India's Most Remarkable Women Leaders To Watch in 2024

www.womenworldindia.com W O R L D I N D I A VOL. 10 | ISSUE 01 | 2024 India's Most Women Leaders to Watch in 2024 r e m a r k a b l e Sreemathy Venkatraman Clinical Die??an, Wellness Nutri?onist, and Founder Mitha Aahara – Eat to Live Teach, Learn and Grow Implemen?ng Leadership Coaching to Empower Women Leaders The Evil Eye of Competence How to Nullify the Ill-effects of Workplace Competency Issues? Venkatraman Healing with Food via Mitha Aahara -"Eat to Live”

India's Most Women Leaders to Watch in 2024 r e m a r k a b l e

What characterizes these excellent leaders is the resilience, and such resilience is also shown by how the obstacles are overcome. They are navigating industries where gender bias has otherwise been a limiting factor, crafting their own narratives despite the odds. Their resilience is portrayed by their ability to lead with authenticity, creating cultures of transparency and accountability within their organizations. This integrity builds trust and power within their teams, creating an inclusive environment wherein employees thrive. Editor's Note Apart from business success, most of the leaders are committed to community upliftment, which focuses on education, health, and social development initiatives. By prioritizing societal well-being, they are reframing corporate values to reflect community needs, while illustrating the place of social responsibility in leadership. Dynamic Women Leaders Shape the Des?ny… However, more importantly, the mentors themselves, these women leaders also open the way for the generations that come after them and challenge the young talent with high standards of excellence. With experiences, they guide, mentor, and inspire; give confidence to young women in taking up leadership positions in all industries. Setting high standards and pushing boundaries makes them redefine leadership in India but establish a legacy of empowerment. o innovation, and social impact. The year 2024 shines light even more brightly on India's most remarkable women leaders, talking of change implementors and inspiration for others who can lead and have already led with exemplary achievements. f this aspiring India with clear vision, resilience, and purpose. Leaders from all walks of industry challenge traditional boundaries but set new benchmarks in leadership, … The Women World ‘India's Most Remarkable Women Leaders to Watch in 2024,’ are the architects of change. Through their transformative leadership and dauntless pursuit of progress, they are rendering a powerful example to the next generation-these women surely understand that true leadership is first about serving, and second about winning. Their journey is an inspiring chapter in India's story that speaks of possibility, empowerment, and a future led by strong, visionary women. Today's Indian woman leader is an innovator who contributes a lot to economic growth through social issues by exercising strategic foresight. She is the change agent who accommodates the pressures of fast-paced pace of global economies, but never ceases to remain grounded on the values defining her leadership. These leaders with eyes set on technology and digital advancement initiated changes in Indian businesses that make them more competitive at the global scale. This approach does not focus solely on profit but stresses sustainability, ethics, and inclusion. This work is an exemplification of the efficient leadership that can foster the growth of businesses to create positive outcomes for society. Gaurav?PR?Wankhade

Content Sreemathy Venkatraman Healing with Food via Mitha Aahara -"Eat to Live” 20 From Inclusion to Innovation: The Tale of Profiles Priya Kanduri at Happiest Minds Disrupting the Cybersecurity Realm Mastering the Masters of Law - Shraddha Dalvi: A Pathbreaker Reshaping India’s Legal World 28 Cover Story 08 Ar?cles 16 24 Teach, Learn and Grow Implementing Leadership Coaching to Empower Women Leaders The Evil Eye of Competence How to Nullify the Ill-effects of Workplace Competency Issues?

www.twitter.com/womenworldindia www.facebook.com/womenworldindia/ India's Most Women Leaders to Watch in 2024 r e m a r k a b l e WE ARE ALSO AVAILABLE ON WE ARE ALSO AVAILABLE ON Pooja M. Bansal Editor-in-Chief CONTENT Managing Editor: Gaurav PR Wankhade Assisting Editor : Prajakta Zurale Email sales@womenworldindia.com For Subscription www.womenworldindia.com Featuring Organization Description Guneet is the founder and director of Eminence Group Ventures FZCO, a company that provides conferences, trainings, workshops, and customized programs for various sectors in the India, Middle East, and GCC region. DESIGN Guneet Kaur Hayer, Founder and Managing Director Eminence Visualizer: Sandeep Tikode Art & Design Director: Sarita Bhagat Associate Designer : Nagaraj Patil Copyright © 2024 WomenWorld India, All rights reserved. The content and images used in this magazine should not be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without prior permission from WomenWorld India. Reprint rights remain solely with WomenWorld India. Business Media LLP A passionate Interior Designer and Entrepreneur, for the past decade, Harnoor has been creating unique spaces with Art Space Design Studio. Harnoor Kaur Manchanda, Founder Art Space Design Studio SALES Vice President : Swapnali Vasaikar AVP : Tejaswini Whaval Sr. Team Lead - Suraj Gadekar BDE – Tushar Katkeraju Priya Kanduri, CTO, IMSS and Head of Security Services at Happiest Minds, brings more than 20+ years of experience in IT security with domain expertise. Happiest Minds Technologies Priya Kanduri, Chief Technology Officer Oct, 2024 Cover Price: Rs.300/- Shraddha Dalvi, is specialized in Matrimonial Cases like Divorce Matters, Child Custody and Maintenance Matters. Shraddha Dalvi, Independent Lawyer Shraddha Dalvi TECHNICAL Technical Head : Prachi Mokashi Technical Specialist: Rajeshwari Avhad Technical Consultant : Tanaji Fartade Sreemathy is a Bangalore based Qualified Clinical dietitian and Wellness Nutritionist, with a vast clinical experience of 23 years and is specialized in “Diet in Health & Disease ” from the USA. Sreemathy Venkatraman, Clinical Dietitian, Wellness Nutritionist, and Founder Mitha Aahara – Eat to Live SME-SMO Research Analyst : Sagar Lahigade SEO Lead : Prashant Rathod

