#Superwomen2019: Hitesha Deshpande on the need for gender-neutral organizations

A multi-talented leader, working as an entrepreneur for the last 15 years, Hitesha Deshpande speaks at length on the evolving market.

Hitesha Deshpande, CEO, Finding ENKI shares two cents on qualities to stand-out as a superwoman and on how the advertising industry is no longer a man or a woman’s field.

How would you define a Superwoman in today's
day and age? 

A superwoman is imperfect. Not just that, she is also extremely aware of her imperfections and comfortable with them. Knowing that she has her challenges chalked out for her, helps her approach these challenges knowledgeably, and intelligently.

A superwoman does not blunder into a situation, assuming she is going to emerge victoriously. She goes in knowing that she might fail, but if she hasn’t taken that chance, she would never know whether she could have won it all. 

One quality that you think every superwoman
has and that helped you win Social Samosa Superwomen...

Getting up, when you’ve hit rock bottom, with a dazzling smile on your face and a determination to turn it all around. The best-laid plans can go wrong, but that does not mean it is the end of the road. It just means you will soon be discovering a whole new journey.

How successful have women been in shattering
the glass ceiling in the Media & Advertising field? Does the 'boardroom
inequality' phrase still stand true? 

Far from it. I think women have successfully proven time and again, that they not only have the strategic skills to map out a successful campaign, but also the empathy and compassion that helps a campaign deliver the right message to the right audience.

The advertising and communication industry is no longer a man or a woman’s field. It is a challenging industry that lets the most competitive message win.

What are the key changes this industry needs in order to make workplaces gender-neutral, safe, and nurturing?   

Policies and compliances. Every organization, big or small needs to have its policies in place and needs to take measures to reinforce these policies.

These policies then need to define what a gender-neutral organization truly means and the necessary steps they wish to take to make their workplace a better place for men and women to co-exist and co-work.

One Superpower you wish you had? 

The ability to stretch one day to accommodate 48 hours.

Also read: #Superwomen2019 Companies should value ‘authenticity and merit’ than anything else: Rashi Mittal Nair, WOOP

The 'Superwomen' you diligently follow and
who inspired you... 

Quite a few of them and I learn something new from each one. I admire the grace and dignity of Meghan Markle, I am inspired by the persistence and courage of DiskitAngmo of the Women Indian Ice Hockey Team, I love the energy and enthusiasm of Sushmita Sen. The list does go on.

One tip to women out there attempting to scale heights... 

You will be judged. It's inevitable. It is up to you how you let this judgment affect you. You hold the power to let a couple of words destroy your ambition and you alone hold the power to rise despite the many doubts thrown at you. You might be led to believe that circumstances make or break people, but it, in fact, is the other way round – people make or break their situation. Never forget that.