The economic impact of gender inequality is immense, with the potential to transform not just the lives of millions of women but the global economy. In the third edition of Tamara Perspectives, Shruti Shibulal, CEO and Director of Tamara Leisure Experiences, and Neha Bagaria, CEO of HerKey, engage in a pivotal conversation about the trillion-dollar opportunity that gender parity presents.
Their discussion dives deep into systemic challenges, actionable strategies, and the future of gender equality. As you read on, you’ll discover how closing the gender gap not only benefits businesses but also unlocks unprecedented economic potential on a global scale.
Their discussion dives deep into systemic challenges, actionable strategies, and the future of gender equality. As you read on, you’ll discover how closing the gender gap not only benefits businesses but also unlocks unprecedented economic potential on a global scale.
Why Gender Parity is a Business Imperative
One of the most compelling points raised in the discussion is that gender parity isn’t just a social issue—it’s a business necessity. Shruti and Neha emphasised how diverse teams create stronger businesses and how ignoring 50% of the talent pool weakens an organisation’s competitive edge.
“If you’re not tapping into 50% of the talent pool, you’re never going to win the war for talent.” – Neha Bagaria
Neha highlighted that HerKey, formerly JobsForHer, works with over 15,000 companies to support women in restarting and advancing their careers. The focus isn’t just on getting women back into the workforce—it’s about helping them thrive, particularly in leadership roles.
The 4Ms: Barriers Women Face
Neha introduced a powerful framework to explain the challenges women encounter: the “4Ms”—Marriage, Mobility, Motherhood, and Medical Care for the elderly. These life stages often create roadblocks for women, leading to career breaks or complete exits from the workforce.Motherhood and caregiving duties can result in a loss of confidence and disconnection from professional life. Neha stressed the importance of building supportive systems within companies to help women navigate these transitions without being penalised.
The Role of Flexibility Post-Pandemic
A significant shift in workplace flexibility emerged from the pandemic. Companies that once resisted flexible work arrangements have now embraced them, realising that flexibility doesn’t hinder productivity—it enhances it.
The Role of Flexibility Post-Pandemic
A significant shift in workplace flexibility emerged from the pandemic. Companies that once resisted flexible work arrangements have now embraced them, realising that flexibility doesn’t hinder productivity—it enhances it.
“The pandemic made companies realise that flexibility is not a bad word. It opened a huge talent pool and made hiring more cost-effective.” – Neha BagariaThis newfound flexibility has been transformative for women re-entering the workforce, enabling them to better balance professional and personal responsibilities.
Strategies for Hospitality and Beyond
Shruti, as the CEO of a Responsible Hospitality group, explored how these strategies apply to the hospitality industry, where the gender gap remains stark. While women form a significant part of the consumer base, their representation in leadership roles lags.At Tamara, Shruti has championed initiatives to increase female representation in leadership, including supporting working mothers and fostering an inclusive work culture grounded in empathy and flexibility.
“At Tamara, we believe that promoting women into leadership roles is the most impactful way to drive change across the organisation.” – Shruti ShibulalBy setting internal targets for gender parity and promoting women into senior roles, Tamara is taking concrete steps to close the gender gap in the hospitality industry.
Redefining Motivation
As the conversation drew to a close, it was clear that while progress has been made, the journey toward gender equality continues. Shruti and Neha emphasised the need to shift societal perceptions about women in the workplace, particularly around ambition and leadership.
- The Power of Mentorship and Community One of the key takeaways from the discussion was the importance of mentorship and community support in helping women navigate their careers. As Neha pointed out, it’s not enough for women to re-enter the workforce—they need the tools, guidance, and networks to thrive.
- Flexibility and Inclusive Workplaces Creating inclusive workplaces that embrace flexibility and promote women into leadership roles is essential to closing the trillion-dollar gender gap. This will not only unlock new economic opportunities but also help create a more equitable future for everyone.
“Women often shy away from networking, but building professional connections is crucial to career success,” Neha explained.
“If we change the way role models look in organisations, we’ll change the entire system. The next generation will grow up with different ambitions and expectations.” – Shruti Shibulal.
Moving Forward: Closing the Gender Gap
As more families and communities rally behind women returning to work—out of choice rather than necessity—the societal shift toward supporting working women is gaining momentum.
Achieving gender parity is not about filling quotas or meeting diversity targets; it’s about reshaping the future of work. Platforms like HerKey and initiatives at companies like Tamara Leisure Experiences are paving the way for meaningful change.
The question isn’t whether we should close the gender gap—it’s how quickly we can make it happen.
Stay tuned for more inspiring conversations on Tamara Perspectives as we continue exploring ways to create a better, more inclusive world.
Key Takeaways:
Achieving gender parity is not about filling quotas or meeting diversity targets; it’s about reshaping the future of work. Platforms like HerKey and initiatives at companies like Tamara Leisure Experiences are paving the way for meaningful change.
The question isn’t whether we should close the gender gap—it’s how quickly we can make it happen.
Stay tuned for more inspiring conversations on Tamara Perspectives as we continue exploring ways to create a better, more inclusive world.
Key Takeaways:
- Gender Parity is Good for Business: Beyond being the right thing to do, gender parity makes good business sense. Companies that embrace diversity are more competitive and perform better.
- Supporting Women Through Life Stages:Organisations must create policies that support women through key life stages like motherhood and caregiving, rather than allowing these stages to derail their careers.
- The Importance of Flexibility:The pandemic has proven that flexibility at work isn’t just possible—it’s beneficial. Flexible working arrangements open the door for women to re-enter the workforce and thrive.
- Driving Change in Leadership:Promoting women into leadership roles has a trickle-down effect that benefits the entire organisation. Representation at the top encourages more diversity throughout the company.
- Setting Benchmarks for Success: Companies should set clear benchmarks and collect data to track progress towards gender parity. Only through measurable goals can real change be achieved.