Story Cover Venkatraman Healing with Food via Mitha Aahara -"Eat to Live” Sreemathy Venkatraman Clinical Die??an, Wellness Nutri?onist, and Founder Mitha Aahara – Eat to Live Our specific role is to create a supportive environment where clients feel empowered to make positive changes to their diet and lifestyle.

India's Most Remarkable Women Leaders to Watch in 2024 W over understand this fact. Still, they are practically unable to follow- due to logistics, lack of time, many myths and misinformation, and lots of second-guessing about food and Health Goals. hat if I told you that your health is completely in your hands- as what you consume with that hand matters the most? Many people the world and several other neuro conditions like Parkinson’s, ALS and swallowing difficulties and tube feeding. Sreemathy’s trailblazing journey is as fascinating as her healing touch, which involves prescribing a well- personalized plan for everyone. In her reflections, she says, “To be honest, I took home science in my higher secondary to avoid math and loved it.” People with diverse clinical conditions and wellness Health goals got what they were looking for- in Health and wellness without stressing about the food they eat, dispelling myths and fads and customizing it to their food habits when they consulted a Bangalore-based qualified Clinical Dietitian and Wellness Nutritionist– Sreemathy Venkatraman. She majored in Nutrition, Food Service Management, and Dietetics in her undergraduate courses. Her postgraduate course was in Hospital Dietetics, with a six-month internship at CMC, Vellore. There was no turning back, and “I always believed in the concept of food and nutrition as a healing tool and its role in disease prevention and healing clinical conditions.” “Struggling with gut health issues was exhausting until I found Mitha Aahara. Sreemathy Ma’m is superb; her diet plan and nutrition advice have greatly improved my digestive health. I am grateful to her and can't thank her enough. They are so good, and I highly recommend them if you really need help with digestive health,” says Raksha Tapase in her five-star rated Google review. Establishing the Best Benchmarks Sreemathy took a women's entrepreneurship course, and her startup was incubated at NSRCEL, the startup incubator at IIM Bangalore. At Mitha Aahara, they currently have clients from 11 countries. Post-COVID- people are more open to virtual meets and consultations and prefer food as a healing tool rather than medicines, she says, sharing the guiding philosophy that has propelled them to tremendous popularity amidst their clients. Another one, Rohini Shahare, praises in her five-star Google review, “Mitha Aahara has helped me a lot in my struggle with managing depression. Before starting my treatment, Sreemathy Venkatraman ma’am explained how even food can change our mental state, which I was unaware of. She explained the gut-brain axis and finally made a proper nutrition plan for me. Her personalized approach to nutrition has transformed my relationship with food and my mental well-being. Her expertise and compassion have helped me achieve a healthier mind and body.” Focus on whole foods and balanced nutrition: This philosophy emphasizes the importance of eating unprocessed, nutrient-rich foods from all food groups. It avoids fad diets and restrictive eating patterns, instead promoting a sustainable and enjoyable approach to healthy eating. Offering the Best Health Mantra The Founder of Mitha Aahara—Eat to Live, and having a distinction of ‘Healing with food,’ Sreemathy has a vast clinical experience of 25 years and has specialized in ‘Diet in Health & Disease’ from the USA. She works on all gut health issues, including IBS, food intolerances, IBD like Crohn’s, and Ulcerative colitis. I always believed in the concept of food and nutrition as a healing tool and its role in disease prevention and healing clinical conditions. Sreemathy also deals with PCOS, Food intolerances, Food Allergies, Brain Health, Metabolic dysfunctions like obesity, Diabetes, Hypertension and also conditions like fatty liver disease, infertility, mental health like depression and anxiety, autoimmune conditions, skin diseases, GDM

