Shoot For The Stars: Top Women Leaders' Advice To Junior Female Employees

When we talk about women empowerment, we want women around the world to get seats at the highest table at every organisation. We have to pull one another higher up on the ladder rather than dragging each other down.

We often find ourselves giving advice to our daughters, sisters, friends, and family members. However, we asked women at senior levels in different firms and sectors to give one piece of advice to junior female employees; advice they wished they would have gotten.

Here is what they had to say:

Sejal Khanna (26)

Sejal Khanna is the founder of Wabi Sabi India. She advises women, "Work has always been a world of men but as gender equality is becoming the new norm, women must not feel under-confident with their performances. One must always stand up for what they believe in. Women must remind themselves of an anthem - Who runs the world? Girls!!!"

According to a report in Business News Daily, about 80% of women experience microaggressions at work. They feel compelled to justify their accomplishments. Why do we always think less of ourselves? We must always remind ourselves that we are there becuase we earned that position.

Vasundhara Thakur (40)

Vasundhara Thakur is an Advocate in the Punjab and Haryana High Court. She advises, “Be super aware of the environment you are working in. Work hard, work smart and be restless about your dreams.”

According to a 2019 Forbes report, half of the world’s women population give up on their dreams and lead unsatisfied lives. Chasing dreams come with sacrifices, competencies, support and economic resources that many women struggle with. Many are even told to get “their heads out of the cloud”. However, you must keep moving onward and ahead. Even if you think your aspirations are high, chase them.

Namrata Nongpiur (34)

Namrata Nongpiur was the Chief Editor at MenXP and iDiva and is currently the Marketing Director at Nack. She advises her junior female colleagues, “Be shameless when asking for money. Trust me, your male colleagues with the same experience are asking for at least three times your salary. So go ahead and ask for that raise you know you’ve earned.”

Well, she is apt in her advice. According to the World Inequality Report 2022, Indian men earned 82% of the income, while women only earned 18% of the total amount. According to a UN Women report, women in the world make only 77 cents for every dollar earned by men.

Shalini Kothiyal (34)

Being the Senior Manager at Hindustan Times, Shalini Kothiyal says, “Always believe in yourself and be confident of your abilities. Never be afraid to go the extra mile in developing new skills.”

“You will either completely fail or miss the mark, but that’s how you grow. Your learning must continue throughout your career,” she added.

A study conducted by researchers at Cornell University stated that men always overestimate their abilities and performance while women underestimate both. This is where we also settle for less money and continuously question ourselves.

Swaralipi Deb Roy (35)

Swaralipi Deb Roy is a corporate lawyer practising at the Delhi High Court and the Supreme Court of India. She advises, “Women empowerment is only possible if we support women working at junior levels. It will help build a community and the world that would be better for us all.”

She quoted a study that said senior women officials often distance themselves from junior female employees to get accepted by their male peers.

Don't Miss: Devidutta Dash Gets Candid About Periods & Struggles Of Menstruators

Vandana Thakur (38)

Vandana Thakur is the Assistant General Manager and Senior Editor at HerZindagi, Jagran New Media. She said, “Women must never give up on themselves. You must have absolute clarity of who you are and what you are capable of achieving. Never let anyone tell you otherwise or give anyone the right to judge you for the choices you make.”

It was 2008 when Google realised it was promoting lesser women than men at higher positions. It was observed that women even nominated themselves at a lower rate than men. This is a case almost everywhere, and it can be resolved when we think that we deserve high pay, promotion and perks because we work equally hard.

Don't Miss:Ways To Get A Higher Pay Package During Job Switch

Priti Rathi Gupta (51)

Priti Rathi Gupta is the founder of India’s first financial platform for women called LXME. She believes, “Women should compete equally whether it comes to roles, pay or opportunities. This will need risk-taking ability, building support from partners and family and being out there when it comes to networking, learning and up-skilling. Everything that stops you from reaching out for the stars, most of which is your own self-doubt. ”

Imposter syndrome affects women more than men. A study confirms that 75% of female executives doubt themselves. They think that they have reached so far because of their luck and not hard work. It might be hard to fight this inner demon, but we must try and believe that we are worthy of where we stand today.

Also Watch