Name: Tanvi Johri
Age: 26
Occupation: Entrepreneur
ST: Please tell us briefly about you.
Tanvi: Hailing from the city of Mathura, I have grown up in a family
where there were no gender stereotypes. Being raised by a strong, independent
mother, I have seen her working as hard as my father or even more than him and
being the backbone of the family-both emotionally and financially. My
fatherraised me to be as strong and independent as his son. He had the strength
to shed tears in front of his children without caring about how the society
directs a man to behave, at the same time holding the family together with his
courage, principles and values. I think, this had a huge impact on me when I was
a child.
where there were no gender stereotypes. Being raised by a strong, independent
mother, I have seen her working as hard as my father or even more than him and
being the backbone of the family-both emotionally and financially. My
fatherraised me to be as strong and independent as his son. He had the strength
to shed tears in front of his children without caring about how the society
directs a man to behave, at the same time holding the family together with his
courage, principles and values. I think, this had a huge impact on me when I was
a child.
I define myself by my commitment to work and my undying need to
improve myself in all aspects of my life, every single day. I firmly believe
that it’s only honesty and irrefutable commitment towards our passion that can
take us forward and achieve our dreams.
improve myself in all aspects of my life, every single day. I firmly believe
that it’s only honesty and irrefutable commitment towards our passion that can
take us forward and achieve our dreams.
ST: Who is a woman that inspires you the most and why?
Tanvi: There
are so many wonderful women in the world who have made a dent in this world
with their workand with their inviolable beliefs. It is because of these
fearless women that today, millions of women have a voice. However, if I were
to particularly name my inspirations, it would be Coco Chanel and Ellen
DeGeneres. I absolutely admire Ellen for the way she influences millions of
people’s lives with her warmth and generosity. More so for her strength for
speaking out and standing up for the life she wanted to live, and to fight for
her rights. It takes immense courage for such an influencing personality to
openly advocate something that is considered as a taboo in the society.
are so many wonderful women in the world who have made a dent in this world
with their workand with their inviolable beliefs. It is because of these
fearless women that today, millions of women have a voice. However, if I were
to particularly name my inspirations, it would be Coco Chanel and Ellen
DeGeneres. I absolutely admire Ellen for the way she influences millions of
people’s lives with her warmth and generosity. More so for her strength for
speaking out and standing up for the life she wanted to live, and to fight for
her rights. It takes immense courage for such an influencing personality to
openly advocate something that is considered as a taboo in the society.
Coco Chanel is one woman who has greatly
inspired me for the achievements in her professional life. The death of her
mother and being raised in an orphanage did not deter her determination and
vision. And at a time when women were fashionable only in corsets, she went
ahead and popularised casuals with her chic and elegant designs. Today, the fashion
industry has no beginning or end without her name being one of the most
striking revolutions. It is greatly inspiring to see such gorgeous, talented
women with such a shrewd understanding of what they want to deliver and
achieve.
inspired me for the achievements in her professional life. The death of her
mother and being raised in an orphanage did not deter her determination and
vision. And at a time when women were fashionable only in corsets, she went
ahead and popularised casuals with her chic and elegant designs. Today, the fashion
industry has no beginning or end without her name being one of the most
striking revolutions. It is greatly inspiring to see such gorgeous, talented
women with such a shrewd understanding of what they want to deliver and
achieve.
ST: How are you celebrating this year’s International Women’s Day?
Tanvi: I
feel extremely fortunate to be associated with a brand whosevery core is to
empower women. It’s not just about one day, we work every day to create an
ecosystem in which women feel confident of their bodiesand take pride in the
fact that they menstruate without feeling any shame or embarrassment. We urge
women and educate them to take care of their bodiesbyoffering them a product
that’s not only safer but healthier. We also contribute a part of our earnings
to providing safe menstrual hygiene products to underprivileged women. On this
Women’s Day, we are taking the opportunity to reinforce our promise to women
that we will always provide them the best-quality products that do not
compromise their health and safety, that we will always be transparent about
ourselves and the products we make for them.
feel extremely fortunate to be associated with a brand whosevery core is to
empower women. It’s not just about one day, we work every day to create an
ecosystem in which women feel confident of their bodiesand take pride in the
fact that they menstruate without feeling any shame or embarrassment. We urge
women and educate them to take care of their bodiesbyoffering them a product
that’s not only safer but healthier. We also contribute a part of our earnings
to providing safe menstrual hygiene products to underprivileged women. On this
Women’s Day, we are taking the opportunity to reinforce our promise to women
that we will always provide them the best-quality products that do not
compromise their health and safety, that we will always be transparent about
ourselves and the products we make for them.