Client-centered approach: The Nutritional Therapy program prioritizes the individual needs and goals of each client. It recognizes that there's no "one-size-fits- all" solution to nutrition and focuses on creating personalized plans that cater to preferences, allergies, food intolerance, regional roots, and lifestyle factors. Ÿ Our USP is to Heal with food. Science-based advice: The therapy emphasizes basing nutritional recommendations on credible scientific evidence. It avoids promoting trendy diets or miracle cures and instead focuses on providing information and guidance backed by research. “We never use the word Reverse and cure; instead, we set realistic expectations,” insists Sreemathy. Ÿ people from countries like Australia, Dubai, Qatar, Germany, the UK, Canada, Ireland, and the USA, apart from India. Sustainability and long-term health: The regimen advice goes beyond quick fixes and weight loss. It emphasizes building healthy habits that clients can maintain for life, promoting long-term well-being and disease prevention and understanding their bodies. Ÿ Adapting to the Times To ensure they remain adaptable and ahead of industry trends, providing innovative solutions to their clients, Sreemathy says that Mitha Aahara tracks emerging trends in nutrition science, consumer preferences, and technology. “Nutrition conferences, scientific journals, and social media analysis are our valuable tools,” she adds, while constantly motivating herself and encouraging her team (nutritionists, dietitians) to attend workshops and conferences and pursue continuing education to stay updated on the latest advancements. Holistic approach to wellness: The program recognizes that nutrition is just one piece of the wellness puzzle. It considers the impact of sleep, stress management, exercise, and mental health on overall well-being and may incorporate these factors into the client's plan. Ÿ Sreemathy explains, “Our specific role is to create a supportive environment where clients feel empowered to make positive changes to their diet and lifestyle.” Sreemathy and her team offer virtual and offline consultations and coaching programs to provide accessible and convenient nutrition guidance to their clients. Recognized as an inspirational force behind Mitha Aahara's achievements, Sreemathy shares her leadership and team- building approach: “I invest in my team's professional development by providing mentorship opportunities and encouraging them to pursue continuing education.” This fosters growth and builds a strong talent pool. Expanding their Wings Testifying to Sreemathy’s effectiveness is another client, Pranay Nikure, who says in his five-star Google review, “It took me years to realize the importance of consistent physical activity and a balanced diet. While physical activity made me feel good about my weight and appearance, diet made me feel good about my health overall. I came across Mitha Aahara at the right time. Sreemathy Ma'am and her team were responsive and adaptive to my need to lower my body weight. They gave me proper diet plans as per my body requirements and helped me a lot with a proper understanding of nutrition to lose weight. Sreemathy Mam is the best dietician I have worked with to date. I highly recommend her to anyone who needs help with healthy eating.” Building a Collaborative Team: Diverse and Inclusive Environment: Sreemathy’s team comes from diverse backgrounds, skills, and experiences. This fosters a wider range of perspectives and understanding of different cuisines, traditional recipes, and kitchen-based solutions for their clients. Their approach is to personally curate food solutions that are close to the clients' regional roots. They speak multiple languages and “connect” with their clients’ expectations and set clear goals at the start of the program. They provide WhatsApp support There are many more five-star client reviews on Google, which substantiate Sreemathy’s impact on the scores of

