Strategies for Eliminating Gender Prejudice and the Impact of Mentorship: Insights from a Leading Ethnic Minority Female
In the corporate world, ethnic minority women often face multiple overlapping challenges that can hinder their career advancement. These obstacles include compounded biases, reduced leadership opportunities, workplace discrimination, and systemic barriers. However, role models like Reshma Ramachandran, Senior Vice President & Group Head of Transformation at The our group, are helping to break these barriers and pave the way for more equitable opportunities.
Ramachandran, of Indian heritage, has been in the corporate world for 20 years. Despite initial challenges where people did not believe she had the expertise and never gave her a chance to show her abilities, she has proven her worth and helped her team achieve success. This success serves as an inspiration for other ethnic minority women, demonstrating that with determination and hard work, anyone can overcome adversity.
Being named to the 2021 EMpower Ethnic Minority Role Model List is an important moment for Ramachandran. She views this recognition as an opportunity to help other ethnic minority women thrive. Ramachandran emphasizes the importance of having role models who share similar ethnicity, thoughts, and backgrounds. She often finds herself in groups where no one shares her ethnic background or understands her background, making the representation of ethnic minority women in leadership positions even more crucial.
Ramachandran is not an aggressive person and prefers a collaborative approach in change journeys. She believes that role models are crucial in shaping dreams and ambitions. For Ramachandran, celebrating her success is important, as it is essential for women and ethnic minorities to see role models that look like them. The 2021 EMpower Ethnic Minority Role Model List is a reminder of Ramachandran's roots and her commitment to helping other ethnic minority women overcome the challenges they face in corporate settings.
Ethnic minority women encounter compounded leadership barriers, bias, reduced Equity, Diversity & Inclusion (EDI) support, discriminatory practices such as the glass cliff effect, and lack of social capital. Role models help overcome these challenges by improving representation, offering mentorship, providing social support, and paving the way for more equitable opportunities. By sharing her story and success, Ramachandran is helping to counteract isolation, the culture of silence, and the glass cliff effect, while also demonstrating successful strategies to overcome systemic barriers.
In conclusion, the story of Reshma Ramachandran is a testament to the power of perseverance, determination, and the importance of representation. As a role model, she is inspiring other ethnic minority women to pursue their dreams and break through the barriers that have historically held them back. With more role models like Ramachandran, we can create a more inclusive and equitable corporate world for all.
[1] Catalyst. (2017). The Bias Interrupters Toolkit. Retrieved from https://www.catalyst.org/our-insights/bias-interrupters-toolkit [2] Hewlett, S. A., & Luo, Y. (2015). Forget a Mentor, Find a Sponsor. Harvard Business Review. Retrieved from https://hbr.org/2015/06/forget-a-mentor-find-a-sponsor [3] Sheryl Sandberg & Adam Grant. (2017). Option B: Facing Adversity, Building Resilience, and Finding Joy. Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group.
- Ramachandran's 2021 EMpower Ethnic Minority Role Model List recognition signifies a platform to aid ethnic minority women in their professional growth, aligning with the goals of education and self-development.
- In the realm of diversity-and-inclusion, role models like Reshma Ramachandran, through their success and influence, contribute to breaking down stereotypes in the fashion-and-beauty and lifestyle industries.
- By sharing her career-development journey, Ramachandran demonstrates the vital importance of skills-training in overcoming obstacles in the corporate world and propelling personal-growth.
- Looking beyond the corporate realm, her story encourages advocacy for ethical financing practices that foster a diverse workforce and promote fair business conduct.
- Despite initial challenges, Reshma Ramachandran's relationships and ability to foster collaboration in her business dealings have been instrumental in her success - a crucial life lesson for anyone navigating their professional lifestyle.