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?
Tanvi: I
would like to urge every woman out there to be optimistic, look at the brighter
side of things and surround themselves with positivity. If there are occasions
when things seem dull, we want them to find solutions and figure out how to
change things for the better instead of expecting a miracle. It is us who need
to take matters into our own hands before expecting anything else in the world
to change. It is time now that women all around the world take charge and speak
up for themselves. It might seem like a small issue to start with but it’s you
who needs to make your voice and have your opinion heard and only then world will
acknowledge the power of women and acknowledge the change that needs to
happen.
would like to urge every woman out there to be optimistic, look at the brighter
side of things and surround themselves with positivity. If there are occasions
when things seem dull, we want them to find solutions and figure out how to
change things for the better instead of expecting a miracle. It is us who need
to take matters into our own hands before expecting anything else in the world
to change. It is time now that women all around the world take charge and speak
up for themselves. It might seem like a small issue to start with but it’s you
who needs to make your voice and have your opinion heard and only then world will
acknowledge the power of women and acknowledge the change that needs to
happen.
ST: What according to you is ‘women empowerment’?
Tanvi: ‘Women
empowerment’ to me is the indisputable belief that wherever women go, their
gender does not play a role in deciding who they are, what they want or aspire,
and what they can achieve. Equal opportunities, equal respect and equal
expectations is how I define women empowerment.
empowerment’ to me is the indisputable belief that wherever women go, their
gender does not play a role in deciding who they are, what they want or aspire,
and what they can achieve. Equal opportunities, equal respect and equal
expectations is how I define women empowerment.
ST: What would you say are the main challenges facing women at present
in India?
in India?
Tanvi: I
think one of the biggest challenges facing women in India is the issue of
women’s safety. A large number of problems crippling our progress is the fact
that women are scared and their families are scared in letting girls manage
their lives alone and independently. It not only affects a woman’s confidence
in going out and competing with her male counterparts but also makes her family
analyse whether or not it is worth the risk. Women’s education, their
professional and personal lives are hugely impacted because we still haven’t
been able to create an ecosystem in which women don’t have to fear one or the
other acts of violence against them.
think one of the biggest challenges facing women in India is the issue of
women’s safety. A large number of problems crippling our progress is the fact
that women are scared and their families are scared in letting girls manage
their lives alone and independently. It not only affects a woman’s confidence
in going out and competing with her male counterparts but also makes her family
analyse whether or not it is worth the risk. Women’s education, their
professional and personal lives are hugely impacted because we still haven’t
been able to create an ecosystem in which women don’t have to fear one or the
other acts of violence against them.
Another important issue that is majorly
prevalent with Indian women is their internal belief that they are somewhat
lesser important to the men in the family. Women feel guilty about spending on
themselves, do not consider household work to be as valuable as a career
outside, and always keep themselves on a lesser priority than men. This intrinsic
belief needs to change if the world were to view women to be absolutely equal
to men.
prevalent with Indian women is their internal belief that they are somewhat
lesser important to the men in the family. Women feel guilty about spending on
themselves, do not consider household work to be as valuable as a career
outside, and always keep themselves on a lesser priority than men. This intrinsic
belief needs to change if the world were to view women to be absolutely equal
to men.
ST: Where do you want to see yourself in next 5 years?
Tanvi: I
think rather than the absolute destination, I have a better sense of the
journey that I want to have in the next 5 years. In this journey, I just want
to learn. I want to learn to overcome my fears, to perform better at work, handle
complicated situations with conviction and the drive to find best solutions.
Most importantly, I want to be a genuinely humble person. If I can have the
journey that I have thought of, the destination will be nothing but a brighter
version of what I can see right now.
think rather than the absolute destination, I have a better sense of the
journey that I want to have in the next 5 years. In this journey, I just want
to learn. I want to learn to overcome my fears, to perform better at work, handle
complicated situations with conviction and the drive to find best solutions.
Most importantly, I want to be a genuinely humble person. If I can have the
journey that I have thought of, the destination will be nothing but a brighter
version of what I can see right now.
 |
| Tanvi Johri, CEO and founder at Carmesi |