Fostering Sustainable Food Habits Awards and Accolades: throughout the program and a lot of hand-holding to successfully complete the program with positive outcomes. Sreemathy adds that many clients are happy to eat local and have dishes with locally sourced ingredients. “Our USP is to provide food solutions with regional roots to clients, as food is something very personal. We listen to their likes, dislikes, and cravings and provide recipes and quick and easy meal plans that can be a part of their Health Goals.” The Best Nutritionist & Dietitians in India – CIOLook India Magazine. Ÿ Build trust and allow team members to feel comfortable sharing ideas and concerns. Ÿ We aspire to continue making a significant impact on India's health landscape by revolutionizing the approach to nutrition through personalized, accessible, and technology- driven solutions, empowering individuals and communities to achieve optimal health and well-being. India’s Top 5 Consultants Ruling the Diet and Nutrition Industry 2023 – Swift N Lift Magazine. Ÿ “To recognize and celebrate individual and team achievements to maintain morale and motivation has made my team stick to my company and have loyalty,” she says. Ÿ The first place in 10 Most Promising Clinical Nutrition & Dietetics Company –Silicon India Magazine. Ÿ She is also an ardent believer in sustainability and environmental responsibility. “In our corporate workshops, we create awareness and develop strategies to minimize food waste in their canteens and their eating habits. We also talk about recyclable, compostable, or biodegradable packaging materials for products,” explains Sreemathy. Balancing Expectations with Experiences Golden Awards- For Excellence and Leadership in Healthcare. Ÿ The essence of entrepreneurship lies in bringing innovation and advancements to the niche program one is working in. Thus, Sreemathy says she balances customer expectations with user experience with Most Trusted Online Nutritionist in Bangalore- Dynergic Business Solution. Ÿ Highlighting a transformative initiative, she says they developed a local thickening agent to thicken foods that help patients with dysphagia or difficulty in swallowing. This thickener was nutritionally better than the starch thickening agents and was fortified with minerals, fibre, and vitamins. “We tried in a few places across the country, but I had to shelve it due to Covid and lack of funding.” Michael Donovan Award for advocacy in Dysphagia- Dysphagia Research Society- USA. Ÿ *Segmentation: “To identify our client personas and set goals, e.g.” – weight loss or weight gain, healing from clinical conditions, to respect their dietary preferences (vegan to turn plant based, flexitarian, mediterranean with healthy animal food sources etc.) – to personalize the user journey and to listen to what they want to achieve by enrolling in our nutritional therapy program is our USP. They create valuable and informative content (blogs, articles, videos) on nutrition topics, building trust and the right information based on evidence and science. Ÿ Driving on the Tech Wave Needs and Pain Points: “To understand our clients' needs, challenges, and frustrations with nutrition advice.” Also a believer in the power of technology, Sreemathy integrated advanced techs into her services to offer a digitally enhanced user experience. They offer online consultations, personalized meal plans, and educational resources to cater to a wider audience and provide easy accessibility. Ÿ To Focus on Measurable Goals: “Align our program with client goals.” Is it weight loss, disease management, or overall well-being? Track metrics like engagement, goal achievement, and client satisfaction. *Telehealth Consultations: She says they leverage telehealth platforms to offer video consultations, making nutrition guidance more accessible. Thriving into the Future Bliss Speaking about the challenges, especially during COVID- 19, Sreemathy says, “Incidentally, I started the company because of the pandemic, where immunity and food were sought for cures and prevention.” The virtual meeting options were also embraced out of necessity, and now clients are more comfortable taking counseling online. Distance is no longer a Barrier to healing and getting the right help for a personalized therapy plan. *Automated Appointment Scheduling and Reminders: Utilize online scheduling tools and automated appointment reminders to improve client convenience and reduce administrative tasks. *Data Analytics for Business Insights: “We analyze client data to identify trends, track progress, and gain valuable insights to improve our service offerings and marketing strategies.” Investing in my team's professional development by providing mentorship opportunities and encouraging them to pursue continuing education. Looking ahead, Sreemathy shares her plans. “We aspire to continue making a significant impact on India's health landscape by revolutionizing the approach to nutrition through personalized, accessible, and technology-driven solutions, empowering individuals and communities to achieve optimal health and well-being. “I also have plans to develop sustainable products that will play a role in prevention as well as curated healthy food options in many clinical conditions,” she concludes. Sreemathy adds: They have a presence across multiple digital platforms (website, social media) to reach clients where they are and provide a seamless experience. Ÿ

Teach, Learn and Grow Implementing Leadership Coaching to Empower Women Leaders L source of innovation. Leadership coaching for women goes beyond conventional mentorship-skill and resilience enough to sail through leaderships. The impact of the efforts undertaken by all organizations to fill in this gap regarding gender becomes increasingly visible when using leadership coaching as a tool to empower women leaders. eadership coaching for women in leadership becomes the need of the hour in the modern workplace where diversity and inclusivity mark the Third, leadership coaching invests more than technical know-how in what has been termed "soft" skills: emotional intelligence, communication, and team-building. For women leaders, these soft skills are a precious resource that makes cohesive and high-performing teams, hence providing an inclusive culture of work. Leadership coaching attended to by the special needs of women's experiences thus really helps build those skills which create not only capable leaders but also empathetic and insightful ones. Leadership Coaching for Women: The Unique Value Created Boosting Confidence and Assertiveness Leadership coaching creates a safe and focused environment for women leaders to hone their strength work out the obstacles that stand in their way to refine strategies toward success. Challenges women in leadership roles include unconscious bias issues, work-life balance, and navigating male-dominated territories. Coaching can strengthen the woman leader in understanding her areas of strength to develop them further while formulating strategies to overcome these difficulties. From coaching, women are thus empowered with their perspective, which allows them an opportunity for the strength to lead authentically. Self-confidence and assertiveness for women leaders: The introduction of leadership coaching has included other aspects such as developing self-confidence and assertiveness in women leaders. Most women face a challenge in their self-perception, particularly when dealing with matters of high stakes. Leadership coaching helps women attain confidence to make decisive choices, set boundaries, and assert themselves in a situation where they stand the chance of being overlooked and, therefore, undervalued. The more women leaders are able to trust their ability and feel empowered to express their opinions, the more 16 | Oct, 2024 | www.womenworldindia.com 17 | Oct, 2024 | www.womenworldindia.com

