1. Women’s Day has taken different meanings in recent years. How would you define it? 

To me, Women’s Day is a moment to commemorate the social, economic, cultural, and political impact of women on society. The heightened awareness in recent years has brought women’s achievements to the fore, substantiating that they can equal and exceed men across all walks of life. Women’s Day is an opportunity to update the registry of women’s continued achievements, discuss prevailing gender biases at home and work, and strive for a future brighter than the past. 

Shilpa Shetty, VP – Private Client, The Continental Group

2. Name a woman leader you draw inspiration from and have modelled your approach to leadership on. 

Indra Nooyi, former chairman and CEO of PepsiCo, is my role model. The stories I’ve heard from her in speeches and interviews are so relatable and nostalgic, particularly in the context of our similar upbringing, family background, and value system. One such story that moved me deeply is about how Indra’s mother told her to leave her “crown” outside before entering the house. I perceived it as women (both Indra and her mother) placing the default mother-daughter relationship before their acquired social stature — a lesson in humility, which not even a CEO of a large MNC should be exempted from. 

3. What are the roadblocks to leadership positions for women in the corporate world today? How can we remove such hurdles?

The fundamental issue is a deep-seated reluctance to accept that women, too, can be as good or better than men in leadership roles. Women are inherently good at multi-tasking and leading with empathy, capable of unlocking positive value in organizations. While inclusive HR policies can propel some women to leadership positions, they will fall short of creating a real impact until deeply ingrained gender biases in decision-makers are acknowledged and addressed. 

We can address these issues by raising awareness, particularly in less developed and developing economies. Subject-specific workshops, seminars, and easy access to inspirational resources such as TED talks are among the ways to raise awareness. The focus should be on women’s first-person storytelling of lived experiences, shared struggles, and tested-and-proven strategies to achieve gender equality.  

4. What has helped you overcome gender biases at some point in your career?

Patience, a trait I’ve always had and been proud of, has helped me steadily navigate the labyrinthine pathways of the corporate world. I believe in focusing on getting the job right first and patiently letting your work do the talking for you. Actions not only always speak louder than words they can also challenge biases and stereotypes. 

5. Women are increasingly venturing into male-dominated industries, hoping to make a name for themselves. Any words of advice or encouragement for them?

Women should first believe in themselves. Self-limiting beliefs can hold you back from achieving your full potential. The moment you start believing in your abilities, apply them to your goals, and stay the course through patience and perseverance, leadership positions will not be far from your reach. At times, it may require you to unlearn certain legacy ways and upskill yourself with the latest advancements in your domain. 

Every setback in your path should be perceived as a lesson to learn from and a stepping stone closer to your goals. In recent years, due to widespread socio-cultural reforms in the Middle East, especially the UAE, several women have risen to leadership positions across sectors and even in traditionally male-dominated industries. So, there has never been a better time than now to roll up your sleeves and get to work.

 6. Please specify actions that men can take to promote gender equality, domestically and at work. 

I say, to men, give up some of the privileges traditionally handed to you without you earning them rightfully. It is time to adapt and change legacy systems that are out of touch with current realities. Men have an onus to undo the past mistakes of their kind by setting the right precedents for the next generation. It could be as simple as empowering women in your family to pursue their dreams or as emphatic as institutionalizing gender-neutral recruitment/promotion policies in an organization. Each such action will echo in eternity.

7. Women have been traditionally the primary caregivers. Has it affected their work-life balance? What is your personal opinion about it?

Work-life balance is like Rome — it cannot be built in a day. The balance happens in a continuum, shaping up as you go along. I couldn’t quite get the balance right early on, but found it eventually. The work flexibility that the Founder and MD of the Continental Group, Ashok Sardana, provided me at the beginning was particularly helpful. 

My family, too, has been instrumental in helping me balance work and life. My spouse has been a constant pillar of support, from encouraging me to kick-start my career to sharing domestic responsibilities and enabling me to achieve a work-life balance. My daughter takes after those traits, constantly echoing positive affirmations and adding a purpose to everything I do. Years later, I find myself effortlessly balancing my personal life and professional duties. 

About Shilpa Shetty

Shilpa Shetty is the Senior Vice President for private client team and partner relations at the Continental Group. She is a Commerce graduate from Mumbai University India. She has over 25 years of experience in the Financial Services industry, out of which she has been affiliated with Continental for 23 years. Her professional standards are further illustrated by several certifications which are industry specific, obtained from CII (U.K.). She also holds a Certificate of Insurance, a Certificate in Financial Administration (Life) and FAIQ. Prior to joining Continental, she worked with ING Barings, Mumbai, for 2 years in the Equities Research department. Her core focus is to support our business partners with complex case proposals and unique case positioning. Her experience and knowledge allow her to successfully lead and manage the private client team to ensure efficient business process, administration and provider updates.

About The Continental Group 

The Continental Group is a leading insurance intermediary and financial services solutions provider in the GCC region. Licensed by the Insurance Authority, the Securities and Commodities Authority (SCA) of the UAE, and DFSA (CFS DIFC Limited from The Continental Group is regulated by the DFSA), the group represents reputed multinational and local insurance and financial institutions. Founded in 1994, Continental is the brainchild of Ashok Sardana, who built the company on three pillars: Integrity, insight and innovation. Continental’s unparalleled industry experience, embodied by a team of over 250 highly-qualified professionals, has enabled its expansion across Europe, Middle East and Asia. Its stellar track record of fostering life-time, meaningful relationships with customers is rooted in its ability to provide tailor-made, personalized solutions. It is a household name for all financial and insurance solutions at any stage of one’s life: Investments, savings, wealth creation, legacy, succession and protection planning, life, health, employee benefits, auto, home, and travel. The Continental Group has also been actively advocating for financial freedom & independence, financial inclusion, ESG investing, and wellbeing, through its popular podcast “Dollars, Dirhams and Our Two Financial Cents”.

More details at: https://www.cfsgroup.com/