SAWLF

The Corporate Outfit: A Sari? By Rupande Mehta

In our so called, Western lives, women today are so engrossed in making money and living life as it comes, that of all the things, wearing a sari would be the last thing on our minds. Imagine having to deal with a piece of fabric that is 6 yards long, instead of a pair of jeans and a t-shirt! The article linked below, touches the Indianess we all have, but seldom show. The author in a very subtle way touches our heart and reminds us of the complexity, yet the simplicity, the rarity, yet the commonness of the Indian culture in our own lives. It is a way to tell ourselves that while we may adopt Western ways, the Indian spirit will never leave us.

Take a look:
http://www.sawnet.org/books/writing/sari.html

What does it Take for a Women to succeed in the 21st Century?

By : Asita Prabhushankar

When I was a little girl I heard my friends' parents point towards me and say "Look at her, she is a born leader. You should be like her." I was eight. I didn't know what they meant. Except I knew I was different. I was brave, out spoken, got angry and yelled at other kids and picked fights. In many ways I was unpopular amongst friends. I knew I was different.  What I did know was my parents were different. They encouraged my behavior and the other parents did not. They wanted their girls to follow the norm. It was obvious as I grew up that I was allowed to be independent.

India is producing many women professionals now. The IT industry has created many jobs and opened the doors wide open with many opportunities for women who are not simply engineers and doctors like in the 90s. Yet, when I return home from the U.S. year after year I feel women are making a lot of money and have a lot of freedom outside of their homes, but the society itself is changing rather slowly. The girls who portray immense strength, confidence and professionalism at work and amongst friends are unable to stand up for their rights at home. The patriarchic society is not going to simplify the lives of women unless the women take a bold step towards changing the dynamics of their family lives.

Over the years I have seen many of my friends in the U.S. return to India and have arranged marriages. Most girls are pretty and young. I say young because most guys I have known are thirty or over, but the girls seem to be at a constant age of twenty three. I wonder why this magic number? Anyhow, invariably I befriend these girls and take it upon myself to 'educate' the girls to be independent. My lovely friends, who truly wish I stay out of their lives all of a sudden can't get rid of me. I am a necessary evil in most of their lives as I am well informed on many topics from investments to career advice.

It takes a lot more than college education for a woman to survive today. Being financially independent has to be the foremost goal in every woman's life. Do not quit your job under any circumstances unless you are really certain that your husband makes you feel comfortable and financially secure. Many men take pride in 'taking care' of their wives. But in most cases it does not last very long. It is more a control issue than love.

For generations men have been in charge of finances. Constructing a home, buying a car or any significant investment was their territory. Women only have furnished homes and purchased saris and jewelry. This decade has brought lot more wealth into the hands of women and we need to be savvy and think about investing wisely for the future. I was rather surprised by the way people were spending money when I was in Bangalore two months ago in a shopping mall. Young boys and girls are simply throwing away their earnings on fashion wear. In 2000 I had seen this kind of behavior in Silicon Valley when the stock market was sizzling. Every thing cooled off rather quickly, people had lost jobs, thousands were sent back to India. Cars and homes were being repossessed by the banks. It was deja vu all over again in the Forum Mall. The lesson learned form the rise and fall of the stock market was, we may get only one chance to make money and we need to put some away for the future. Women who are earning handsomely quit their jobs to get married. Many marriages are ending in divorces and in India it is harder to find a job again. It would be very comfortable to have some money stashed away for rainy days.

A very successful surgeon in India married a friend of mine. She quit a government job to come to the U.S. The marriage didn't work and in three months he filed for a divorce. She was on a dependent H-4 Visa and had no choice but to return to India. She had left her job, it was a brief marriage and he owed her nothing as per divorce settlement and her parents had spent several lakhs on the wedding. This can happen to anyone. Women need to be more thoughtful in making decisions about going to the U.S. on the drop of a hat and giving up everything they have for a 'foreign groom.'

The answer is not simple and straight forward to a broad question, but we need to start defining success one day at a time.

About the Author: Asita lives in San Jose, CA and works for IBM Corp. She has volunteered at Maitri, a non-profit organization for 13 years, which helps South Asian women in abusive marriages.

Upcoming iDEAS!: SAWLF Schedule of Events

                                                

South Asian Women’s Leadership Forum Presents Congress 2006: Saturday, February 25, 2006

July 27, 2005

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               

Two dynamic business leaders will be the principal speakers at Congress 2006 presented by the South Asian Women’s Leadership Forum on Saturday, February 25, 2006 in Manhattan.