Subscribe Today confident they become about their contribution to decision- making processes. Such assertiveness can then help them overcome any stereotypes by being able to successfully convey their vision to the teams, which is a very essential building block of creating an inclusive and growth-oriented environment. others and together work towards changing things. These relationships not only foster personal development but also spill over into a greater, systemic benefit in that women leaders beget and empower other women within their sector. A legacy of leadership and empowerment for generations to come, the network of empowered women leaders built through coaching recognizes and rewards performance and practice of leadership, coaching often inspiring women leaders to mentor others, thus creating a cycle that empowers organizational culture and sets powerful example for aspiring leaders. Consider Work-Life Integration and Stress Management One of the major challenges that women leaders face is that a good work-life balance is quite hard to achieve. Using leadership coaching, women learn skills that will help them manage stress well and devote themselves to self-care as well as not being compromised in productivity. Women leaders can have a harmonious strike between their professional and personal lives using set objectives and achieving how to manage time and energy. Long-Term Impact of Leadership Coaching on Organizations Stay in the known. Subscribe to WOMENWORLDINDIA Get Such benefits reverberate not only at the individual level but it also makes a huge difference at the organization level. Companies that will make such investment build more representative and balanced leadership pipelines. That increases the organizational creativity and adaptability, with companies having the capability to maintain their competitiveness and responsiveness to changes in the market. With a diversified leadership team, an organization is also even more attractive to talented performers seeking workplaces where all voices count and build each other. WOMENWORLDINDIA Magazine in print and digital on This is because coaching enables women to learn stress management, develop resilience when under pressure, and thereby avoid burnout. Consequently, they are motivated to become role models where they work and promote the importance of mental health and work-life balance. www.womenworldindia.com Advancement of Career and Strategic Thinking Leadership coaching makes women strategically think about career advancement. Women leaders require long- term goals setting and devising plans on how they should move. Coaching equips them with the ability to foresee challenges, see areas for growth, and step into new roles confidently. It is strategic, especially in fields where women still face barriers of advancement. As women leaders ascend into higher ranks in the organization, they influence company policies and propel corporate social responsibility, creating an inclusive culture respectful of differences. By setting these values through leadership coaching, such values as confidence, inclusiveness, resilience, and strategic thinking would send ripples throughout the rest of the organization. As more companies invest in growing and empowering women as leaders, they pave the way for the future to have a view of leadership defined not by gender but by the vision, strength, and capability of those who will lead. This is the journey of "teach, learn and grow," which inspires a whole culture of innovation and resilience into lasting success and empowers women leaders. Through leadership coaching, women are empowered with a more holistic vision that propels them to approach their careers with foresight and planning. Coaches guide women to discover their career's possibilities and industry trends as well as network relations that will support them as they grow in their career. In such preparation and knowledge, women leaders stand to have better potential for growth and succession in the ranks without "breaking glass ceilings.” Building a Network of Empowered Women Leaders Leadership coaching is very empowering since it enables women leaders to get in touch with other like-minded professionals. The network of women can share insights and experiences, offer mutual support, and even cooperate on future endeavors. Coaching programs focus much on peer mentoring. Women learn from the experiences of 18 | Oct, 2024 | www.womenworldindia.com W O R L D I N D I A

