Mumbai: Today, women are breaking the glass ceiling in every sector. Beyond all this, there still exists a patriarchal mindset. Not many women are in the C-suite taking important decisions. And, of course, there still exists pay parity.
This Women’s Day, we, at Indiantelevision.com, are acknowledging some women leaders of the media, marketing, and advertising fraternity and also from other professions, who have given more than expected.
Gitanjali Saxena, Chief Business Officer, Tata CLiQ Luxury
Her Journey
I began my career in advertising and marketing, working for DDB Mudra and Set Max. I’ve been with Tata CLiQ since it was founded in 2016. I started out as a brand manager and have subsequently held a number of roles and positions. I eventually moved to the business side and oversaw several categories, including women’s apparel, children’s wear, and jewellery. I began spearheading the business for the platform’s luxury division four years ago and have since been responsible for driving growth and business for Tata CLiQ Luxury. My career has not been a straight line, nor have I followed a predetermined course. I took a number of lateral and unrelated jumps, which was both exhilarating and rewarding.
Her Inspiration and inspiring the team
My inspiration is myself. I am a strong believer in the fact that you just have to do better than what you did last time and not compare yourself with anyone else. This is what I tell my team as well – to keep doing better and be committed to focusing on delivering what has been promised to consumers and stakeholders.
Empowerment of Women
Women empowerment to me is having a society where there are no preconceived notions on what a woman can do or will be able to do, and where a girl’s thinking is not limited by gender stereotypes.
Mohua Das Gupta, Head – Marketing, Tata CLiQ Luxury
Her Journey
I started my career in advertising and spent the first 2-3 years of my career working with O&M and McCann Erickson, before moving on to lead marketing for retail brands. I’ve spent the last ten years working in the e-commerce space, including nearly seven years with Myntra, where I held several leadership roles in the marketing vertical. For the past 2 years, I have been spearheading the marketing function for Tata CLiQ Luxury with the objective of building the largest luxury e-commerce destination in India. While all my roles have been exciting, the last decade has been especially memorable since I have been a part of ushering in e-commerce and driving consumer transformation through technology.
Her Inspiration and inspiring the team
I’m a seeker of knowledge. The world around us is changing rapidly, and what is new today will be redundant tomorrow. That’s what keeps me inspired—to keep learning, expanding my knowledge, and trying new things as what got us here might not take us forward, and that is the message for my team as well.
Empowerment of Women
Empowerment for me means freedom and safety – freedom to choose one’s way of life and career, freedom from biases, and a world where one can walk without having to look over one’s shoulder.
Shagun Mitra, Director – Creative & Content, Tata CLiQ Luxury
Her Journey
After my graduation, which was a specialisation in communications design, my professional journey started with Greenpeace, where I was dedicated to using my voice and talents to create positive change. I was proud to be a part of a community of strong, talented, and empowered individuals who were breaking down barriers and drawing attention to culturally sensitive and compelling issues. Together, we inspired and uplifted each other, paving the way for excellence in creating meaningful and impactful content that brought attention to important issues affecting communities around the world. Here, my belief in the power of storytelling and design to inspire change and drive progress was developed.
After my stint at Greenpeace, I joined Jabong to head the Design Communications Team for Juice, their editorial magazine. At Juice, my inclination towards fashion helped me elevate my knowledge of the space, and my goal was to create captivating and innovative visual content to convey the emerging trends. I was lucky to work with a highly talented team of young creatives who fostered a culture of inclusivity and collaboration and together created fresh, relevant, and impactful work.
I joined Tata CLiQ Luxury in 2018 to head the creative team. I have loved every aspect of it, building our brand from the ground up to where it is today. Tata CLiQ Luxury offers you a very unique opportunity and space to experiment, freedom to grow, and an avenue to put out your ideas freely. As the Creative Director, I am responsible for overseeing the overall creative vision of the company and ensuring that branding and marketing efforts align with the brand’s values and goals. Every day is a fresh and exciting challenge that includes developing creative campaigns and working with some of the best-in-the-business – thought leaders, brand experts, designers, copywriters, managers, and marketers. This has been an extremely fulfilling journey so far, one filled with lots of learning, growth, exposure, respect, trust, and success.
Her Inspiration and inspiring the team
My biggest source of inspiration has been my mother.
I strongly believe that everyday experiences and how you engage with them can be a huge source of inspiration. For instance, travelling, watching a well-made film, and meeting new people with different life experiences are things I draw inspiration from.
For me, it is all about fostering a positive work atmosphere for my team. An environment that helps my colleagues and team to work freely and have a platform to voice their opinions and ideas without judgement. I believe in investing in my team and providing them with all the tools they need to grow, develop, and flourish in the organisation. Most importantly, to recognise their achievements. Once the platform is open, people are more forthcoming with their ideas, which offers a fresh perspective and creative solutions to problems. In my experience, having open conversations, exchanging knowledge, and sharing inspiring work also encourage and contribute to developing a thriving ecosystem. All of this ultimately, I believe, leads to a happier work environment for all, greater success for them, and maintaining a good culture.
Empowerment of Women
Women empowerment to me is about making independent choices about our well-being, careers, the roles we play in society, and pursuing our passion. This is only possible in an ecosystem that provides equal opportunity, fair play, and eliminates barriers to discrimination and gender bias.
It is about creating a world where women are valued and respected and where they have the freedom and agency to shape their own futures and make their own choices.
For me personally, from a very young age, I understood the importance and value that financial independence brings to the lives of women. The biggest gift one can give to any young girl is to enable her to navigate her interests into viable career options. I grew up in a household where I was given the opportunity to be confident and self-sufficient and was able to make informed choices about my life. At a time when graphic design was not seen as a conventional career option, my parents recognised my creativity and motivated me to pursue it. Their unwavering belief in me was a priceless asset that moulded me into the person I am today.
Leave a Reply