Unshackle patriarchy and cheer for women bosses

The first such name of exceptional woman leaders that comes to my mind is Rani Lakshmibai, revered in history for her outstanding bravery, emancipative spirit and exemplary leadership that inspired not only the people of her reign but also shaped the freedom fighters of India for years. I feel her destiny would have been different (despite the fact that she was raised as a warrior) if she had not been widowed at such a young age and the responsibilities of the kingdom had not fallen upon her shoulders.

In the early 1900s, in a small village in Assam, my great-grandmother, then in her 20's had lost her husband and was left with her young children and the responsibility of a 430-year-old Temple. Women in those days were prohibited to manage religious places of worship. Despite strong resistance, with strong grit and unflinching courage, she went against the set norms and undertook the management of the temple till her sons came of age and ensured that the Temple stays in the family. Today, 100 years later, our family is reaping the fruits of her decision.

When I inherited the 60-year-old reputed Construction business of my late husband, which he had inherited from his father, I had to wear the shoes of my visionary father-in-law. The shoes were not only very large but ofcourse and visibly of the opposite gender. All the employees, working from the 1980s and early 1990s, were men and they suddenly had a woman as a boss. The immediate reaction was refusal to accept me. I, however, refused to give up and stayed determined and rooted to the objective. Gradually, when on one hand, the senior most employee categorically stated that my role as a widow is within the four walls of my room and devised ways to make me fail, on the other the most kind-hearted employee warmed up and started helping me. My passion and dedication to bring the firm back to its former glory touched hearts and my team (to support me in my mission) was ready. My mantra was respect, appreciation and acceptance of their knowledge and expertise. I treated all my employees as my teachers and we together became one family.

While in the past, adverse circumstances had steered women in places of leadership, today we have women leading establishments, organisations, etc across the world as a natural and heartening phenomenon.

My mother has successfully managed a popular restaurant of the city for the past 30 years. Her jovial nature coupled with her empathy and respect for the staff have created a healthy and thriving work environment and instilled the right values in the workforce.

A friend, who is a customer-relations head of an MNC, shared that her biggest strength is her ability to be sensitive while pushing and motivating her team to perform to the optimal. This combination of tough perseverance and understanding is a feminine quality and most women naturally posses it. A quality that augurs well for organisations.

In the corporate world, men are usually ready to accept woman as peers and colleagues in the middle strata. However, many men are apprehensive about accepting a woman boss. Although real life examples of woman bosses are numerous in the present context the resistance by men by and large is visible. This is indeed a contradiction for the same men aspire for their daughters to become leaders. Many among these men are insecure when the wife outshines them too.

In the words of my friend, "Gender diversity is an overrated term. If I have reached the top position, it is because, I deserve to be here, I have worked really hard to reach here – irrespective of my gender."

Pallavi Chumki Barua

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