Fairly Fearless
We can’t find the words to express how we feel about women. Their strength and power, their ability to keep their heads up no matter what. One admires it on every possible level. Girls run the world, that’s the only thing we know for sure. Here is a list of some inspiring women fearless from society’s norms and breaking the bias.
What is empowerment to you in the actual sense?
Empowerment is being able to be yourself in every single sphere of your life. It’s about finding that ‘authentic you’, nurturing it, and letting it drive you like a compass, with intuition, knowledge, curiosity, and empathy in all your interactions – personal or professional.
Tell us about your success journey?
My success journey has been made possible by those who have mentored, supported, and inspired me throughout my career. They have taught me the importance of interpersonal relationships, finding the right balance between work and home, and going above and beyond the call of duty to follow your passions.
What is empowerment to you in the actual sense?
When I see Craft House making its share in uplifting the rural sectors and encouraging and supporting women entrepreneurs and artisans in rural India, including some from impoverished backgrounds, to be a part of our supply chain. Or when am able to empower women by offering employment in Craft House administration and operation. Or I feel empowered when am able to contribute towards social change or when we promote NGOs and charity organizations from across the country. And are able to preserve and protect the environment by encouraging the consumption of natural and eco-friendly materials, using non-polluting and organic ingredients, or using recyclable and biodegradable material and following minimal use of plastic. This and more motivates and empowers me, to do better and better.
Tell us about your success journey?
There was a vacuum in the field of exotic and aesthetic crafted products in the town. I felt the need for a place, which offers such artistic products and promotes Indian craftsmanship. The unique concept of Craft House was conceived to bring both quality and fine craftsmanship of India directly to the consumers. With the support of my family; I set up my retail shop, Craft House in 2000. Craft House has grown from a retail shop to its flagship lifestyle store in the year 2003, spread over an area of 4000 sq. feet. Located at The Metropolitan Hotel & Spa, New Delhi. Later, we also added to our portfolio, ‘Delhi Bazaar Craft House’, the exclusive Indian store concept at state-of-the-art integrated International Departure T3 at Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA). And taking it forward, with my quest for making Ayurveda more accessible and palatable to consumers, lead to neoVeda. So, that the consumers can avoid Ayurveda’s original, intricate and tedious processes and enhance their daily bath and beauty regimen within the comforts of their home. My degree in MBA in Marketing from US, continuous R&D, first-hand interaction with customers from around the globe, and attention to detail enabled me to evolve neoVeda into a premium brand with its commitment to using the freshest and purest ingredients.
What is empowerment to you in the actual sense?
To me, women empowerment means education, vocational training, and skill development, because they open the door to career opportunities and entrepreneurship. I believe that sound management and business acumen are without gender. Given the same opportunities, a woman can be as successful as a man. Financial independence and self-reliance are the keys to woman empowerment.
Tell us about your success journey?
Translating my dreams into reality inspired me to become an entrepreneur. During my training in London, I came across damage caused by chemical substances. So, I started my herbal salon and formulated my own products, based on Ayurveda. I adopted natural beauty care and cure, taking Ayurvedic beauty care worldwide.
What is empowerment to you in the actual sense?
Empowerment is trust and recognition that provides an opportunity for personal growth as it motivates team in achieving their goal and carry out their duties confidently.
Tell us about your success journey?
Throughout my journey, my belief is to always remain resilient with agile and positive mindset and attitude. Every challenge is an opportunity to improve oneself. Always ensure kindness and empathy. My focus is a balance between Customer centricity and Nurturing of team’s development and growth. Goal setting is extremely important.
What is empowerment to you in the actual sense?
For me, empowerment is to be able to have power over myself, to make my own choices, and to have my voice heard to live a fulfilled productive life and to be able to reach the full potential as well as transferring the same to one’s children and community so that the society can benefit at large. I am very lucky to have been born into a family that empowers girls, to be married to a man with the same beliefs, and also to be able to work for companies that strongly empower women.
Tell us about your success journey?
Every step of the way that has led me to where I am today at Marriott International, is part of my success journey. All the small steps that were taken along the way including my very first employment in the hospitality industry, all the experiences that I carry with me till today, to all the wonderful people I have met from across the globe. I could not have done it without the support from the forward-thinking employers and I must highlight that my family has been one of the pillars of my success journey all along.
What is empowerment to you in the actual sense?