India's Most Remarkable Women Leaders to Watch in 2024 From Inclusion to Innovation: The Tale of at Happiest Minds Disrupting the Cybersecurity Realm W omen are very quickly making their mark across the cybersecurity landscape of innovation and leadership as they break boundaries and redefine the industry. The process of disrupting the norms has been led by monarchs of cybersecurity, especially by women leaders. Chief among them is Priya Kanduri, Chief Technology Officer at Happiest Minds Technologies. Being a strong believer in and focused on next-generation solution development, Priya has designed multiple Managed Security Platforms over the last five years, including Proactive Threat Detection and Data-Centric Security, which contribute about 20% to the company's total revenue. These range from proactive threat detection to data-centric security and security automation, which generate about 20% of our total revenue. Such avant-garde solutions have won industry recognition and awards, like the 2019 Identity Solution of the Year. My published works and initiatives have greatly contributed value to the cybersecurity industry, especially in guiding CXOs on the proactive prevention of cyberattacks. I interact with customer organizations to assess cybersecurity maturity and define IT objectives. In addition, I help shape our service portfolios and go-to-market strategies, directly influencing revenue growth. Kindly shed light on your thought leadership and original thinking in your creation and engagements. Apart from being a technological pioneer, Priya is also an ardent advocate of diversity and inclusion within her organization. Under her leadership, Happiest Minds has increased female representative strength, and her cybersecurity team has now become a women-centric team. She initiated the 'Women in Tech' program and also conducts webinars and discussions that empower women to take up those leadership positions. I have spent over 12 years in Wipro Technologies' Enterprise Security Services, providing compliance and cybersecurity programs for Fortune 500 companies in the UK and Europe, before joining Happiest Minds Technologies. My key contributions include: Moreover, Priya mentors mid-level women leaders and has organized women-only hackathons with the goal of having more inclusive policies set into place. She would reach out to young women graduates and stimulate their career pursuits in cybersecurity by engaging with and discussing various educational institutions, thereby making the environment lively for their capabilities to bloom in this field. In an exclusive interview with WomenWorld India, Priya shared her amazing journey. Here are the snippets: Describe how your leadership in the cybersecurity domain contributed to the accomplishments of your organization or industry. • IdentityVigil 2.0: Scalable IDaaS platform based on Zero Trust principles. ThreatVigil 2.0: Cloud-based penetration testing platform for diverse enterprises. Cyber Risk Protection Platform (CRPP): The Mitre best practices to successfully detect and respond to cyber-attacks. Ellipse: A module PaaS solution of integrated tools and advanced analytics powered with machine learning technology. • • • What measures have you taken to enforce diversity in the cybersecurity sector for women? Priya Kanduri Chief Technology Officer Happiest Minds Technologies I am a CTO at Happiest Minds Technologies, where my focus is always on developing next-generation solutions that can help increase annuity revenues. In the last five years, I have designed several Managed Security Platforms. Currently, as the leading figure in the Indian cybersecurity industry, I take it as an honour to be the D&I champion at Happiest Minds. In three years, I was able to implement innovative strategies that have resulted in us moving up from below 14% women in the organization to over 30%. 20 | Oct, 2024 | www.womenworldindia.com 21 | Oct, 2024 | www.womenworldindia.com

My current cybersecurity team has 40% female members. I initiated the ‘women in tech’ program by conducting seven webinars and discussions that are expected to make women take up leadership in our profession. As a mentor, I guided middle-level women leaders to tackle their career trajectories; one of the contributions was women-only hackathons with activities promoting women- friendly policies. The campus hiring and induction rate to the cybersecurity realm is 50%. I conduct meetings with colleges in order to encourage women graduates to pursue a career in cyber security and create an environment that promotes women's capability in this fast-paced world. • Winner of “Technology Leader of the Year category” at the Economic Times ETPrime Women Leadership Awards 2023. • Honoured with "Women in Work Achiever of the Year" 2023 by FKCCI, Karnataka for Women’s. What differentiates you from other leaders? A passionate success story with a rare lady leader in the world of technology, particularly cyber tech, defines me. I am obsessed with solutions while banking on the triggers of diversity and inclusion within Happiest Minds. As the champion of D&I, I engineered innovative strategies that highlighted diversity, especially at the managerial level. I host webinars and discussions with global women leaders to inspire more women toward leadership in cybersecurity. In addition, I mentor mid-level women leaders, support them in career development, and assist in developing the next generation of women cyber security leaders. • Honoured with the Cybersecurity Executive of the Year Award at BSides Bangalore Security Conference 2023. • “Women In Tech Leadership Award” at The Rising 2023 powered by Analytics India Magazine. • Winner of the "Cyber Security Executive of the Year" award at the Cloud Security Alliance chapter in Bangalore, 2022. What is your advice to next-gen women in science for the initial phase of their career in the STEM field? (Possibly, you wished you had known when you first started). Being your own boss • Honoured with "Outstanding Leadership Award" at Internet 2.0 Conference, Dubai, Dec 2022. There has never been a better time than now for Women in STEM fields. Diversity, inclusion, equal opportunities at the workplace, and the creation of a friendly and encouraging work environment for women have become part of strategic objectives for many organizations. Women have the opportunity to choose from a variety of academic choices and career opportunities in STEM. • Recipient of the "Women in AI" award at the Trescon World AI Show @ Dubai 2022. • Recipient of the “Women in Tech” award at the 19th Edition of Asia Pacific HRM Congress for 2021. To be successful and reach the top, women must create a supportive ecosystem in their personal and professional lives. Focus on constantly learning and challenging yourself. Do not hesitate to ask for help when needed. Also, it would help if you clearly defined long-term goals along with short-term objectives that will help you achieve long- term goals. Allyship is very important amongst fellow women professionals, and so is finding the right sponsor/mentor to support and guide them through career progressions and challenges. • Recognized as “Visionary Women Leaders 2019” by the Business APAC magazine. 22 | Oct, 2024 | www.womenworldindia.com

