Gone are the days when a woman's role was confined to the four walls of her husbands' home. Right from morning till late night busy in household chorus. Right from changing nappies of new born, cooking, washing, cleaning, knitting, sewing, making achar, papad, chuntney, looking health of elders and not the least satisfying sexual as well as emotional needs of her husband.
Situation has dramatically changed during last 15-20 years. Woman's participation has increased in public and social life. They are into so many professions which were earlier treated as male domain. Now women are top bankers, hoteliers, entrepreneur , bureaucrats. Indra Nooyi, woman of Indian origin is Chairman and CEO of Pepsico Worldwide, who is among the top 10 highest paid US Business Woman and earning US $ 14.03 million per annum. Then Chanda Kochar, MD CEO ICCI Bank, Shikha Sharma, MD and CEO Axix Bank, Urvi Piramal, chairperson - Peninsula Land ($1.74 Million), Preetha Reddy, MD, Apollo Hospitals, Vinita Bali MD, Britania Industries, Renu Sud Karnad, MD HDFC Bank, Zia Mody, Cofounder AZB Partners, Shobhna Bhartia, Chairperson and editorial director HT media , Naina Lal Kidwai, Group General Manager and Country Head HSBC India, Kalpana Morporia, CEO J P Morgan India, Roopa Kudwa, MD and CEO Crisil are some of the names in Indian Businesses competing with male dominated business world.
Business Today, leading Indian Business Magazine prepare a list of Most Powerful Business Woman every year and invite the winners to receive the honor. This function include some thought provoking discussions and keynote address by eminent global business person. This time the event took place at Trident BKC, Mumbai.
The event started with Panel discussion on 'Why there should be more women in board rooms', the panel speakers were kalpana Morporia, CEO, JP Morgan, Preetha Reddy, MD, Apollo Hospitals, Leena Nair, Executive Director HR Hindustan Uni Lever. The fact is that most of the Indian Companies are owned by business families and boards members are decorative and ornamental. Decisions are taken by the key family members. In these circumstances, whether the board members are male or female it will not make much difference. There is a need to bring more professionalism in business then some positive changes will take place.
Farida Lambay, Co-founder and Trustee Pratham spoke on 'Path to a stronger female voice in the world's biggest democracy'. She had tried to give a bigger picture of efforts and gaps in woman empowerment initiative in various states. Even in the progressive state like Maharasthra there are certain pockets like Vidarbha where much has to be done. She has also give example of Bihar, which was regarded as most backward state but good governance has changed the face. Nitish Kumar has provided cycle to every school going girl. This has helped them to be regular in their study.
Another interesting panel discussion was on role of young business woman. The panel for discussion were Devita Saraf, CEO Vu Technologies, Zahabiya Khorakiwala, MD Wockhardt Hospitals, Lara Balsara, Director medison World. The panelists felt that it is education and family support which has given social empowerment to young generation of woman. Devita narrated few interesting anecdotes.
In Marwadi community it is a general perception that the young woman who is heading a business will ultimately leave it after her marriage. Another thing, in north and particularly in Rajasthan woman still lead their life in the four walls of their house, when Devita gone to open her show room in Jaipur the ladies came to attend the ceremony covering their face in ghoongat(veil). They could not believe that a young lady can run a big business ! But all the three participants in panel got their position to the top because their parents started the venture so they missed the pain of a CEO who is an outsider and able to reach that position.If there would be one person in the discussion who could made it up despite the fact that she is an outsider probably the discussion would be more relevant.
Ms. Chua Sock Koong, Group CEO, Sing Tel, flown from Singapore to deliver key note address.
Sing Tel is one of the largest telecom player in Asia, they also have stakes in Bharati Airtel in India. Ms. Chua told that Singapore is a just a perfect place for woman to work. They fare very well in the corporate and business world. The two representative from Sing Tel on Bharati Airtel Board are by the way are ladies. Chua is around 52 years and she has very smooth ride in her career. She opined that presence of woman in work place make it more decent as well as provide sense of equality.
Situation has dramatically changed during last 15-20 years. Woman's participation has increased in public and social life. They are into so many professions which were earlier treated as male domain. Now women are top bankers, hoteliers, entrepreneur , bureaucrats. Indra Nooyi, woman of Indian origin is Chairman and CEO of Pepsico Worldwide, who is among the top 10 highest paid US Business Woman and earning US $ 14.03 million per annum. Then Chanda Kochar, MD CEO ICCI Bank, Shikha Sharma, MD and CEO Axix Bank, Urvi Piramal, chairperson - Peninsula Land ($1.74 Million), Preetha Reddy, MD, Apollo Hospitals, Vinita Bali MD, Britania Industries, Renu Sud Karnad, MD HDFC Bank, Zia Mody, Cofounder AZB Partners, Shobhna Bhartia, Chairperson and editorial director HT media , Naina Lal Kidwai, Group General Manager and Country Head HSBC India, Kalpana Morporia, CEO J P Morgan India, Roopa Kudwa, MD and CEO Crisil are some of the names in Indian Businesses competing with male dominated business world.
Business Today, leading Indian Business Magazine prepare a list of Most Powerful Business Woman every year and invite the winners to receive the honor. This function include some thought provoking discussions and keynote address by eminent global business person. This time the event took place at Trident BKC, Mumbai.
The event started with Panel discussion on 'Why there should be more women in board rooms', the panel speakers were kalpana Morporia, CEO, JP Morgan, Preetha Reddy, MD, Apollo Hospitals, Leena Nair, Executive Director HR Hindustan Uni Lever. The fact is that most of the Indian Companies are owned by business families and boards members are decorative and ornamental. Decisions are taken by the key family members. In these circumstances, whether the board members are male or female it will not make much difference. There is a need to bring more professionalism in business then some positive changes will take place.
Another interesting panel discussion was on role of young business woman. The panel for discussion were Devita Saraf, CEO Vu Technologies, Zahabiya Khorakiwala, MD Wockhardt Hospitals, Lara Balsara, Director medison World. The panelists felt that it is education and family support which has given social empowerment to young generation of woman. Devita narrated few interesting anecdotes.
In Marwadi community it is a general perception that the young woman who is heading a business will ultimately leave it after her marriage. Another thing, in north and particularly in Rajasthan woman still lead their life in the four walls of their house, when Devita gone to open her show room in Jaipur the ladies came to attend the ceremony covering their face in ghoongat(veil). They could not believe that a young lady can run a big business ! But all the three participants in panel got their position to the top because their parents started the venture so they missed the pain of a CEO who is an outsider and able to reach that position.If there would be one person in the discussion who could made it up despite the fact that she is an outsider probably the discussion would be more relevant.
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| face to face with new face of Indian business |
Ms. Chua Sock Koong, Group CEO, Sing Tel, flown from Singapore to deliver key note address.
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| Ms. Chua of Sing Tel delivering her Key Note Address |
Sing Tel is one of the largest telecom player in Asia, they also have stakes in Bharati Airtel in India. Ms. Chua told that Singapore is a just a perfect place for woman to work. They fare very well in the corporate and business world. The two representative from Sing Tel on Bharati Airtel Board are by the way are ladies. Chua is around 52 years and she has very smooth ride in her career. She opined that presence of woman in work place make it more decent as well as provide sense of equality.
.jpg "A Gumnam Actress Strips Nude to Protest Auto/taxi Fare Hike")
