With International Womens Day (March 8) around the corner, it is again time for conversations about womens issues to gain momentum. The celebrations may be short-lived, but the conversations and the messages that emerge are worth carrying forward.
Speaking at a recent event in Bengaluru, actor, pilot, former beauty queen, model and politician Gul Panag urged a group of women working in the corporate world to break the barriers that hold them back.
Gul spoke candidly about her own experiences, drawing examples from her own journey. Her message was strong and inspiring:
"My personal goal is to empower as many women as I can and not through big things. Empowerment is not a fruit that someone gives you on a tree; it's a sense of belief that you are equal and you deserve equality in every walk of life. When you truly believe that is when you're empowered."
I can do anything I want is the mantra Gul lives by. It is what pushes her to take roads less travelled quite literally, as on her show Off Road with Gul Panagor learn how to fly and get a pilots licence, and contest elections even if she doesn't win.
According to Gul, a lot of things women do or dont do are because of social conditioning and things are only going to change if women question them. "If you cant question the stereotypes and conditioning, at least dont pass on the disability to your daughter or the next generation," she urged.
Imagine a co-worker walking up to you and saying she is having a tough time managing her baby and work stress. You could take her out for coffee and let her talk about it rather than responding with Go deal with it because we are all doing it'. As women, we have to be there for each other, said Gul.
Gul shared an interesting theory. According to her, it takes three generations for change to reflect. What my grandfather did, and this is not to discount the efforts of my father, but my grandfather thought long term and that is why I am where I am today. My grandfather did not let social constraints hold him back from making decisions that would improve the lives of the future generations. It is only fitting, then, that Gul runs an NGO named after her grandfather, The Colonel Shamsher Singh Foundation, that works for a variety of causes including gender equality, education, and disaster relief.
Setting the record straight, Gul emphasised that feminism is about equality and not male bashing, which is why every woman should be proud to call herself a feminist.
Although it is easy to be overwhelmed by the sheer number of roles women are expected to play, Gul pointed out that the best way to stay relevant and not lose oneself is to spend 10 minutes every day thinking about the things one wants to do. Often the best time to think is when we are exercising. Take out time for exercise, even half an hour, and spend 10 minutes of it thinking through what you want to do for yourself each day. Even if you do one thing out of that list, it is a big achievement.
The event, organised by the Embassy Office Parks, saw other inspirational women talk about their experiences. Ananda Shankar Jayant, aclassical dancer and cancer survivor, urged women to explore and understand where their core passion lies. In life, we face many challenges but what will help you ride the challenge with ease is if you understand what your core passion is, for that will give you the momentum to sail through any challenge. For me, my core passion was dance and I have managed to pursue it after cancer and managed to dance even when I had a full-time career.
Mike Holland, CEO, Embassy Office Parks, spoke to YourStory about his journey in India and how he has seen the landscape for women change since he moved here in the late 1990s. We have seen a progressive change in these 20 years in urban India and it is very encouraging to see women being very successful. However, according to him, the one big challenge women still face is the lack of education.
Reeza Sebastian Karimpanal, Vice-President, Residential, recalled how, over the past decade or so, there had been an increase not only in the number of women at the workplace but also in the number of women leaders at the Embassy group. She joined the company in 2002 and took two years off when her children were born. Reeza says, I feel what has changed is that companies are showing more faith in women and the flexibility that companies provide to women is helping women give their best.
According to Reeza, women's biggest strength is perseverance.
Had they lacked that trait, none of these inspirational women would be where they are today. And that, my friends, is the key to success, so never give up.
