WHEN She LEADS

Women shaping pharma today share honest lessons and real-world leadership wisdom for the next generation of women who dare to lead

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ADITI KARE ANANDIKAR

MD, Indoco Remedies

My dear Bhavani,

I refer to you as 'Bhavani', the form of goddess Durga who has eight hands and is revered for her creative power, her free spirit and looked upon as the universal mother. I call you Bhavani because that's what it's going to take. Like Bhavani's eight hands, you will endlessly juggle eight important priorities in your life; work, home, parents, spouse, children, siblings, friends and most importantly, YOU. You will do it all because, like me, you will soon realise that success at work will only come if you're happy and successful in all facets of your life. You will understand that these eight compartments will have differently proportioned significance, depending on where you are in the lifecycle. In my 33 years at Indoco and raising two kids, I have missed only one parent-teacher meeting. That's where the 'better' halves or your support system comes in. Never underestimate their significance and contribution to your success.

You have embarked on a very challenging and fulfilling journey of performance, growth and success. As you progress, there will be many highs, even more lows, many sleepless nights, even more days of exhilaration, but I promise you an unforgettable and interesting journey. You will do well if you capitalize on your inherent qualities as a woman, those of compassion, kindness and humility, they will be your enablers as you lead your teams towards success. We often self-restrict our own progress by imagining the perennial glass ceiling that restricts us from aiming higher. Remember, our competition is with ourself and no other. After all, statistics have shown that we live longer and healthier than the perceived 'stronger' sex. Strive not to be the 'best man for the job' but the best 'person' for it.