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As a woman, I believe that the challenges we face are largely determined by our own mindset: Vaishali Sharma
Mumbai: Today, women are breaking the glass ceiling in every sector. Beyond all this, there still exists a patriarchal mindset. Not many women are in the C-suite taking important decisions. And, of course, there still exists pay parity.
This Women’s Day, we, at Indiantelevision.com, are acknowledging some women leaders of the media, marketing, and advertising fraternity and also from other professions, who have given more than expected.
On the Journey
My experience as a woman in the media industry has been fulfilling. I have never allowed my gender to affect how I approach my work and I have been fortunate to deal with people and my work professionally. In fact, being a woman has been a strength, especially in this industry and in the profession, I belong to. It has helped me understand human insights around different audiences, which are not just based on learnings but also in a very intuitive sense as you begin to understand thing better. Also given the pressures and high stress of the industry, being a woman leader has helped with softer skills like motivating and inspiring your teams. Moreso, in the last two years of the pandemic being able to understand what people are going through and helping them work around the challenges of the work-from-home phase or the nervousness of the pandemic, I believe as a woman I have been able to bring that to fore in this phase.
As a woman, I believe that the challenges we face are largely determined by our own mindset. It all begins in our heads, and there is no difference in my head. In today’s fast-paced world, it is essential for the industry to look beyond gender-based narratives and create a professional atmosphere where we keep aside any forms of discriminative thinking and actually recognise individuals as individuals, free from biases and prejudices.
Inspiration & inspiring the team
In my team, everyone has a role to play, based on their key strengths and regardless of their gender. We strive to create an inclusive environment where everyone’s contributions are valued and where there is a willingness to listen and learn from one another. I also believe that having a diverse range of perspectives and experiences is crucial when developing content that resonates with broad perspectives Womelifeve unique perspectives and live experiences can bring new dimensions to storytelling, especially when it comes to themes that specifically relate to women. Having women on a team can help ensure that these stories are authentic, nuanced, and grounded in real-life experiences. This, in turn, can help create more relatable and engaging content that speaks to a wider range of people.
Empowerment of Women
I strongly believe that it is time to set new narratives for women’s empowerment in the media. In this post-pandemic world, we have much more opportunities to set new themes and not look at stereotypical ways of representing women in society. We need to celebrate the diversity of women and showcase their strengths, abilities, and achievements in a positive light. At Sony SAB, we are committed to creating content that empowers women, and we will continue to strive towards this goal in all our future endeavours.
Media plays a significant role in shaping people’s perceptions and attitudes towards women. It is crucial that we encourage the media to portray women as complex, multifaceted individuals with diverse talents, interests, and aspirations.
NEW DELHI: Hamdard Laboratories gathered a cross-section of India’s achievers in New Delhi on Friday, handing out the Hakeem Abdul Hameed Excellence Awards to figures who have left their mark across healthcare, education, sport, public service and the arts.
The ceremony, attended by minister of state for defence Sanjay Seth and senior officials from the ministry of Ayush, celebrated individuals whose work blends professional success with a sense of public purpose. It was as much a roll call of achievement as it was a reminder that influence is not measured only in profits or podiums, but in people reached and lives improved.
Among the headline awardees was Alakh Pandey, founder and chief executive of PhysicsWallah, recognised for turning affordable digital learning into a mass movement. On the sporting front, Arjuna Awardee and kabaddi player Sakshi Puniya was honoured for her contribution to the game and for pushing women’s participation onto bigger stages.
The cultural spotlight fell on veteran lyricist and poet Santosh Anand, whose songs have echoed across generations of Hindi cinema. At 97, Anand accepted the honour with characteristic humility, reflecting on a life shaped by perseverance and hope.
Healthcare honours spanned both modern and traditional systems. Manoj N. Nesari was recognised for strengthening Ayurveda’s place in national and global health frameworks. Padma shri Mohammed Abdul Waheed was honoured for his research-backed work in Unani medicine, while padma shri Mohsin Wali received recognition for his long-standing contribution to patient-centred care.
Education and social development also featured prominently. Padma shri Zahir Ishaq Kazi was honoured for decades of work in education, while former Meghalaya superintendent of Police T. C. Chacko was recognised for public service. Goonj founder Anshu Gupta received an award for his dignity-centred rural development initiatives, and the Hunar Shakti Foundation was honoured for empowering women and young girls through skill development.
The Lifetime Achievement Award went to former IAS officer Shailaja Chandra for her long career in public healthcare and governance, particularly in the traditional systems under Ayush.
Speaking at the event, Hamdard chairman Abdul Majeed said the awards were a tribute to those who combine excellence with empathy. “These awardees reflect Hakeem Sahib’s belief that healthcare, education and public service must ultimately serve humanity,” he said.
Minister Seth struck a forward-looking note, saying India’s young population gives the country a unique opportunity to become a global destination for learning, health and wellness by 2047.
The ceremony also featured the trailer launch of Unani Ki Kahaani, an upcoming documentary starring actor Jim Sarbh, set to premiere on Discovery on 11 February.
Instituted in memory of Unani scholar and educationist Hakeem Abdul Hameed, the awards have grown into a national platform that celebrates those building a more inclusive and resilient India. For one evening at least, the spotlight was not just on success, but on service with substance.
