🙋‍ ️As International Women’s Day is celebrated worldwide, efforts are underway to recognize women’s representation across diverse fields. In India, the spirit of ‘Nari Shakti’ is alive as discussions focus on various schemes and initiatives. Increased enforcement is advocating for equal opportunities in underrepresented sectors. The promising shift towards inclusivity is shaping a future grounded in equity and equality.

👩‍💻 Thoughtworks is synonymous with diversity and inclusion, a leading brand in this space. This ethos is seen on the ground, starting from my social interview round, and it has stayed with me since. I found myself more at ease, my senses heightened. Coming from a family where women traditionally held roles as homemakers, my wife broke that mold as the first working woman. Now, my sisters, cousins, and sisters-in-law are doctors, engineers, teachers, bankers and founders. Inclusivity was always a part of me, and Thoughtworks allowed me to truly ‘Be Me’. ‘Being me’ at thoughtworks is quite embedded, as echoed by Deepali, Mohd Quazi and others. It inspired me to write a book about My Thoughtworkings, sharing guiding thoughts inspired by the ethos of Thoughtworks.

👩‍🏫 The sentiment of ‘Being Me’ was strongly echoed by our CMO, Julie Woods-Moss, during her recent visit to India, where she shared her professional journey with us. Having worked with her on various emerging technology initiatives, I’ve always been amazed by her blend of technical prowess, business acumen, and deep understanding of humanity in everything she does. This was our first face-to-face meeting for a very short span of time, but it left a powerful impact on me.

🤽‍️ This is the essence of ‘Nari Shakti’ or ‘Women Power’—moments like these. This conversation inspired me to write this article. Through Julie’s words, I gained a new understanding of ‘being inclusive, being me’

👩‍🍼 She shared that she learns from her kids that “being me” is not just about individuality; it’s about understanding others’ “being me” as well. We truly become ourselves and feel accepted as “me” when we start accepting others for who they are, embracing their own unique “being me”. In the early days, she used to worry when people said she was too empathetic. Is being empathetic a bad thing? No, not at all. She later learned that being empathetic is perfectly fine, but expecting others to have the same level of empathy is not always realistic. We might strive for perfectionism, but expecting everyone else to meet those same standards is not fair. It’s okay to want to support others and help them grow, but expecting them to follow our advice or behave exactly like us is not the right approach.

👩‍💼 Consciously or unconsciously, we often find ourselves teaching and advising our kids and the world around us on what to do and how to be, without truly understanding their unique “being me”. I might be someone who loves waking up at 5 am (which I’m not 🙂), enjoys going to the gym, and values being disciplined and punctual - and that’s perfectly fine for me. However, expecting everyone else around me to follow the same routines, thinking it will benefit them as it does me, is not realistic.

⛹️ In reality, it doesn’t work that way, and this mismatch in expectations can lead to concerns and conflicts, regardless of whether others around us comply or not. It’s natural to want to guide others based on our experiences, but it’s equally important to let them decide and follow what works best for them.

🧘‍ ️I believe this thought will stay with me and become My Thoughtworkings. It doesn’t mean we shouldn’t coach or mentor others; instead, this realization will help us become better individuals. There’s such a sense of peace in understanding this concept, isn’t there? I wish I had grasped it earlier, but as they say, better late than never.

🙏 In conclusion, I want to extend my heartfelt thanks to Julie for sharing such a powerful message on International Women’s Day. Her words have resonated deeply, and I wish power to her and all women, the ‘Nari Shakti’. Together, may we continue to empower and uplift each other. Thanks for such a warm meeting.