International Women's Day Interview: Shoba Ramesh, Head of Commodities, Wipro Consumer Care, and Lighting

Name: Shoba Ramesh

City: Bangalore, India

Occupation: Head of Commodities, Wipro Consumer Care, and Lighting

ST: Please tell us briefly about you.

Shoba Ramesh: I have over 20 years of experience in the edible oil and Soap industry
in the Sourcing Domain and has worked in National Dairy Development Board
(NDDB) a Government Undertaking, MNCs such as Agrotech Foods – An Affiliate of
ConAgra Foods and is currently with WIPRO
Consumer Care. I work in a domain that is predominantly male-dominated. Apart
from commodities, I also work in
logistics, planning, taxation, costings etc., which are related fields to
commodity sourcing.

ST: What is the most important message
you want to send out to all the women around the world on this occasion?

Shoba Ramesh:
Women have a certain set of skills that act as a necessity to lead in the
corporate world. Women are unique in their own way but are quite alike in many
ways. We have a knack to accomplish the impossible, our never-give-up attitude
is just a speck of gold on the armor. We are trained to be passionate and value
relationship and commitment. Negotiation skills are our forte. Women realize
the worth of all that they possess, and this helps them grab opportunities that
prove to be helpful in future. Women can bring great change to the corporate
world because they know how to make a difference.

I
have played a role of a leader, commander, knowledge sharer, analyst and
advisor. It requires a firm conviction, authority, persuasiveness, and depth of
knowledge that provides a command over activities. In a male-dominated work
environment, knowledge and skill will grant you your position. It helps you ace
the race.

ST: What according to you is
‘women empowerment’?

Shoba Ramesh: Many young women are focused, committed and dedicated to building a
successful career. They want to climb the ladder as quickly as possible and are
willing to put in the kind of hard work
and effort required to get there. What they really need is recognition for
their efforts and achievement. They want to be respected for their quality of
work and efficiency.To me, this is true empowerment.

The biggest challenge in tackling this issue is to
break the well-known taboos, myths, and stereotypes that revolve around the
position, capabilities, and responsibilities of women in comparison to men. Now
is the time to understand that times have changed and harnessed natural talent,
skill, and experience of people – be it
man or woman makes greater sense and benefits organizations.

ST: What would you say are the main
challenges facing women at present in India?

Shoba Ramesh: We need policies to promote gender diversity. In
many cases, women also have the pressure of motherhood and running the family.
Therefore, policies must be implemented to help them perform under such
circumstances. They must be able to maintain a work-life balance and handle the
hurdles on their way. To ease the burden on their shoulders, policies on gender
diversity must be implemented so that they can maintain their ardent commitment
towards services and serve as a source of inspiration for other women to also
join the organization.

The
biggest challenge in tackling this issue is to break the well-known taboos,
myths, and stereotypes that revolve around the position, capabilities, and
responsibilities of women in comparison to men. Now is the time to understand
that times have changed and harnessed natural talent, skill, and experience of people – be it man or woman
makes greater sense and benefits organizations.

ST: Where do you want to see yourself in
next 5 years?

Shoba Ramesh:
As I have been
in the Edible Oil Industry in the sourcing domain, I would wish to have more
products in my domain and aspire to the
position of Global Sourcing Head.