ST Bureau
New Delhi
This interview is a part of Startup Terminal interview series to mark the occasion of ‘International Women’s Day’
ST: Please tell us more about
yourself.
yourself.
Shikha Rai: I qualified as a
Mechanical Engineer from IIT Kanpur in 1988. I have been fortunate to get
opportunities to work in good organisations in varied roles – on the
transformer shop floor in BHEL Bhopal & Jhansi, in the factory of Bausch
& Lomb in Bhiwadi, followed by Duracell factory and now in the Head Office
of Canon as the Head of IT, HR and QEHS.
Mechanical Engineer from IIT Kanpur in 1988. I have been fortunate to get
opportunities to work in good organisations in varied roles – on the
transformer shop floor in BHEL Bhopal & Jhansi, in the factory of Bausch
& Lomb in Bhiwadi, followed by Duracell factory and now in the Head Office
of Canon as the Head of IT, HR and QEHS.
 |
| Shikha Rai, Vice President, HR & IT |
As an engineering student, I was the only woman in my class. The lab
technician would offer to assist me on the lathe machine and the forging shop.
I refused help. I have always believed that mental strength and conviction is
what is required to do any job. For me, there is no mountain high enough.
technician would offer to assist me on the lathe machine and the forging shop.
I refused help. I have always believed that mental strength and conviction is
what is required to do any job. For me, there is no mountain high enough.
I have been a learner and a doer. In the 28 years of my experience, I
have learnt from some great bosses, lead some exceptional teams and understood
different cultures while working with counterparts in different geographies. I
volunteer at an NGO called Pragati that works in the area of child education of
the under-privileged. This volunteering teaches me to be humble and grounded.
have learnt from some great bosses, lead some exceptional teams and understood
different cultures while working with counterparts in different geographies. I
volunteer at an NGO called Pragati that works in the area of child education of
the under-privileged. This volunteering teaches me to be humble and grounded.
ST: Who is your biggest influence in life?
Shikha Rai: My father has been my role
model. A ‘karmyogi’ who even today at
the age of 82 puts in more than 8 hours of work a day; has been the biggest
influence in my life. Another person who inspired me as a youngster was Kiran
Bedi, the first woman IPS officer. I saw
her as a person who had courage & conviction in her actions and did not let
gender come in her way while discharging her duties.
model. A ‘karmyogi’ who even today at
the age of 82 puts in more than 8 hours of work a day; has been the biggest
influence in my life. Another person who inspired me as a youngster was Kiran
Bedi, the first woman IPS officer. I saw
her as a person who had courage & conviction in her actions and did not let
gender come in her way while discharging her duties.
ST: What challenges do you face in your day to day professional life, if
any?
any?
Shikha Rai: Even after working for 28
years, I cannot say that I have perfected the art of work-life balance. I
always wish there were more than 24 hours in a day.
years, I cannot say that I have perfected the art of work-life balance. I
always wish there were more than 24 hours in a day.
Challenges
of being in minority could be really strange/ funny varying from ‘an office not
having a women’s toilet’; or to receive
a communication where am addressed as Mr. ; or my husband being the only male to be participating in a
musical chair organised for spouses in an event.
of being in minority could be really strange/ funny varying from ‘an office not
having a women’s toilet’; or to receive
a communication where am addressed as Mr. ; or my husband being the only male to be participating in a
musical chair organised for spouses in an event.
ST:
Where do you want to see yourself in next 5 years down the line?
Where do you want to see yourself in next 5 years down the line?
Shikha Rai: For me each day
matters. I give it my 100%. Passion & Challenge, the two words that are the
attitude and spirit expected from each Canonite,
have become part of my personality.
matters. I give it my 100%. Passion & Challenge, the two words that are the
attitude and spirit expected from each Canonite,
have become part of my personality.
ST: What is your message to the readers on ‘International Women’s Day’?
Shikha Rai: International women’s day
is a reminder to all men and women about their responsibility towards the
society. It is a reminder to question stereotypes, to provide equal
opportunities, to be the change agents. It is for each one of us to take that one
bold step and champion a cause that brings us closer to equality.
is a reminder to all men and women about their responsibility towards the
society. It is a reminder to question stereotypes, to provide equal
opportunities, to be the change agents. It is for each one of us to take that one
bold step and champion a cause that brings us closer to equality.
Our
aim is to have a healthy diversity in the organisation including gender
diversity. Last year WE@Canon (Women
Empowerment at Canon) was formed with the senior women employees in the
advisory board. The CEO held ‘Ladies power lunch’, where in small groups he
discussed with women employees about the unique challenges they may be facing
and how to address those. We conducted Gender sensitisation workshop for the
senior management, re-looked at the recruitment process, post maternity
transition support got introduced and for the first time we broke the barrier
of 12% women ratio in the organisation.
aim is to have a healthy diversity in the organisation including gender
diversity. Last year WE@Canon (Women
Empowerment at Canon) was formed with the senior women employees in the
advisory board. The CEO held ‘Ladies power lunch’, where in small groups he
discussed with women employees about the unique challenges they may be facing
and how to address those. We conducted Gender sensitisation workshop for the
senior management, re-looked at the recruitment process, post maternity
transition support got introduced and for the first time we broke the barrier
of 12% women ratio in the organisation.
Brief profile of Shikha Rai
Having completed 20 years of its
journey in the country this year, Canon India Pvt. Ltd. (CIPL) has emerged as a
people’s organization, committed to its employees, customers, partners and the
community. This vision has been made possible by the exemplary leadership at
the organization. One such inspiring leader is Ms. Shikha Rai, Vice President,
HR & IT. For the last fourteen years that she has been associated with the
organization, she has been aligning the IT strategies with the business and now
bringing excellence in HR.
journey in the country this year, Canon India Pvt. Ltd. (CIPL) has emerged as a
people’s organization, committed to its employees, customers, partners and the
community. This vision has been made possible by the exemplary leadership at
the organization. One such inspiring leader is Ms. Shikha Rai, Vice President,
HR & IT. For the last fourteen years that she has been associated with the
organization, she has been aligning the IT strategies with the business and now
bringing excellence in HR.
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