if I can engrave in each of you the thought of sensitizing our young
the thought of sensitizing our young
the thought of sensitizing our young boys and girls towards gender I think
boys and girls towards gender I think
boys and girls towards gender I think this is a TEDx talk well-delivered
this is a TEDx talk well-delivered
this is a TEDx talk well-delivered sharing my personal experiences I have
sharing my personal experiences I have
sharing my personal experiences I have made some bold decisions myself one was
made some bold decisions myself one was
made some bold decisions myself one was marrying into a different culture at
marrying into a different culture at
marrying into a different culture at that young rebellious age different
that young rebellious age different
that young rebellious age different culture was the last reason why not to
culture was the last reason why not to
culture was the last reason why not to get married to my husband I found and
get married to my husband I found and
get married to my husband I found and here again I’m very fortunate to have
here again I’m very fortunate to have
here again I’m very fortunate to have found a very supportive ecosystem though
found a very supportive ecosystem though
found a very supportive ecosystem though I strongly believe that my husband has
I strongly believe that my husband has
I strongly believe that my husband has to attend all the short courses on
to attend all the short courses on
to attend all the short courses on self-help and self-improvement
self-help and self-improvement
self-help and self-improvement I have not many reasons to complain
I have not many reasons to complain
I have not many reasons to complain unfortunately many Indian women do not
unfortunately many Indian women do not
unfortunately many Indian women do not share this luxury unlike in the West it
share this luxury unlike in the West it
share this luxury unlike in the West it is quite acceptable for prospective
is quite acceptable for prospective
is quite acceptable for prospective employers to probe into the life and the
employers to probe into the life and the
employers to probe into the life and the marital status and the home setters of
marital status and the home setters of
marital status and the home setters of prospective women employees it’s a big
prospective women employees it’s a big
prospective women employees it’s a big selection criteria so with all this
selection criteria so with all this
selection criteria so with all this veered DNA strains in me
veered DNA strains in me
veered DNA strains in me I always wanted to do something and
I always wanted to do something and
I always wanted to do something and something magical did happen exactly a
something magical did happen exactly a
something magical did happen exactly a year back
year back
year back my lady supervisor and here again I’m
my lady supervisor and here again I’m
my lady supervisor and here again I’m fortunate to have a perfect boss call me
fortunate to have a perfect boss call me
fortunate to have a perfect boss call me and ask me to take up an initiative on
and ask me to take up an initiative on
and ask me to take up an initiative on one of the industry issues because our
one of the industry issues because our
one of the industry issues because our organization was celebrating its golden
organization was celebrating its golden
organization was celebrating its golden jubilee and our organization is an
jubilee and our organization is an
jubilee and our organization is an industry body that represents
industry body that represents
industry body that represents research-based pharma companies in India
research-based pharma companies in India
research-based pharma companies in India thus was born the idea of the color of
thus was born the idea of the color of
thus was born the idea of the color of white the color of white is the
white the color of white is the
white the color of white is the publication I’m extremely proud of
publication I’m extremely proud of
publication I’m extremely proud of because it celebrates the successes of
because it celebrates the successes of
because it celebrates the successes of the women leaders in our industry it
the women leaders in our industry it
the women leaders in our industry it opens up new avenues for discussion
opens up new avenues for discussion
opens up new avenues for discussion some women attributed their success to
some women attributed their success to
some women attributed their success to patience a worthy virtue to have while
patience a worthy virtue to have while
patience a worthy virtue to have while some others attributed their success to
some others attributed their success to
some others attributed their success to prioritizing while few others I would
prioritizing while few others I would
prioritizing while few others I would say the smarter ones attributed their
say the smarter ones attributed their
say the smarter ones attributed their success to the fact that they bought
success to the fact that they bought
success to the fact that they bought peace by making friends with their
peace by making friends with their
peace by making friends with their mothers-in-law the color of white is the
mothers-in-law the color of white is the
mothers-in-law the color of white is the color that is reflected through a
color that is reflected through a
color that is reflected through a shattered glass ceiling so what does it
shattered glass ceiling so what does it
shattered glass ceiling so what does it take to shatter this glass ceiling a
take to shatter this glass ceiling a
take to shatter this glass ceiling a very easy yet daunting task the task of
very easy yet daunting task the task of
very easy yet daunting task the task of dreaming we women are consciously or
dreaming we women are consciously or
dreaming we women are consciously or unconsciously afraid of dreaming big
unconsciously afraid of dreaming big
unconsciously afraid of dreaming big because some we’re making dreams big and