 

SAWLF is pleased to announce that Ms. Indra Nooyi, president and CFO for PepsiCo., Inc. will participate in an interactive segment with Ms. Meena Mansharamani, vice president for strategic initiatives at Pepsi-Cola North America. This special segment will bring together two, leading-edge professionals for an engaging discussion that will highlight winning business strategies and practices as well as their individual experiences of challenge and achievement at one of the world’s best known and established consumer brands.

 

In February, SAWLF presented its inaugural Congress 2005: Advancing South Asian Women to an audience of 250 women professionals rendering it the single largest gathering of South Asian women to be held in our region. Please visit http://www.southasianwomen.org/Congress_2005.shtml for complete Congress 2005 highlights.

 

Congress 2005 would not have been possible without the generous support of the following organizations: PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP Kamboh Financial Planning MetLife

 

SAWLF Over 1,800 participants across the U.S. Over 30 distinct events and programs since February 2003

www.southasianwomen.org

 

For sponsorship, volunteer or media inquiries, please contact SAWLF at info@southasianwomen.org

 

BIG iDEAS!: Directory of SAWLF Members' Accomplishments, Professional Needs, and Business Services

Theater Arts

SALAAM Theatre (www.SALAAMtheatre.org), founded by Geeta Citygirl in 2000, is the first not-for-profit multidisciplinary professional theatre company celebrating South Asian American artistic excellence. SALAAM empowers and sustains the careers of dedicated artists who develop their craft in a nurturing and supportive environment, while connecting all peoples and linking all the creative disciplines in the spirit of progressive solidarity. For further information contact Geeta Citygirl at: citygirl@SALAAMtheatre.org or at
(212) 388-2628
(Posted August 20th)

Academic Research and Studies

Dr. Inge Struder is a Senior Lecturer at Kingston University and a Guest Lecturer at the London School of Economics. Dr. Struder will be in New York City beginning August 23, 2004 in order to conduct research on Indian women in business. Dr. Struder is currently seeking business professionals to interview. For further information, please contact Dr. Struder at: i.struder@kingston.ac.uk or (917) 340-5767
(Posted August 20th)

Professional Services

Personal Health

"Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food." - Hippocrates
As a Holistic Health Counselor and Power Yoga Instructor, Nadia Faruki is your personal advocate for living an energized life. Whatever your health concerns, Nadia will help you to find which foods, exercise, and lifestyle choices work best for you. For a FREE CONSULTATION contact Nadia Faruki at: (914) 912-7101 or visit: www.inessence.bz
(Posted August 20th)

Do you bhangra? Come hear the funky beats and learn to bump-and-grind, all while getting an aerobic workout. Bhangra in your living room and aerobicize at the same time with the "Masala Bhangra Workout," a bhangra-cardio hybrid. Visit Masala Dance & Fitness's website at www.masaladance.com or www.sarinajain.com for video and DVD information
(Posted August 20th)

Physician and Medical Services

Juhi Chawla, MD, Board Certified in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, announces her private practice on the Upper West Side in Manhattan. Dr. Chawla incorporates a range of expertise in her practice including psychopharmacologic management, psychodynamic psychotherapy, and cognitive-behavioral therapy. She specializes in treating women and adolescents with issues of depression, anxiety, and manic-depressive disorder, and in treating individuals with eating disorders, chronic medical illnesses, and chronic disabilities. To schedule an appointment or consultation, contact Dr. Chawla at:
(917) 405-6199   
(Posted August 20th)

Ami A. Shah, MD, is a Board Certified Radiologist with a specialty in Women's Body Imaging. Dr. Shah introduces her state of the art practice, Diagnostic Radiology Associates (DRA) in (Chelsea) Manhattan. DRA focuses on patient comfort and minimal wait times. DRA maintains state of the art scans, MRIs, ultrasounds, x-rays and procedural services including, but not limited to, thyroid and breast biopsies. For a consultation please contact Dr. Shah at (212) 989-8999. Patient referrals are required.
(Posted August 20th)

Financial Services
 
Do you want to achieve financial independence? Devika Kamboh, Financial Planner, Kamboh Financial Planning, provides comprehensive financial planning services for individuals and small businesses that can help you to achieve your financial goals and, thereby, enjoy peace of mind. Devika invites SAWLF members to take advantage of a complimentary financial consultation. For additional information, contact Devika at: 212-560-4555
(Posted May 4th)

Job Opportunities

Seeking contractual sub-contracting with a female-owned project management   company that has expertise in the government/non-profit sector.   Please contact: Susan Krauss, President, Corsair Tech Ltd. at (212)   445-1029 or sue831831@aol.com

Disclaimer: The services and products shown here are listed as a service to SAWLF members and do not constitute endorsement. You are encouraged to review all products and services before use.