Read the original here:
Women have to empower each other: Gul Panag - YourStory.com
- Empowering Women - Self Empowerment, Personal & Spiritual ... [Last Updated On: March 25th, 2016] [Originally Added On: March 25th, 2016]
- Leadership Skills for Nurse Managers: Personal Empowerment [Last Updated On: March 26th, 2016] [Originally Added On: March 26th, 2016]
- Empowering Women - Self Empowerment, Personal & Spiritual ... [Last Updated On: March 26th, 2016] [Originally Added On: March 26th, 2016]
- Life Coaching for Personal and Professional Empowerment [Last Updated On: March 26th, 2016] [Originally Added On: March 26th, 2016]
- Empowerment - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia [Last Updated On: March 26th, 2016] [Originally Added On: March 26th, 2016]
- Counselling and Hypnotherapy in ... - Personal Empowerment [Last Updated On: March 26th, 2016] [Originally Added On: March 26th, 2016]
- Personal Empowerment Group . com - Empowering You [Last Updated On: March 27th, 2016] [Originally Added On: March 27th, 2016]
- Personal Empowerment Programs - Empowerment Institute [Last Updated On: March 28th, 2016] [Originally Added On: March 28th, 2016]
- Series On Personal Empowerment at Psychology, Philosophy ... [Last Updated On: June 12th, 2016] [Originally Added On: June 12th, 2016]
- The Secrets of Personal Empowerment [Last Updated On: June 16th, 2016] [Originally Added On: June 16th, 2016]
- Personal Empowerment Solutions.com | All about Personal ... [Last Updated On: June 19th, 2016] [Originally Added On: June 19th, 2016]
- Personal Empowerment Solutions.com | All about Personal ... [Last Updated On: June 28th, 2016] [Originally Added On: June 28th, 2016]
- The Meaning of Empowerment - Powerful Information [Last Updated On: July 21st, 2016] [Originally Added On: July 21st, 2016]
- Mental Health Counseling, Personal Empowerment | Kansas ... [Last Updated On: August 29th, 2016] [Originally Added On: August 29th, 2016]
- Self Empowerment Appears Fundamental For Personal Development [Last Updated On: September 6th, 2016] [Originally Added On: September 6th, 2016]
- Minds Of Power: What Is Personal Empowerment? [Last Updated On: October 27th, 2016] [Originally Added On: October 27th, 2016]
- Authentic Empowerment - Personal and Professional Life ... [Last Updated On: November 21st, 2016] [Originally Added On: November 21st, 2016]
- Personal Empowerment Coach Certification - The S.W.A.T ... [Last Updated On: November 21st, 2016] [Originally Added On: November 21st, 2016]
- Bodies of Empowerment Personal Training [Last Updated On: November 29th, 2016] [Originally Added On: November 29th, 2016]
- Charlotte Kasl [Last Updated On: December 9th, 2016] [Originally Added On: December 9th, 2016]
- Empowerment and Strengths-Based Perspective: Social Work [Last Updated On: January 8th, 2017] [Originally Added On: January 8th, 2017]
- Empowerment Theory - Springer [Last Updated On: January 8th, 2017] [Originally Added On: January 8th, 2017]
- Top 100 Womens Empowerment Blogs | Psychology of Eating [Last Updated On: January 8th, 2017] [Originally Added On: January 8th, 2017]
- radKIDS.org - The national leader in children's safety [Last Updated On: January 8th, 2017] [Originally Added On: January 8th, 2017]
- Personal Empowerment Program : World Youth [Last Updated On: January 8th, 2017] [Originally Added On: January 8th, 2017]
- 'This is a phase of empowerment' - The Hindu [Last Updated On: February 6th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 6th, 2017]
- 'Pink' actress joins campaign for women empowerment - The New Indian Express [Last Updated On: February 6th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 6th, 2017]
- GHCM's new MD on the importance of mentorship, youth empowerment - Bizcommunity.com [Last Updated On: February 6th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 6th, 2017]
- 8 Steps to Personal Empowerment - Entrepreneur [Last Updated On: February 6th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 6th, 2017]
- Making Sure Our Longer Lives Are Healthy Ones - Next Avenue [Last Updated On: February 6th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 6th, 2017]
- Teachers ruling a stark reminder - Coast Reporter - Coast Reporter [Last Updated On: February 7th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 7th, 2017]
- UMass Amherst Celebrates Black Heritage Month - UMass News and Media Relations [Last Updated On: February 7th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 7th, 2017]
- Help yourself, Feb. 8 | Town Crier | trib.com - Casper Star-Tribune Online [Last Updated On: February 7th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 7th, 2017]
- Discover meaning at the Festival of Faiths, April 19 24 - Insider Louisville [Last Updated On: February 7th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 7th, 2017]
- Another Voice: Land trust will empower Fruit Belt residents - Buffalo News [Last Updated On: February 7th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 7th, 2017]
- Town Crier: Help Yourself - Casper Star-Tribune Online [Last Updated On: February 7th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 7th, 2017]
- Boston's Office of Financial Empowerment Wants to Spread the Wealth - Next City [Last Updated On: February 9th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 9th, 2017]
- WE Are Women's Philanthropy - Jewish Exponent [Last Updated On: February 9th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 9th, 2017]
- Genki Spark shines light on female empowerment through taiko - Daily Free Press (subscription) [Last Updated On: February 10th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 10th, 2017]
- Empowering the Data Subject Manila Bulletin Business - Manila Bulletin [Last Updated On: February 10th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 10th, 2017]
- The Problem With A 'Shoppable' Presidency - Forbes [Last Updated On: February 11th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 11th, 2017]
- The Ripple - Olney Daily Mail [Last Updated On: February 11th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 11th, 2017]
- Fire service receives funding to deliver 'personal development ... - Wiltshire Times [Last Updated On: February 14th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 14th, 2017]
- Northwest Credit Union Foundation partners with BALANCE to provide personal finance training to MESA participants - CUinsight.com (press release) [Last Updated On: February 14th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 14th, 2017]