A in our hearts and minds—this notion of learning as much as you can and working as hard as you can each day and you’ll be repaid. However, this formula doesn’t always work as the popular TV series and movies show it to be. They say life is full of surprises and sometimes it is just plain ugly. s children, we grow up with the notion that if education is pursued and we work hard incessantly, then we will always succeed. It is deeply imprinted subjects who embody the culture of the organization, values, preferences, and visions imposed by the leadership. Far too often, though, this is the case in words only. However, a manager who is terrible at his job might start getting afraid that you are going to expose him/her/them as a bad manager, or worse they might get jealous and start fearing that you are eyeing their position. As in the previous example, the development conversation was avoided by the manager in question because of the insecurity of his role. Even in the workplace, adults experience the same problem frequently. The top performers volunteer for problems and agree to take on demanding jobs and large assignments. Although managers consider this as constructive delegation, team players complain about overloaded responsibility stemming from their abilities. Occasionally, despite much hard work and conscientiousness, tangible rewards cannot be achieved and earned. This is referred to as the evil eye of competence or top performers problem. This can work its way into what is known as performance punishment whereby the organizations end up rewarding the high performers with more work. Sometimes, there are managers who seem not to be able to manage star performers who work within their organizations. They removed their drive for productivity and refused to acknowledge their accomplishments. To an insecure manager what a future star really translates to is a lifelong subordinate. What’s the Solution? Create a list of employees with a desire to advance and progress on the career ladder within the company. Tell them to let us engage in the development talk. At the meeting, it is possible to express readiness to jointly develop a long- term development strategy. However, competent employees experience negative outcomes on the job under unsound management circumstances. According to surveys, there are 2 ways in which competent team members can be punished by managers. With each one, the blog mentions a sensible strategy to assist in breaking the curse of competence. Last but Not the Least If you are a leader and you are surrounded by highly competent subordinates, stop and look into the mirror. Give it to them in the honor of time and space. Assist them in the Creation of development strategies. Do conduct regular one-to-one meetings and or/quarterly planning sessions with them. Unrealistic Expectations 1. A high competency might set a high level, which is perceived to be difficult to achieve by one who has low competency. Good workers will do anything—they can to “climb to the top.” They rarely say no. Since they are trusted, they are orchestrated to do more (and more)—often without any appreciation, a raise in salary or a manager position. Today we operate in a constantly growing dynamic and we cannot afford to ignore the top performers’ dilemma if we want improved employee turnover and improved organizational performance. When work requirements challenge one’s mental ability to handle, then the leaders who will triumph are those who overcome the curse of being competent. What’s the Solution? For two reasons, the list of tasks assigned to the competent employee is truly impressive. First, they are highly efficient. For the simple reason, they call for lower cost in bookmaking than most other formats. Second, they are competent and have shown ability to work responsibilities other than what they were hired to do. Choose your dreams Choose your dreams over your fears over your fears Less Number of Growth Opportunities 2. In most organizations, the concept of future availability of leadership development positions is conveyed to the 26 | Sept, 2024 | www.womenworldindia.com 26 | Oct, 2024 | www.womenworldindia.com

M A S T E R I N G T H E M A S T E R S O F L A W A PAT H B R E A K E R R E S H A P I N G I N D I A’ S L E G A L W O R L D Shraddha Dalvi Independent Lawyer A leadership approach centred on team building, trust, and client satisfaction is today’s necessity. W As a trailblazer in the legal world, could you take us back to the beginning of your journey? What motivated you to step into this field? omen in the legal world of India have performed brilliantly over the years, and with their intellect and mastery of the legal sector, they have conquered the legal sector. Among these masters of law, Shraddha Dalvi is disrupting the legal world with her intelligence and excellence at work. In the complexity of the codes of family law of a busy metropolis like Mumbai, where depths of rich personal stories are painted, the brilliant lawyer’s journey is one of a kind. I commenced my professional journey in Human Resources within the education sector but decided to pursue a legal career for enhanced prospects, especially in making policy decisions related to labour law compliance. During my law studies, court visits, particularly to the Family Court in Mumbai, captured my interest due to its unique approach to handling emotionally charged matters like child custody and divorce. Intrigued, I gained hands-on experience working under a senior lawyer in Family Court Mumbai, focusing on matrimonial cases. Truly well-versed in labour law and deep-seated family disputes, Shraddha thrives with excellence, leading her own practice in matrimonial law. A pathbreaker today, she blends empathy with legal expertise in this difficult space between client expectations and legal realities, working to reshape India's legal landscape. The challenges of navigating complex cases involving individuals in emotional turmoil sparked my interest in facilitating amicable settlements. In November 2009, I established my independent practice specializing in In an exclusive interview with WomenWorld India, Shraddha shared her inspiring journey. 29 | Oct, 2024 | www.womenworldindia.com