because some we’re making dreams big and
because some we’re making dreams big and chasing them does not fit into the
chasing them does not fit into the
chasing them does not fit into the stereotype of making homes and chasing
stereotype of making homes and chasing
stereotype of making homes and chasing our own kids this is my narrative of the
our own kids this is my narrative of the
our own kids this is my narrative of the color of white and I believe that in the
color of white and I believe that in the
color of white and I believe that in the future
future
future as more and more women begin to start
as more and more women begin to start
as more and more women begin to start dreaming they will be able to write
dreaming they will be able to write
dreaming they will be able to write their own colors of white and this will
their own colors of white and this will
their own colors of white and this will empower powerful narratives as we speak
empower powerful narratives as we speak
empower powerful narratives as we speak I’ve already got my point
I’ve already got my point
I’ve already got my point the color of white version – it could
the color of white version – it could
the color of white version – it could focus on the few women who are behind
focus on the few women who are behind
focus on the few women who are behind the camera or the fewer ones who are
the camera or the fewer ones who are
the camera or the fewer ones who are making the films what about a color of
making the films what about a color of
making the films what about a color of white version three which could be a
white version three which could be a
white version three which could be a tribute to the Fast & Furious franchise
tribute to the Fast & Furious franchise
tribute to the Fast & Furious franchise focusing on the very few women racecar
focusing on the very few women racecar
focusing on the very few women racecar drivers we have today Oh before I go I
drivers we have today Oh before I go I
drivers we have today Oh before I go I want to share a trivia with you
want to share a trivia with you
want to share a trivia with you the last of them not many of us would be
the last of them not many of us would be
the last of them not many of us would be aware of the DNA as it is today if not
aware of the DNA as it is today if not
aware of the DNA as it is today if not for the work of a woman scientist
for the work of a woman scientist
for the work of a woman scientist rosalind Franklin whose work on x-ray
rosalind Franklin whose work on x-ray
rosalind Franklin whose work on x-ray diffraction images led to Crick and
diffraction images led to Crick and
diffraction images led to Crick and Watson building the spiral model of the
Watson building the spiral model of the
Watson building the spiral model of the DNA that we are all aware of today women
DNA that we are all aware of today women
DNA that we are all aware of today women need to be the DNA of change before I
need to be the DNA of change before I
need to be the DNA of change before I leave I have a very short video I’d like
leave I have a very short video I’d like
leave I have a very short video I’d like to play many of us know that Neil
to play many of us know that Neil
to play many of us know that Neil Armstrong was the first man on the moon
Armstrong was the first man on the moon
Armstrong was the first man on the moon but most of us do not know that it was a
but most of us do not know that it was a
but most of us do not know that it was a team of women scientists behind
team of women scientists behind
team of women scientists behind Armstrong success I guess a day will
Armstrong success I guess a day will
Armstrong success I guess a day will come in the near future when a woman
come in the near future when a woman
come in the near future when a woman lands on Mars with a team of men
lands on Mars with a team of men
lands on Mars with a team of men scientists behind her success this is my
scientists behind her success this is my
scientists behind her success this is my young son 11 year old son who’s seated
young son 11 year old son who’s seated
young son 11 year old son who’s seated with me and watching me here today and I
with me and watching me here today and I
with me and watching me here today and I am inspired by what he had to say
am inspired by what he had to say
am inspired by what he had to say because he came back from his science
because he came back from his science
because he came back from his science class one day and he said mama why can’t
class one day and he said mama why can’t
class one day and he said mama why can’t we send women to Mars and why can’t men
we send women to Mars and why can’t men
we send women to Mars and why can’t men help them reach them
help them reach them
help them reach them and I think I was really proud and the
and I think I was really proud and the
and I think I was really proud and the different cultures really didn’t matter
different cultures really didn’t matter
different cultures really didn’t matter anymore before I leave I want to tell
anymore before I leave I want to tell
anymore before I leave I want to tell you one more thing I know most of you
you one more thing I know most of you
you one more thing I know most of you are women in this audience and it’s nice
are women in this audience and it’s nice
are women in this audience and it’s nice to see that but it’s very tough being a
to see that but it’s very tough being a
to see that but it’s very tough being a woman we are expected to think like men
woman we are expected to think like men
woman we are expected to think like men look like girls behave like ladies and
look like girls behave like ladies and
look like girls behave like ladies and work like horses so stop putting
work like horses so stop putting
work like horses so stop putting pressure on us thank you
pressure on us thank you
pressure on us thank you you
you
you [Applause]
”
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