(From tech to funding, gender biases remain inherent in the system, but attitudes and policies are turning more supportive, say four Gurgaon-based entrepreneurs as they share their empowering journeys)
Gurgaon: The achievement of Nykaa’s Falguni Nayar in becoming India’s second self-made female billionaire after Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw of Biocon has been rightly celebrated. It’s milestones like Nayar’s that drive corporate change forward. “More and more women are taking the leap of faith, challenging the status quo, and hustling to follow their dreams of becoming entrepreneurs,” says Upasana Taku, co-founder and COO of MobiKwik.
Of course, the patriarchy is far from being toppled and girls and women continue to face unreasonable and sometimes toxic cultural expectations. Still, mindsets are changing gradually, as more women take up and excel in leadership roles considered male preserves. “MNCs and Indian corporations are tweaking their policies in the interest of becoming diverse in human talent,” says Taku.
When she began her career as an entrepreneur in 2009, forgoing a promotion at PayPal in the US (and dodging the “disapproving gazes” of her peers), one could count on the fingers of one hand the number of women startup founders. More than a decade on, Taku feels India Inc. is more
open and transparent, enabling women to make their mark in the industry.
“It’s always more difficult for women because right from education, they are not prioritised in our culture. Still, things are changing little by little,” points out Vibha Tripathi, managing director of Swajal Water Pvt. Ltd, a tech startup that makes clean drinking water accessible and affordable for all.
But it takes just one person to brave the odds and forge a path. Priya Prakash, founder and CEO of healthcare platform HealthSetGo, began her career right out of college. “Most of what I know today, I learnt on the job,” she says. “Entrepreneurship has been much glamourised and everyone looks at the IPOs. What no one tells you is that most days are tough. It’s a lot of hard work and breakdowns, and you have to pick yourself up every time you fall. That’s why entrepreneurs are some of the strongest people you will meet,” she adds.
Swati Bhargava, co-founder of CashKaro and EarnKaro (the latter a money-making app), also quit a cushy job in investment banking to return home and establish her company. Now, she envisions an India that reflects everyone’s aspirations. “After Goldman Sachs, when I came to India to start CashKaro with (fellow founder, and later, husband) Rohan, I found that the startup space in India was full of inspiring women supporting each other,” says Bhargava.
But in meetings, interactions or business pitches, entrenched gender bias tends to inevitably crop up. “I was talking to somebody in an exhibition and pointing out to him the design and tonnage of the system we’ll be making. He then asked, ‘Is there no senior who can explain this?’” says Tripathi. “There is always an assumption in their mind that if it’s something to do with tech, women wouldn’t know about it, and we need a man to explain it to them. But you can’t change them, and I no longer become indignant when this happens! You face all such kinds of biases but at some point, you just have to move on.”
The standards by which women tend to get judged can be different, exacting even. “Time and again, I have had to prove my prowess of being someone who is inclined to technology, and would not shy away from taking tough calls in the company,” says Taku.
Bhargava says it’s “relentless” hard work that has brought her this far. “Fortunately, I’ve never personally faced any bias on account of my being a woman,” she acknowledges.
“It’s true that gender bias exists but you have to not let it get to you. There were many instances in my corporate career where I was the only woman in the room. But you just need to hold your ground, be confident, and know what you are doing to make the most of these experiences,” Bhargava adds.
Nonetheless, when it comes to acquiring seed money, men are more likely to receive backing from venture capitalists, argues Taku, especially if they are fronting a tech or fintech company. But here, she adds, the scenario in India is no different from the rest of the world. Prakash agrees: “I still believe that a disproportionate amount of funding goes towards male founders, and there has to be a concerted effort to remove this bias.”
For Tripathi, it’s gut feeling that tells her if gender is the reason for funding being refused. Yet, perceptions can be proved wrong, as Prakash can testify.
“Because of my age and gender, I was preparing myself for the worst when I became an entrepreneur, thinking no one will give my work the same importance as they would a man’s. But I was pleasantly surprised when I found it to be the opposite in many scenarios, including while working with the government,” she recalls.
Women, Taku says, bring with them a multi-dimensional personality and well-rounded point of view, and having one as co-founder can only brighten a startup’s prospects. “While we have just scratched the surface, the future looks promising,” she believes, adding even investors are starting to recognise that.
While management positions continue to be monopolised by men, Prakash feels the startup space is more welcoming of female talent. “In fact, I wouldn’t be where I am today if I hadn’t been able to avail of some of these platforms and support networks,” she says.
The pandemic and the simultaneous switch to a virtual world has, according to Prakash, hastened the liberalisation of workplaces. “We have a long way to go in terms of representation of women in all steps of the corporate ladder, but the future is bright – in the next five years we will see a radical shift,” says the HealthSetGo founder.
Tripathi concurs. “The youth of today is different and there is definitely more acceptance of women in workplaces. Now, with new norms like work-from-home and hybrid workspaces, I think it is a very encouraging time for women,” she says.
Even so, it’s crucial that offices and boardrooms are representative of society as a whole. “We should not look at diversity from only a gender lens, the other dimensions of workforce diversity should also be considered,” emphasises Taku.
“I always say we need more women in the workforce,” argues Bhargava. “Earlier, due to the lack of inclusion, there were gaps, but now as more women have joined the workforce, the corporate ecosystem has evolved and become more sensitive not just to women’s needs but to improving the happiness index of all employees, regardless of gender,” she adds.
