In India, women leaders like Falguni Nayar of Nykaa, Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw of Biocon, and Radhika Gupta of Edelweiss Asset Management have shattered glass ceilings and inspired a generation. Notwithstanding these success stories, achieving true gender parity remains a challenge across industries.
At Ladies Who Lead, we recognised the urgency of this issue and the responsibility we have as leaders to foster awareness among our peers about the need to educate, empower, and mentor young women, enabling them to reach greater heights in their careers and aspirations.
In collaboration with The Udaiti Foundation, we recently hosted a thought-provoking round table discussion – ‘Flying to New Heights in the Aviation Industry’ – focused on ensuring gender parity across all industries. This event brought together stalwarts representing the key stakeholders from the aviation section who shared their insights on how they have successfully managed to achieve gender parity at their respective organisations and how these lessons can be applied across various others.
The distinguished panel of experts included:
- Captain Zoya Agarwal: A stalwart in Indian aviation, Zoya Agarwal became the youngest woman pilot in India to fly a Boeing 777 in 2013 and the first Indian woman to fly over the North Pole. She co-piloted Air India’s first Vande Bharat Mission repatriation flight and, in 2021, made history by captaining an all-woman crew on the inaugural San Francisco-Bengaluru flight, one of the world’s longest non-stop journeys.
- Priya Mehra: As the Chief of Governance & Strategic Acquisitions at Akasa Air, Priya led the airline’s legal team to recognition by Indian Business Law Journal for Aviation in FY 2023-2024. She was named one of BW Legal World’s ‘Top 100 General Counsels in India,’ recognized as ‘Woman Lawyer of the Year – In-House 2021’ by Asia Legal Business, and featured in the Legal 500 GC Power List for India Teams in 2018.
- Praveena Yagnambhat: She is the Chief of Staff and CSR Head at Boeing India & South Asia. Praveena has positively impacted over 500,000 lives, especially in remote areas. Named among the top 100 executives on the 2023 Empower Role Model List for advancing diversity, she is also recognized for her work supporting girls’ education with Room To Read. Her contributions have been celebrated by multiple governments for fostering access to education and skill development.
- Chhavi Leekha: As the VP of Corporate Communications & Brand Reputation at IndiGo, Chhavi has been instrumental in shaping the airline’s stellar public image. With a strong focus on storytelling and branding, she has positioned IndiGo as a trusted household name.
- Vibhuti Chhiber: She is currently the Customer Account Director at Airbus. Vibhuti excels in forging strong partnerships and driving customer satisfaction in the aerospace industry. Her expertise in building relationships and navigating global markets has made her a standout performer.
The session began with a closed-door discussion, forming the foundation for an upcoming White Paper by the Udaiti Foundation, in collaboration with Ladies Who Lead. This was followed by an engaging roundtable discussion, open to members of Ladies Who Lead.
Both the closed-door and round table discussion centered around the remarkable women empowerment initiatives undertaken by each of the giants, their far-reaching impact and how these successes can serve as a blueprint for other sectors. The panelists shared their personal journeys, the challenges they’ve overcome, and the key strategies they have implemented – both in their personal lives and at the workplace – to foster gender inclusivity in a traditionally male-dominated industry.
Key Takeaways from the Discussion:
- Empowering Education: One of the most critical themes that emerged was the role of quality and regular education and skill training in empowering young women and helping them make informed choices. Providing mentorship and access to quality learning resources, starting as young as 12 to 14 years of age, are crucial in shaping and empowering the next generation of women leaders and making sure that they are making choices out of awareness and not out of chance. Praveena especially focussed on how the Boeing Sukanya Program aims to set up 100 STEM labs in Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities in India so that young women get to know more about STEM-related industries and the aviation sector and make an informed choice in the future.
- Role Models & Systems for Women Leaders: Vibhuti emphasised on the importance of strong role models and systems that support women leaders. She discussed Airbus’ efforts to nurture female talent and break barriers by fostering mentorship and supportive organizational structures, crucial for driving long-term innovation.
- Fostering Equal Representation: The conversation also focused on the need for increased awareness and the importance of equal representation in all fields. The panelists emphasised on how empowering women leads to the creation of high-impact teams that contribute to innovation and growth in any sector. They also added how in the future, the innate strengths and qualities that women naturally exhibit will be increasingly valued and in demand.
- Representation is Key: Without having role models, inspiration and aspiration become limited. When young girls see women leaders challenging the status quo, it empowers them to break barriers and pursue greater opportunities.
Looking Ahead
This is just the beginning. We are Ladies Who Lead are committed to co-creating a future where women-led teams and diverse voices thrive. It is our constant endeavor to create safe and inclusive spaces for women leaders where they can collaborate, innovate and grow.