- Bells University, New Horizons sign MoU On ICT empowerment for students - NIGERIAN TRIBUNE (press release) (blog) [Last Updated On: February 14th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 14th, 2017]
- Mastering Trump's mastermind: Sebastian Gorka and the struggle between Islam and the West - EUROPP - European Politics and Policy (blog) [Last Updated On: February 14th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 14th, 2017]
- Springs School News, February 16 - Springs - 27east - 27east.com [Last Updated On: February 14th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 14th, 2017]
- 5 Steps To Validate Your Business Idea Before Getting Started - Forbes [Last Updated On: February 14th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 14th, 2017]
- Milk Makeup Is Celebrating Its Anniversary With A New Campaign - NYLON [Last Updated On: February 15th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 15th, 2017]
- 2017 Chicago Women's Conference & Expo Coming to South Suburban College on March 17th - eNews Park Forest [Last Updated On: February 15th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 15th, 2017]
- Melinda Gates Credits Contraception With Her Personal and Professional Success - Slate Magazine (blog) [Last Updated On: February 15th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 15th, 2017]
- REBELLIOUS COACHING - Personal Empowerment Coaching [Last Updated On: February 15th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 15th, 2017]
- Personal Empowerment | SkillsYouNeed [Last Updated On: February 15th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 15th, 2017]
- 4 Low-Cost Benefits That Majorly Boost Employee Healthiness - Tech.Co [Last Updated On: February 15th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 15th, 2017]
- Shamanic Healer Anahata Ananda Shares Benefits of Breathwork for Healing Trauma and Planting Roots of Strength ... - Benzinga [Last Updated On: February 17th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 17th, 2017]
- Ajit Pai's digital empowerment agenda is good news for rural America - The Hill (blog) [Last Updated On: February 17th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 17th, 2017]
- The truth about Ivanka's Trumped-up, me-first feminism - Macleans.ca [Last Updated On: February 17th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 17th, 2017]
- Transformation of South Africa needs high sense of consciousness for social justice for success - Thought Leader [Last Updated On: February 22nd, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 22nd, 2017]
- Pink Gloves Boxing: Women's class focuses on empowerment ... - The Missoulian [Last Updated On: February 22nd, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 22nd, 2017]
- Teaching Our Kids Real from Fake - Huffington Post [Last Updated On: February 22nd, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 22nd, 2017]
- Shaking The Fear Of Breastfeeding In Public | The Huffington Post - Huffington Post UK [Last Updated On: February 22nd, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 22nd, 2017]
- OUR VIEW: On Presidents Day, we celebrate the good ones - East Oregonian (subscription) [Last Updated On: February 22nd, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 22nd, 2017]
- Impact 100 members tour remodeled STEP Training Center - TCPalm [Last Updated On: February 22nd, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 22nd, 2017]
- Bloomfield Company Uses Disney Princesses To Promote Female Empowerment - Patch.com [Last Updated On: February 25th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 25th, 2017]
- Sri Sri Ravi Shankar conducts DSN Prog online - Daily Excelsior [Last Updated On: February 25th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 25th, 2017]
- Viewpoints: The case for expanding Empowerment Scholarship Accounts - AZCentral.com [Last Updated On: February 25th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 25th, 2017]
- Apple Music just released an album made on an iPhone ... - Computerworld [Last Updated On: February 25th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 25th, 2017]
- Pushing past barriers: Program aims to foster empowering female relationships - Grand Forks Herald [Last Updated On: February 25th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 25th, 2017]
- MILCK comes to Portland this week to emPOWer - Oregon Music News [Last Updated On: February 26th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 26th, 2017]
- Sippican to Implement 'radKIDS' Defense Program - Wanderer [Last Updated On: February 26th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 26th, 2017]
- Personal trainer focuses on client empowerment - Clearfield Progress [Last Updated On: February 26th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 26th, 2017]
- Black History Month: Recovering Our Personal Narrative - Muslim Link [Last Updated On: February 28th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 28th, 2017]
- Judge Holds NYPD's Feet to Fire on Press Credentials - Courthouse ... - Courthouse News Service [Last Updated On: February 28th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 28th, 2017]
- Realizing Economic Empowerment For All Americans - Huffington Post [Last Updated On: February 28th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 28th, 2017]
- Black Women Aren't Having Enough Orgasms And Their Careers Are To Blame Says Author - MadameNoire [Last Updated On: February 28th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 28th, 2017]
- This women's sport you've never heard of is taking Israel by storm - Jewish Telegraphic Agency [Last Updated On: February 28th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 28th, 2017]
- Port Hope girls learn empowerment - Northumberland Today [Last Updated On: March 1st, 2017] [Originally Added On: March 1st, 2017]
- Federal Judge Says NYC's Regulation Of The Press Will Go On Trial - Village Voice [Last Updated On: March 1st, 2017] [Originally Added On: March 1st, 2017]
- Consult a psychic - for empowerment - Philly.com [Last Updated On: March 1st, 2017] [Originally Added On: March 1st, 2017]
- Digital Inclusion Summit: Training, Partnerships Are Key - Rivard Report [Last Updated On: March 2nd, 2017] [Originally Added On: March 2nd, 2017]