Empowerment to me is the freedom to make a difference and impact in the way I want it to. Empowerment is the best tool to build accountability and the most powerful way to instill the skill of decision-making.
Tell us about your success journey?
2 years back, when I was interviewing for LVMH, I was asked, “why would you derail your career with a jump from a technology start-up to a legacy luxury business?” And I said, this is not a derailing, this is who I am. I have worked in industries that have nothing in common – shipping, technology and now luxury wines and spirits, and I consider my ability to learn and unlearn as my biggest strength.
What is empowerment to you in the actual sense?
There are many interpretations of the word ‘empowerment’. While responsibility and self-determination are important factors in achieving a sense of empowerment, I also believe that it is important to garner the support of one’s peers and community. Their encouragement helps build confidence, which helps us face the multitude of challenges we tackle daily and still execute our vision.
Tell us about your success journey?
My adventure in the tourism space started in the hospitality sector in 2010 when a fresh college graduate was appointed to the front office operations team at a hotel in New York City. With the support of my peers, I quickly progressed up the ladder when, after a successful almost 3 years as Revenue Manager, I returned to Mumbai. I have served as the Communications Manager with the Israel Government Tourist Office for the last 6 years and I am excited to see where this journey will take me.
What is empowerment to you in the actual sense?
To me, empowerment means being in control of your own life, which in turn enables you to make positive decisions and take actions that will lead you towards achieving your goals and ambitions.
Tell us about your success journey?
I have had some truly exceptional experiences over the past 20 years. I have interacted and learned from some of the most talented minds in the luxury industry. The most rewarding part of my career is contributing to a bigger goal in building forever, and this in turn has contributed to my success journey.
What is empowerment to you in an actual sense?
To me, women empowerment means enabling an environment where a woman can make her own choices and decisions and can make herself heard; an environment that affords women the right to influence social change for themselves and others. And this means different things in different contexts. At the most basic level, empowerment calls for gender equality and financial independence.
Tell us about your successful journey?
My mother, my biggest role model, taught me to constantly seek out and leverage opportunities to learn and grow. She taught me that there are no shortcuts and she encouraged me to work hard and smart to demonstrate the value I bring to the table. And those powerful lessons have served me well as I grew in my career.
Tell us about your success journey?
As far as I perceive the word success it’s narrowed down for me momentarily to feeling content with what I am engaged in. The best part about having short-term goals is that by accomplishing them you’d have plenty more in life to long and hustle to make it to your ultimate goal. The ideal success story would remain tainted if it doesn’t make you feel infinitely happy, perhaps brewing my contents and ingredients in the kitchen makes me feel infinite.
What is empowerment to you in an actual sense?
Empowerment is nothing but powering yourself for anything. It is the process of getting stronger, more confident, and more engaged every day. To be empowered is to have the courage to live every moment and every situation without any fear and have the confidence to keep moving ahead in life.
What is empowerment to you in the actual sense?
Empowerment to me is the freedom to make choices and decisions without the restriction of societal pressure and fear. Empowerment is also the joy of waking up each morning with a smile on your face – contentment is a big part of it.
Tell us about your success journey?
I started my career at the late age of 30 years old, with barely much experience. I followed my passion path – and to succeed and find opportunities, I worked hard, studied and researched each night, never lost focus, and each time I feel, I picked myself back up. I saw failures as lessons to be learned from. I also never missed an opportunity to seek more knowledge and today, my work is a result of all the past years’ efforts.
What is empowerment to you in the actual sense?
Empowerment is realization and it comes from within. For me, it has to be financial freedom and independence whilst also learning new skill sets thereby increasing my knowledge base.
Tell us about your success journey?
My success journey is ongoing. It will be complete by inspiring more women to join mixology. But I can certainly say success starts with the initial courage and purpose.
What is empowerment to you in the actual sense?
For me, empowerment is the ability to know who you are as a person. Being able to explore the energy inside of you that makes you, You. To connect with your real inner-self, be authentic, and be able to take a stand for yourself. If I have to quote empowerment in one line I would say,” Aham Brahmasmi”.
Tell us about your success journey?
Well, if I talk about my successful journey, I have followed a very deep-rooted belief of mine that if opportunity doesn’t knock the door, build the door. I have never waited in my life for an opportunity to come. I have always, you know, somehow created them, and yes, when you’re passionate about something and you listen to your inner voice, your intuition. The day you decide that you are successful, you become successful.