Every Goal
is Achievable

Mrs. Kashmira Mewawala is a true role model. In the last 34 years in the Financial Services industry, she has held key roles across the TATA group and beyond. Kashmira has been the Chairperson of TATA Capital Committee for Prevention of Sexual Harassment, Chairman of CII, Maharashtra State Council and is currently the Head of Business and Chief Ethics Counselor at Tata Capital. Having donned multiple hats through her very successful career, she has been recognized and lauded on several platforms. She has received the “Women Leadership Achievement Award” from the World Women Leadership Congress & Awards (India) in 2015.

A Women’s Day Special issue would be incomplete without an interview with a strong and dynamic leader – and We brings you just that!

Tell us about your growth drivers- secret to your success

My school teachers constantly exhorted us never to underestimate ourselves and said - everything is possible. My parents drilled in me to be honest and truthful about everything – and from the day I started working in 1985, the messages from the Group were the same.

Throughout my career when an assignment came my way or a problem cropped up - I rarely harbored the thought that I would not be able to successfully complete it. The mantra was “every goal is achievable and every problem has a right solution”. I’d ascertain the “why” then deal with the “how”. Once you find the purpose – means follows. The question usually is – how can I get this done… by myself… with the help of others, what are the constraints, plan the actions, review the resource and then execute. While doing so, be open to alternative perspectives.
As my career progressed and I led teams, I diligently followed some rules:

  • View the larger picture – find the main purpose – and align your team to the same
  • Make the team know that he/she is a vital contributor to the goal
  • Aim for perfection and deliver as promised - this helps to build trust and confidence within the team and with other stakeholders
  • Everyone is fighting some battle quietly – be kind, be respectful – this is often the differentiator
  • Build strong, happy relationships from your early days
  • Live your values

According to you, what role does diversity play in business performance?

Art is both a hobby and a passion for Kashmira

Through my growing up years in the Group – I did not hear of formal discussions around “gender” or “diversity” or “women empowerment”, “role models” or “mentors” – it just happened and happened consistently. You were respected at all times. Celebrated when you did something great, corrected if you erred, motivated and advised appropriately by Seniors, got assigned roles and tough assignments as was the need of the hour – and all in a manner which made you feel respected, privileged and enjoyed.

Today there is formal recognition, which has now evolved into a “movement”, that gender diversity at the workplace makes better business sense. Women bring diverse and in my view, also more empathetic perspectives to the workplace. They improve corporate reputation. Statistics tell us that gender diverse teams deliver better financial results. That alone is sufficient rationale for every business to seriously encourage women’s participation.
Corporates are conscious to the fact that it’s a necessity to have more women in the workplace – to encourage more women to enter, to retain them in a fair manner, to have women-friendly policies which help during their life cycle changes, to ensure a conducive and safe working environment. Many “women-friendly policies” are being converted to gender neutral policies making the workplace a better and fairer place. Global investors, business partners and responsible corporates, as part of their due diligence process check the gender diversity ratios before moving ahead.

Your perspective on Women’s role in nation building

The rewards of gender balanced development are plentiful at national level. It is a fact that women and girls are one of the world's biggest unharnessed resources and a terrific return on investment. Educated and employed women look after families better, can contribute a different, valuable perspective to corporate policy and can make nations progressive. Women themselves feel better and contribute more, when they are empowered. The ability to get a job or run a business and the opportunity, encouragement that society provides for women to do the same leading to financial empowerment – is the game changer – and a big step towards gender parity. A McKinsey Global report mentions by advancing women’s equality, $12 trillion can be added to global GDP by 2025. So while it’s a pressing moral and social issue its also has huge global economic consequences.