Women power at IIM-K
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What did it take for these young women to make it to one of the country's top management institutions? What was their experience like? And what is their advice to other students, especially girls, who dream of joining an Indian Institute of Management. J.S. BABLU catches up with a handful of women students at IIM, Kozhikode.
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WOMEN'S BRIGADE: A group of IIM-K women students. - PHOTO: S. RAMESH KURUP
THOUSANDS DREAM of getting into an Indian Institute of Management every year, but few make it. And among the few who do make it, fewer still are women. Why is it that so? Is it because the dice are loaded against women?
No says Namrata Rao, one among the limited number of women students at the Indian Institute of Management, Kozhikode (IIM-K). There are no barriers. "Nothing can stop you if you have the will to do it," says this Delhi girl. Focus and determination can enable one to get what one wants, says Suma Kamath, who is from Karnataka.
Dream big
Dream big says, Priya T.S, a Thrissur girl. "Never compromise on your dreams because you are a woman. I was one of you till a year back. I made it, with a little practice and a lot of conviction, and you can make it too," she says. "You are in if you are good. It's a level playing ground. Do not have fear of any prejudices or biases and do not expect preferential treatment," says Sharika Munshi, who is from Kolkata. Malavika Narayan, from Chennai, advises all to believe in themselves.
"You are as good as you think you are. No one can decide what you can or cannot achieve other than you yourself," says Pavithra B. Poonacha from Bangalore.
They should know. They were among the select group of women from different parts of the country who made it to the Postgraduate Programme (PGP) in Management at IIM-K.
Fewer engineers
Then what is keeping girls away from these institutions? "The reason for the lesser number of girls in IIMs is similar to the reason as to why more women are not making it to engineering colleges.
More than 70 per cent of students here (IIM-K) are engineers and if more women get into engineering, there will definitely be more women at the IIMs," observes Pavithra. This is an opinion many other women students there share.
Another reason is that fewer number of women students apply for the Common Admission Test (CAT). "The ratio of female candidates applying for CAT is very low when compared to their male counterparts," says Priya.
According to Malini Pande, second year student from Uttaranchal, very few women opt for higher studies.
Societal pressure
Sharika says the average age of an IIM batch is increasing. "People with two to three years of work experience apply and get selected. The pressures on women to marry and settle down are higher than that on men. Hence, the relatively low number of applications," argues Sharika. Namrata and Madhu Singh, both first year students, also agree with these observations.
"We should encourage more women to take up education with their careers in mind. Only then will we be able to increase the number of women in the IIMs," suggests Priya.
Corporate world
What about life in the corporate world? Do they think the corporate sector will welcome them with open arms?
They vouch that the corporate sector offers women a level playing field. They believe women too can make it big in the Indian corporate world, despite reports of women still not being able to "break the glass ceiling" and reach top positions in the Indian corporate world.
Difficult task
Priya admits though that the task is likely to be 100 times more difficult for women than it is for men. "The main ingredient for a successful woman in the corporate world would be an understanding spouse, a supportive family and, conviction and an ability to work efficiently," she observes.
Male-female ratio
Industry statistics have it that the male-female ratio in the IT field in the country will be 65:35 by the end of 2005. "Companies want more women in their organisations. This would give rise to excellent opportunities for women," says Priya.
Namrata feels that Indian women had already made it to the top and hence, "there is no looking back." These girls also dismiss the popular notion that marketing is a male-dominated job and human resources a branch that is suitable for women.
Performance matters
Madhusmitha, a second year student feels that the corporate world rewards individuals based on their performance.
"The number of woman making it big in the corporate world is hardly mind-boggling, but I am sure there will be many more in the years to come," says Suma.
"Women have proved that they are as good as, if not better, than men in the corporate world and hence the question of whether woman can make it big in the corporate world is in itself redundant in today's world," says Pavithra.
Genuine interest
Priya believes management education is not for everyone. "Only those who are interested in the business side of day-to-day activities of organisations or entrepreneurship would find it exciting.
If you are genuinely interested, there are no hurdles that you cannot cross." Students have limited hours of classes and spend most of their days executing projects, assignments, case studies etc. "There are days when sleep takes the backseat. But then it is not all work and no play. There are also seminars, cultural festivals and sports meets," observes Priya.
For Pavithra, who has almost seven years of work experience, the long break from academics made it difficult for her to adjust to classroom sessions and assignments at first.
However, she says that a couple of years of work experience inmproves one's understanding of the concepts taught in the classrooms.
Their role models
N. R. NARAYANA MURTHY, chairman and chief mentor officer, Infosys Technologies Limited, is the role model of both Namrata Rao and Pavithra B.Poonacha of IIM-K. His better-half and chairperson of Infosys Foundation, Sudha Murthy, is one of the role models of Priya T.S. She admires Mrs. Murthy for her simplicity and selflessness.
Priya also considers her mother to be a role model as she points out that it was from her that she learnt the nuances of one of the biggest management problems - managing a big family and handling conflicts.
"I also admire Sonia Gandhi, for her pluck. Kamala Das, for her confidence in her beliefs; Sunita Narain, for her conviction and passion for what she does," says Priya. Nandan Nilekani, managing director, president and chief operating officer, Infosys Technologies inspires Malavika Narayan.
Indra Nooyi, president and Chief Finance Officer, Pepsico, is the role model of Sharika Munshi.
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