The lifestyle industry, overall, has around only 15 per cent women at the top level, but what’s good is that overall conditions are improving and many companies are now having 40 per cent or more women at the same top-level position.
Importantly, there is a change in people’s thinking about the gender diversity gap.
Several such thought-provoking discussions took place at the NIFTA’s leadership series webinar on ‘Women Leaders: Up-Front and Center’. NIFTA, the Association of NIFT Alumni, is one of the most respected organisations in the apparel industry.
Shivanee Dutt, SVP, Buying-Merchandising, Calvin Klein, India; Neetu Jotwani, VP, Sourcing /Product/Business, Myntra Jabong India; Sharmishtha Nath, VP, Sourcing, Perry Ellis International, New York and Sabreena Tuteja shared about their professional journey as well as their experiences over the decades.
Women leaders also agreed that having children is not a constraint in women’s career. They however, added that while coming back after a long break, though it is natural to have negotiation, women should continue to have full confidence in themselves.
Panellists also shared how they did challenging jobs while carrying toddlers to office and while travelling.
Women leaders also shared how they should overcome imposter syndrome by authentically observing, connecting with the self, and managing family being a single mother.
Iti Rawat, Director and Co-founder, Thinkhall Training and Consultancy well moderated the event.
