Sminu Jindal
Warm and friendly, Sminu Jindal is tough as nails at work. Though paralysed waist down since the age of 11, Jindal successfully pursued a career in business. That too in steel and oil and gas sectors which hardly have women. She is the Managing Director of Jindal SAW Ltd.
Breaking the glass ceiling
“Unlike banking and finance, there are hardly any women in steel, oil and gas sectors. I was no stranger to them since childhood I was privy to my family members discussing about them,” says Jindal. Things changed after her accident but not my ambition of becoming a businesswoman. “Supported by my parents and grandparents, I went on to do MBA and took up the challenge of turning around one of our business units profitable.”
Obstacles at work
Jindal says, initially people were intimidated by a lady boss and that too on a wheelchair. “I recall people remarking, ‘Is this youngster going to teach us about furnace and making steel?’” Instead of feeling low, she doubled her efforts to learn. “I read up a lot and would spend time with managers, supervisors and workers at office and factory floor learning hands-on. Slowly and steadily respect started forthcoming. Men generally have a problem with female bosses. On being pulled for negligence, they make snide remarks like ‘Ghar main biwi ki suno and office main boss ki’. That gets me boiling.”
Women power
Everything in business is centred on human relations and women, Jindal believes holds an ace there. “Handling numerous and varied situations and people in life they become adept. Also being a daughter, sister and mother they are more emphatic.”
Sminu Jindal
Promoting accessibility rights
Accessibility to resources is our birth right. Just like I was allowed to study and chose my career so should others suffering from any physical disability. Svayam does that to make them productive and give them a chance to enjoy life. We must help our fellow human beings in pain because that is what is differentiates us from other animals.
Manisha Chopra
Inspired by her passion for cosmetics and make-up, Manisha Chopra has developed a line of chemical-free beauty products. An engineer by training, she is the co-founder-director of SeaSoul Cosmeceuticals.
Changing course
“While I was working in Australia, I helped a Malaysian bride with her bridal make-up. This went viral and I started getting offers from others. I moved to a part-time bank to undertake formal training in make-up and skin care. “Committed to this art, I took it up full time. Later on realising how the products in the market are harmful, I launched my own line of products. The engineering background was useful in understanding the chemicals and chemistry of make-up products.”
Gender specific work challenges
Chopra notes that major salons and spas owners are males and they found it difficult to connect with me initially because of my gender. “Unlike women proprietors, they find it difficult to appreciate beauty products and process although their grasp on the business aspects is great. Instead of getting bogged down, I made it a point to reach across to them making them understand the value of our chemical-free products. Now sure of what I am talking about, they are receptive to what I tell them (laughs).”
Supportive men
My father raised me like my younger brothers with equal love, opportunities and of course equal discipline.
“For a woman balancing work and home is a massive challenge. I am blessed in that sense as my husband and father-in-law are my anchors. Husband Sankalp has taken a break to help in my venture. My father-in-law who is equally supportive is my best friend and agony aunt, all rolled into one (laughs).”
Larger role
Women play a crucial part in economic development and can be catalyst for social change. “In China, women are everywhere including business and see that country’s march to progress. Moreover, women ought to lead the way to fight society’s ills. Being a Goyal, I married a Khatri and that too without dowry. My brothers followed suit and got married without dowry. There was much resentment in our family circle and community but now many have decided to do the same.”
Arushi Verma
“I do not want to be confined by gender or society’s prescription for women,” is how Arushi Verma sums up her life’s motto and philosophy. After a post graduate degree in Development Economics from University of London, Verma did a 360-degree turn. Moving to the world of fitness, she is the Director and Product Lead of Fitpass which makes working out possible at any place and time by allowing members access to gyms and fitness across the city.
Focus on fitness
“Fitness attracts people across all ages and strata. There was a time when it was taken seriously by men but now women want to be fitter than men. Seeing the enthusiasm we wanted to help people to make it convenient for them to work-out. Earlier fitness business was dominated by men but not any more. Women are conducting yoga, Zumba and aerobic classes. Some of the excellent studios are run by women, like Dancercise Studio by Sarika, Studio 60 by Zoe Collington and Soul To Sole by Sanna Vidyalankar.”
Arushi Verma
New definition
What makes her feel proud is that earlier women thought only about looking beautiful trying to copy what was portrayed in films and TV. “Now the emphasis is on fitness, increasing stamina and strength and eating healthy and nutritious food. Skinny and size zero figure are out.”
Role models
“We need not look outside for role models. For me, it is my mother. A college professor, she did a fine job of bringing up my brother and me while doing full justice to her work. It is men like my father who played a complementing role that are required.”
