#Superwomen2020 Place your ambitions first and don’t succumb to self-guilt: Panisa Shah

Superwomen 2020 winner  Panisa Shah thinks that the digital & advertising field has been more than welcoming to women.

A creative professional with more than a decade of partnering with clients for building brands in the digital space and Superowomen 2020 winner - Panisa Shah dons the role of Creative Head at Social Beat, Influencer.in & 22Languages.

Here she talks about her journey in the digital domain, gender-neutral workplaces, one superpower she wishes to possess, and more.

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

Women are constantly expected to juggle multiple roles with ease and often struggle to manage time effectively between the roles of being a wife, daughter, parent, daughter-in-law, colleague, and boss.

Superwomen are blessed with an innate ability to constantly balance and multitask on multiple fronts - home, career, family, kids. We make mistakes, we fall, we revive, we learn, and continue in our journey with perseverance, warmth, and passion to meet expectations. In the quest to achieve personal success & happiness, it’s okay to not be the ‘ideal’ one and just be the superwoman you wish to be.

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

The one quality I think every superwoman has is the indomitable drive for success, be it on the personal or professional front. The ability to be organized and stay focused on the little things in life that count while managing a successful career and juggling efficiently through multiple roles.

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

The digital & advertising field has been more than welcoming to women. At Social beat, 75% of our team are women.

In today’s age, ‘boardroom inequality’ exists in terms of the number of women who are able to manage family and a successful career, without falling prey to social obligations and thereby reaching leadership positions.

Also Read: #Superwomen2020: Output of work, flexibility, and meritocracy are needed for a gender-neutral workplace: Chandni Shah

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

The first step would be to adopt cultures that are gender-sensitive and provide equal opportunities regardless of gender. There’s a dire need for employers and society in general, to not look at maternity breaks as full stops, not perceive a woman's career goals and progression as trivial attempts to stay productive.

One Superpower you wish you had? 

If
there was one superpower I wish I had, it would be the ability to never put on
weight and stay fit.

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

Honestly, there is not one particular superwoman. There’s something to be inspired by from each and every woman - my mom, my mom-in-law, my fellow co-workers, and all the women who manage to step into different roles every day.

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

In 10 years of my career, 3 things I have learned:

1. Place your ambitions first and don’t succumb to self-guilt.
2. Never undermine yourself.
3. And finally, whatever the excuse may be, don't let maternity pause your career.