Pursuing passion with “Focus and Determination”

From a young age, my life’s journey has been shaped by the unwavering support of my family and a deep belief in the power of education and determination. My father’s inspiring stories of accomplished women and my mother’s emphasis on the value of knowledge propelled me forward.

By the time I reached the 9th grade, I had a clear aspiration to pursue a career in law. However, this choice wasn’t without its challenges. Back then, law was seen as an unconventional and less favored path, often taken by those with limited career options. Nonetheless, I remained steadfast in my pursuit of this passion. I successfully completed my B.Com and LLB degree from Karnataka University of Dharwad in 2003. This achievement marked the beginning of a remarkable journey that has now spanned two decades.

One of the most pivotal moments in my career and personal life occurred in 2009, during a challenging period of economic recession. I decided to embark on the path of motherhood. However, my pregnancy was considered high risk, and I was advised against traveling. To further complicate matters, my husband was on a year-long job assignment in Hubli, while I stayed with my parents, who lived about 40 kilometers away from my workplace.

Despite these formidable challenges, I was determined not to let my unborn child become the reason for a career hiatus. My unwavering determination led me to persuade my family to support my decision. My husband wholeheartedly supported my choice to move to paying guest accommodation closer to my workplace. Throughout my pregnancy, I navigated risks, even facing an emergency hospital admission during the second trimester.

After my maternity leave, I returned to work with my five-month-old infant, who accompanied me daily to a company-provided creche. This experience underscored the significance of companies supporting working mothers and creating safe and accommodating workplaces. I am deeply grateful to the organization where I was employed for their support during this crucial period. Today, my daughter is 14 years old, and I often advise her to seek solutions to challenges rather than simply drifting away from them.

My journey as a corporate counsel allowed me to discover a profound passion for the healthcare sector. Initially, doubts lingered within the workplace about the capabilities of women in corporate law. However, in retrospect, we not only matched the performance of our male counterparts but often exceeded it. We never hesitated to appear in court, travel to various locations for work, all while balancing the responsibilities of caring for a young child and elderly parents at home. This included working long hours, providing briefs to external counsel, and occasionally working late into the evening.

Throughout, I fulfilled family obligations without compromise. Much of my growth and development in this field is owed to the guidance and support of my mentors, both past and present senior colleagues, and seasoned professional counsels. They consistently encouraged me to cultivate the qualities of a strong female leader.

They consistently encouraged me to embody the qualities of a strong female leader. My journey, both professional and personal, has been far from smooth. Yet, I’ve grown to cherish my work, striving for excellence through hard work, unwavering dedication, boundless passion, and a commitment to continuous learning.

As a woman, my professional and personal journey has been far from smooth, but over the years, I’ve come to cherish my work and strive for excellence through sheer hard work, unwavering dedication, boundless passion, and a commitment to continuous learning. Each job I’ve held has been a steppingstone towards becoming a better female leader, starting from my days of practicing law in court, then at Aditya Birla, and subsequently at Fortis, and now in my current role as Head of Legal at HealthCare Global Enterprises Limited. My efforts have been recognized in the past when I was honored as a ‘Valuable Employee.’ My present employer, HCG believes and encourages women workforce and I am proud to mention that at HCG women are holding key positions.

My journey, though filled with its share of challenges, stands as a testament to the power of perseverance and the boundless potential within every individual, regardless of gender. It is a story I share proudly, in the hope that it may inspire others to navigate their own paths with courage and determination.