India's Most Remarkable Women Leaders to Watch in 2024 matrimonial disputes. Additionally, I served as Treasurer and later Secretary of the Family Court Bar Association, Mumbai, from 2017 to 2019 and 2019 to 2022, respectively. These roles as an office bearer provided me with extensive opportunities to broaden my professional experience. healing and successfully organized webinars, keeping people engaged. dispute resolution method but also emphasized the importance of a client-centric approach in matrimonial cases. seize opportunities for growth and advancement with resilience and proactivity. Looking to the future, what is your vision for your path ahead? How do you aspire to continue making a significant impact on India's legal landscape? Even after completing my tenure, I continue to conduct workshops and webinars for continuous learning. These initiatives not only enhance professional development but also contribute to building a strong network across different fields. My commitment to team well-being, client satisfaction, and continuous learning is reflected in my efforts to create a positive impact, both within the legal community and during challenging times like the COVID- 19 pandemic. Many young aspirants, especially women, wish to enter the legal industry. What is your advice to them? You have emerged as one of India's most inspirational lawyers. Could you share the guiding philosophy that has propelled your professional success? For young aspirants, particularly women aspiring to enter the legal industry, I advise prioritizing education by choosing a reputable law school for a strong foundation. Develop a sincere passion for justice and commit to continuous learning. Early networking is crucial, and seeking mentorship from experienced professionals is invaluable. Consider specializing in an area of interest, gain practical experience through internships, and hone effective communication skills. Adaptability is key in the dynamic legal landscape. Uphold high standards of professionalism and integrity and strike a balance between work and personal well-being. Recognize the positive impact your unique perspective can bring to the legal profession and My vision involves establishing an NGO that focuses on both the professional development of lawyers and providing essential support to underprivileged women and children. This organization aims to offer development programs for lawyers, fostering continuous learning and skill enhancement. Simultaneously, it seeks to address the needs of vulnerable women and children through impactful initiatives promoting education, healthcare, and empowerment. By bridging the gap between legal professionals and underserved communities, I hope to contribute to a more inclusive and equitable society where legal resources are harnessed for the betterment of those in need. Thank you for your kind words. My guiding philosophy in achieving professional success as a lawyer centres on a commitment to integrity, empathy, and continuous learning. I believe in approaching each case with a profound sense of responsibility, particularly in the emotionally charged field of family law. The essence of the legal industry lies in bringing innovation and advancements to the niche. How do you strike a balance between legal limitations and client expectations? Ensuring fair and just outcomes for my clients is paramount. I prioritize transparent and effective communication while navigating legal complexities. Staying abreast of evolving legal landscapes is crucial to providing the best possible guidance to my clients. In summary, my philosophy revolves around upholding principles of justice, displaying empathy in addressing clients' emotional challenges, and an unwavering dedication to professional growth and legal excellence. Balancing legal limitations and client expectations as a lawyer involves thorough legal research, transparent communication with clients about legal constraints, risk assessment, collaboration with regulatory authorities, continuous legal education to stay updated, and providing customized, ethical solutions that meet client needs. The key is to be proactive and adaptive and maintain integrity in navigating the delicate balance between innovation and legal boundaries. The legal landscape is continually evolving. How do you ensure that you remain adaptable and ahead of industry trends, providing innovative solutions to your clients? As a leader in India's legal sector, you might have faced your share of challenges. Could you share an instance where your resilience and ingenuity triumphed over adversity? To stay adaptable and ahead in the legal field, I prioritize continuous legal education, actively engage in industry networking, integrate legal technology, collaborate with peers, gather client feedback, undergo specialized training, hone legal research skills, and uphold ethical standards. These strategies allow me to provide innovative solutions and remain responsive to the evolving legal landscape. In another instance, the challenge involved a matrimonial dispute. The situation was emotionally charged, with high levels of animosity between the parties. Traditional litigation likely exacerbates tensions rather than leads to a constructive resolution. Your leadership style is often recognized as an inspirational force behind your achievements. Could you shed light on your approach to leadership, trust building, and client satisfaction? To address this, I proposed and facilitated mediation sessions. Mediation provided a more amicable and collaborative environment for the parties to communicate their concerns and work towards mutually acceptable solutions. The process allowed for a more personalized and tailored resolution, considering the unique dynamics of the relationship and the needs of each party. Certainly, my leadership approach is centred on team building, trust, and client satisfaction. During my tenure as an office bearer in the Family Court Bar Association, Mumbai, I organized events on critical issues such as marriages to NRIs, training programs on Child’s Independent Lawyers, and Cross-Border Child Custody Cases. Recognizing the mental stress during the COVID-19 pandemic, I conducted online yoga sessions for mind By opting for mediation, we mitigated conflict, preserved relationships where possible, and reached agreements that both parties found acceptable. This approach not only demonstrated adaptability in choosing the most suitable 30 | Oct, 2024 | www.womenworldindia.com 31 | Oct, 2024 | www.womenworldindia.com

Success is the progressive realization of a worthy goal or ideal. - Earl Nightingale

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India's Most Remarkable Women Leaders To Watch in 2024

India's Most Remarkable Women Leaders To Watch in 2024

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