Name: Sonu Garg
City: Mumbai, India
Occupation: Chief Financial Officer (CFO), Wipro Water
ST: Please tell us briefly about you.
Sonu Garg: I have 14 years of experience in the professional journey and have
worked with various companies such as Vedanta, HUL, Amazon etc.
During this period,
I have also witnessed the steady revolution in the way woman are looked up to
in workplaces, changes in policies adopted by companies to attract & retain
woman talent and favourable changes in legislation to support a woman at work.
worked with various companies such as Vedanta, HUL, Amazon etc.
During this period,
I have also witnessed the steady revolution in the way woman are looked up to
in workplaces, changes in policies adopted by companies to attract & retain
woman talent and favourable changes in legislation to support a woman at work.
After having done multiple roles over
the year, I believe some attributes like hard work, setting the right
expectation on both personal & professional front, assertiveness &
professional approach to work has helped me to keep going ahead and also
fetched me top recognition from my previous organization.
the year, I believe some attributes like hard work, setting the right
expectation on both personal & professional front, assertiveness &
professional approach to work has helped me to keep going ahead and also
fetched me top recognition from my previous organization.
Currently leading a team with 90% male
employees and not only managing them effectively, but also guiding/mentoring them,
leading new initiatives, at the same time handling various internal &
external stakeholders, and all these while managing a family with two kids,
certainly drives everyone to change their perspective. But it’s unfortunate
that a woman needs to go that extra mile to prove her capability but while
doing all these, I have also had a great pillar of strength in terms of Mr.
Raghav Swaminathan, CFO, Wipro Enterprises Pvt. Ltd. to lend his unconditional
support.
employees and not only managing them effectively, but also guiding/mentoring them,
leading new initiatives, at the same time handling various internal &
external stakeholders, and all these while managing a family with two kids,
certainly drives everyone to change their perspective. But it’s unfortunate
that a woman needs to go that extra mile to prove her capability but while
doing all these, I have also had a great pillar of strength in terms of Mr.
Raghav Swaminathan, CFO, Wipro Enterprises Pvt. Ltd. to lend his unconditional
support.
ST: What is the most important message you want to send out to all the
women around the world on this occasion?
women around the world on this occasion?
Sonu Garg: Roadblocks are always there but rising up after passing through them
makes the journey all the more special.
makes the journey all the more special.
I just continued doing what I wanted to.
It wasn’t really that easy however with a fine balance of both personal &
professional work, right prioritization during various stages of life and
immense support and encouragement from my family have been able to make it very
clear to those who think that woman cannot do justice her personal
responsibilities while serving her professional duties. In the Indian context,
support from family is most crucial to breaking the taboos of society.
It wasn’t really that easy however with a fine balance of both personal &
professional work, right prioritization during various stages of life and
immense support and encouragement from my family have been able to make it very
clear to those who think that woman cannot do justice her personal
responsibilities while serving her professional duties. In the Indian context,
support from family is most crucial to breaking the taboos of society.
ST: What according to you is ‘women empowerment’?
Sonu Garg: A workplace which can help her cope up with her journey as a woman
along with the professional aspirations that she passionately carries with her.
They neither want to be looked down upon nor be given a preferential treatment,
all they want is to be treated equally.
along with the professional aspirations that she passionately carries with her.
They neither want to be looked down upon nor be given a preferential treatment,
all they want is to be treated equally.
The scenario is though changing not only
in the workplace but also in Indian society which is equally important to bring
more women to work. There is a lot of offering in terms of flexible work
policy, extended maternity leaves, and corporates making special efforts to
call back women after a career break.
in the workplace but also in Indian society which is equally important to bring
more women to work. There is a lot of offering in terms of flexible work
policy, extended maternity leaves, and corporates making special efforts to
call back women after a career break.
ST: What would you say are the main challenges facing women at present
in India?
in India?
Sonu Garg: The first big challenge in Indian scenario is to build more woman
workforce on priority.
workforce on priority.
With various policies even though a good
amount of diversity is achieved down the ladder, it is not the same when it
comes to leadership positions where the gender diversity has still a long way
to go. A lot more efforts & policies are required to balance the gender
diversity at the top spectrum.
amount of diversity is achieved down the ladder, it is not the same when it
comes to leadership positions where the gender diversity has still a long way
to go. A lot more efforts & policies are required to balance the gender
diversity at the top spectrum.
ST: Where do you want to see yourself in next 5 years?
Sonu Garg:
The journey
has only begun, there is a long way to go on the professional front. Also,
intend to lend my support in a best possible way to see the network of woman
professionals growing.
The journey
has only begun, there is a long way to go on the professional front. Also,
intend to lend my support in a best possible way to see the network of woman
professionals growing.
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| Sonu Garg, Chief Financial Officer (CFO), Wipro Water |