SAWLF invites you to share your professional information with SAWLF members around the world! This is the first on-line directory committed to South Asian women and their professional advancement! To participate, please follow these submission guidelines:

1) Create your personal announcement (maximum 50 words) - don't forget to include your first and last name, e-mail and phone number (just in case we need to contact you).

2) Categorize your posting - Is it a business need/objective, service, or a professional accomplishment?

3) Send your submission to: sharetheexperience@southasianwomen.org

Editor's note: All postings should be of a professional purpose or document a business need. Event announcements will not be permitted. All postings/announcements are subject to review and will be published at the discretion of the Editor.

Bridget Baker, EVP NBC Universal Cable, Shares Secrets to Balancing Work and Life

By Arianna McKinney

Bridget Baker, Executive Vice President of NBC Universal, can sum up her advice for how to be successful at GE in one word: attitude. On Wednesday, April 20, Baker shared secrets to success with a group of about 40 GE employees during a GE Women's Network luncheon at GE Consumer Finance in Albuquerque, N.M.

"The thing that to me always stands out is attitude," Baker said.  "I can always teach the business.  The intangibles are tougher."
Baker explained that, in working for a corporation, we all agreed to do a job for a set compensation.  She recommended focusing less on a perception of what the company owes to you as an individual and to focus more on being part of a team. 
"Rally when the rallying is necessary," she said.

A mother of two, Baker has developed a four-step plan for melding career, community, family and self: develop expertise, meld boundaries, create a team, and share the responsibility.  "You don't have to be a parent to talk about this balance," Baker acknowledged.  Other interests and pursuits also require a balance between work and life, and in a corporate world of travel, conferences and social responsibility, this is a challenge. 

Developing expertise in one's career takes time and requires sticking with the same company to fully understand the company culture.  But the business is not the only area in which a person should develop expertise.  Baker said she participated in a parenting class for three years.  She also takes advantage of resources on the GE website and Work/Life email offers for brochures, videos and other materials.  "I get them all," Baker said.  "Why not get as much information as you can?"
She has had a cassette that she received on disciplining kids in her car for three years because of the helpful information it provides.   

To melt boundaries, Baker expresses enthusiasm about her job when at home.  Instead of "Mommy has to go to work," her kids hear "I'm so excited today.  I have a big meeting."  She also relates to her children the benefits of her job and finds ways to include them when possible, like taking her son with her to the Olympics.  "We're lucky we have these jobs.  They add to our lives," Baker said.

Creating a team is important both at work and at home.  Baker likened a boss to a parent, office counterparts to siblings, and other coworkers with whom one doesn't have a direct relationship to friends.  Baker noted that the tendency is to focus on the boss/parent, but in a team, the siblings or work peers are often the ones who can make the greatest difference.   
Sharing the responsibility also includes sharing the successes.  "No one celebrates enough," Baker stated.  Something as simple as presenting tootsie rolls for a job well done, at home or at work, can make a difference. 

As Executive Vice President, Baker oversees the distribution of NBC Universal's cable portfolio in the United States.  She also serves as a Hub Leader for the GE Women's Network.  Since joining NBC in 1988, Baker helped negotiate the Charter Affiliation agreements that launched the CNBC network and has held a succession of sales and distribution positions within NBC Universal Cable. In 2004, she was honored both as a "Wonder Woman of Cable" and with a Lifetime Achievement Award from Women in Cable and Telecommunications (WICT). 

  Baker also presented an overview of NBC Universal's Cable organization and the growth of CNBC through the years, as well as three organic growth initiatives.  One of these, Universal HD, provides cable customers with high definition content, including movies, sporting events like the Olympics and TV series.  Another organic growth initiative involved providing Puerto Rico's number one news show, Telemundo Puerto Rico, to Hispanic cable markets on the east coast.  Another Imagination Breakthrough is Weather Plus, which utilizes the network's 2100 weather reporters to provide a digital multicast.  "With all the weird weather we've had, this has been amazing," Baker said.