Meet Kanmani, the Resilient Transwoman Lawyer Paving the Path for Change (Part 1)
Meet Kanmani, a resilient and inspiring transwoman lawyer who is breaking barriers and fighting for a brighter future. After a long day at her tax law firm in Chennai, she sat down for an interview, looking tired but wearing a smile that warmed the room. Despite the exhaustion, she remained patient, ensuring the conversation was unhurried and wrapped up right on time. However, Kanmani’s...
The Role of Management in Establishing a Safe and Inclusive Workplace Culture
BY VANDANA VALE
The foundation of an organization’s culture and values lies in the vision of its leaders. While diversity is emphasized, it is crucial to consider how to foster an inclusive environment once individuals are a part of the organization. This involves ensuring that everyone feels acknowledged, comfortable, and welcomed. Similar to attending a party, inclusive corporate...
Inclusion Matters: The Importance of Being a LGBTQ+ Ally in the Workplace
LGBTQ+ individuals may face discrimination, prejudice, and harassment in the workplace, which can negatively impact their mental health, job satisfaction, and career advancement. It is important for colleagues to be LGBTQ+ allies because creating an inclusive and supportive work environment is crucial for the well-being and productivity of all employees.
By being an LGBTQ+ ally, colleagues...
Can LGBTQ+ Persons Marry in India?
Same-Sex Marriage Hearings – A Landmark Fight for LGBTQ Rights in India
Living in contemporary times with ancient laws can be a complex and challenging experience. On one hand, these laws can provide a sense of continuity and tradition and may be deeply ingrained in cultural and religious beliefs. They may also provide a sense of stability and predictability in society.
On the other...
Breaking Down Gender Biases: Solutions from Our Diverse Panel
For many years, gender bias against women has been a widespread global issue, and although many reforms, movements, and efforts have taken place, the urgency to combat it remains unshaken. Sure, we have come a long way. But with the number of stereotypes, judgements, and struggles that women of every generation go through, it seems as if we have barely scratched the surface. How do we deal...
Discrimination, Bias and Exclusion – Lessons from Mahabharata
Diversity and Inclusion are two valuable pillars of successful management. It not only ensures equal rights to all the potential choices, but also brings a lot of creativity, different viewpoints, and shared knowledge to the table.
These principles of Diversity and Inclusion are not just restricted to corporate organizations, but every form of management to ever exist in human history. To...
Dear Diversity! Make a Little Space for Inclusion!
After much deliberation, the BU Head of the Healthcare division hired Merlyn – a Data Analyst to take over the non-core, transactional activities of the Delivery Managers (DMs). In doing so, he earned himself Diversity brownie points, for Merlyn was from an underrepresented group that MNCs like theirs encouraged hiring.
The DMs were happy to offload non-value adding work to Merlyn and...
Initiatives that Increase Women’s Ratios at Managerial Levels
The banter of excited friends meeting at their 10th year reunion filled the college lawn. Gautam, a classic backbencher and now Marketing Director took this opportunity to flippantly tease his batchmate Neetu, presently the AVP-HR of a prominent bank.
Gautam angled – ‘Neetu, I heard that women in the Banking industry are getting promoted for their gender?’
Neetu – ‘Promoting...
Is the “Pence Rule” Running Counter to Diversity and Inclusion?
My friend Madhav hosted a dinner for his foreign counterparts visiting India. As his millennial team had had no experience in attending formal get-togethers, he gently guided them to dress and behave suitably. To his pleasant surprise, the team outdid his expectations by dressing immaculately and appropriately engaging the guests, making the party a roaring success. Wanting to get home...
The Impact of Smoking Breaks on Inclusion
After a year of planning, our rather large team finally got together for a two-day outbound event. On day one of the team-building activity, the boss on his customary smoking break was eagerly joined by the cigarette-smoking members of the team. Witnessing the bonhomie evolve, many non-smoking members who could withstand the smoke, soon joined their orbit. Energized by the clique, the boss...