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Eve in a man's world
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It may not be a cakewalk, but today's corporate tsarinas play boss and mom with equal finesse
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Unlike men, women tend to take up greater responsibility in managing home. — Photo: Parth Sanyal
A FIRM that hires top engineers and professionals. A hierarchical system that has them reporting to the Managing Director. Did you picture a middle-aged MD in a grey suit? And was that a man? You're not the only one to think this way. It's popular perception.
To break the stereotype are T.S. Ushasri, MD, Force Computers, Poornima Shenoy, Vice-President for Strategy and Development, Manipal Enterprises, and Madura Chatrapathy, Chairman, Food Associates. These women are just some among the many in the top rung, successfully managing what was exclusively a man's domain a couple of decades ago.
Female boss
Says Ushasri: "These days with the increasing number of women professionals, there is no issue about the acceptance of a woman as a peer or a boss. Earlier, with more women working at the middle management level and very few at the top, they never had to report to a female boss. But such gender bias does not exist anymore. You are no more looked at as a woman holding a certain position but simply as a professional doing your job. Your performance too is rated accordingly."
Poornima agrees: "I have addressed many forums where, on a number of occasions, I've probably been the only woman there. But I've never felt a gender bias. I've always been viewed as a professional. But I also think Bangalore is a great place to work because everybody is totally professional."
Says Madura: "How you are viewed depends on how you project yourself. If you are totally professional and understand your responsibility, others will perceive you as such." She had entered the entrepreneurial scene when there were not many women entrepreneurs around. Madura has many firsts to her credit, such as — the first woman food scientist and technologist, the first to conduct an international food exhibition at a time when the economy was totally closed, and first woman District Governor in Asia for the Rotary Club.
But how about taking criticism from a female boss? Can men accept it graciously? "At times, accepting criticism from a female boss can be different from that of a male boss," says Ushasri. Holding top positions in the industry could entail long hours of work, high levels of stress. Unlike men, women tend to take up greater responsibility in managing the home. How do they balance work and family
Says Ushasri: "I have a very supportive family and I make sure that I spend quality time with my children. But I also think women are inherently capable of doing multiple things at the same time. But to ensure that both work and family is not neglected, we do tend to burn the candle at both ends."
Even when Poornima has to work long hours, she always flexes her timings to be with her daughter in the evenings. "But since I am workaholic, I'm happy to have a certain level of stress and tension."
Madura explains that stress is not gender related but is connected to the business. "When a problem comes up, there is no point in getting stressed. It has to be viewed as a challenge and a solution should be worked out to circumvent the roadblock."
About what her family thinks of this high-profile mom and wife, Poornima says: "My work has never been an issue. They know that my work is important to me. I don't think I would be happy if I wasn't doing what I'm doing today. And I think I cannot give my best to my family if I'm unhappy and resentful." Madura spells out what works for her: "We need to transcend gender and view ourselves as individuals. You need to send the right signals to ensure that you don't receive the wrong ones."
Yet, it cannot be overlooked that such professional women still end up working much harder to ensure that there is no compromise in the work front or at home.
NANDHINI SUNDAR
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