This holds out hope that the economy of India’s future will have room for all — because it will, increasingly, be built on the thoughtful endeavours of women.
Gurgaon: The achievement of Nykaa’s Falguni Nayar in becoming India’s second self-made female billionaire after Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw of Biocon has been rightly celebrated. It’s milestones like Nayar’s that drive corporate change forward. “More and more women are taking the leap of faith, challenging the status quo, and hustling to follow their dreams of becoming entrepreneurs,” says Upasana Taku, co-founder and COO of MobiKwik.
Of course, the patriarchy is far from being toppled and girls and women continue to face unreasonable and sometimes toxic cultural expectations. Still, mindsets are changing gradually, as more women take up and excel in leadership roles considered male preserves. “MNCs and Indian corporations are tweaking their policies in the interest of becoming diverse in human talent,” says Taku.
When she began her career as an entrepreneur in 2009, forgoing a promotion at PayPal in the US (and dodging the “disapproving gazes” of her peers), one could count on the fingers of one hand the number of women startup founders. More than a decade on, Taku feels India Inc. is more
open and transparent, enabling women to make their mark in the industry.
“It’s always more difficult for women because right from education, they are not prioritised in our culture. Still, things are changing little by little,” points out Vibha Tripathi, managing director of Swajal Water Pvt. Ltd, a tech startup that makes clean drinking water accessible and affordable for all.
But it takes just one person to brave the odds and forge a path. Priya Prakash, founder and CEO of healthcare platform HealthSetGo, began her career right out of college. “Most of what I know today, I learnt on the job,” she says. “Entrepreneurship has been much glamourised and everyone looks at the IPOs. What no one tells you is that most days are tough. It’s a lot of hard work and breakdowns, and you have to pick yourself up every time you fall. That’s why entrepreneurs are some of the strongest people you will meet,” she adds.
Swati Bhargava, co-founder of CashKaro and EarnKaro (the latter a money-making app), also quit a cushy job in investment banking to return home and establish her company. Now, she envisions an India that reflects everyone’s aspirations. “After Goldman Sachs, when I came to India to start CashKaro with (fellow founder, and later, husband) Rohan, I found that the startup space in India was full of inspiring women supporting each other,” says Bhargava.
But in meetings, interactions or business pitches, entrenched gender bias tends to inevitably crop up. “I was talking to somebody in an exhibition and pointing out to him the design and tonnage of the system we’ll be making. He then asked, ‘Is there no senior who can explain this?’” says Tripathi. “There is always an assumption in their mind that if it’s something to do with tech, women wouldn’t know about it, and we need a man to explain it to them. But you can’t change them, and I no longer become indignant when this happens! You face all such kinds of biases but at some point, you just have to move on.”
The standards by which women tend to get judged can be different, exacting even. “Time and again, I have had to prove my prowess of being someone who is inclined to technology, and would not shy away from taking tough calls in the company,” says Taku.
Bhargava says it’s “relentless” hard work that has brought her this far. “Fortunately, I’ve never personally faced any bias on account of my being a woman,” she acknowledges.
“It’s true that gender bias exists but you have to not let it get to you. There were many instances in my corporate career where I was the only woman in the room. But you just need to hold your ground, be confident, and know what you are doing to make the most of these experiences,” Bhargava adds.
Nonetheless, when it comes to acquiring seed money, men are more likely to receive backing from venture capitalists, argues Taku, especially if they are fronting a tech or fintech company. But here, she adds, the scenario in India is no different from the rest of the world. Prakash agrees: “I still believe that a disproportionate amount of funding goes towards male founders, and there has to be a concerted effort to remove this bias.”
For Tripathi, it’s gut feeling that tells her if gender is the reason for funding being refused. Yet, perceptions can be proved wrong, as Prakash can testify.
“Because of my age and gender, I was preparing myself for the worst when I became an entrepreneur, thinking no one will give my work the same importance as they would a man’s. But I was pleasantly surprised when I found it to be the opposite in many scenarios, including while working with the government,” she recalls.
Women, Taku says, bring with them a multi-dimensional personality and well-rounded point of view, and having one as co-founder can only brighten a startup’s prospects. “While we have just scratched the surface, the future looks promising,” she believes, adding even investors are starting to recognise that.
While management positions continue to be monopolised by men, Prakash feels the startup space is more welcoming of female talent. “In fact, I wouldn’t be where I am today if I hadn’t been able to avail of some of these platforms and support networks,” she says.
The pandemic and the simultaneous switch to a virtual world has, according to Prakash, hastened the liberalisation of workplaces. “We have a long way to go in terms of representation of women in all steps of the corporate ladder, but the future is bright – in the next five years we will see a radical shift,” says the HealthSetGo founder.
Tripathi concurs. “The youth of today is different and there is definitely more acceptance of women in workplaces. Now, with new norms like work-from-home and hybrid workspaces, I think it is a very encouraging time for women,” she says.
Even so, it’s crucial that offices and boardrooms are representative of society as a whole. “We should not look at diversity from only a gender lens, the other dimensions of workforce diversity should also be considered,” emphasises Taku.
“I always say we need more women in the workforce,” argues Bhargava. “Earlier, due to the lack of inclusion, there were gaps, but now as more women have joined the workforce, the corporate ecosystem has evolved and become more sensitive not just to women’s needs but to improving the happiness index of all employees, regardless of gender,” she adds.
This holds out hope that the economy of India’s future will have room for all — because it will, increasingly, be built on the thoughtful endeavours of women.
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