“Our team consists of people from all different backgrounds and cultures, with each individual adding value. I truly believe that this is a vital aspect for any business to be successful.”
It has always been apparent that there is a sense of inequality within the business world, with more men in leading roles, compared to women. When I first established PG Paper in 2003, people were sometimes dismissive that I was involved in the paper industry. When travelling to different countries, I often found people in authoritative roles similar to myself were shocked to see I was the CEO of the company. However, from the moment people realised I knew what I was talking about, I gradually earned their respect.
I have always found the idea of women being inferior fascinating and not so much insulting. Growing up in India, I always suspected that gender inequality was more prominent within my society in comparison to the Western world. Through some of my experiences during the early stages of my career, it was apparent to me that there was a sense of inequality within my home country, however, this has since improved.
Reflecting on my career, I struggle to think about what I would have done differently to help reduce bias or inequality, as I have always done my utmost to be a champion of equality. People can often get hung up or offended by bias and negativity, but I have always strived to take a more tolerant and patient approach. I always found that no matter what gender, if you gave the impression that you didn’t know what you were talking about, no one would ever take you seriously. That’s why I always made sure I did my homework, so I was confident I had an answer to any question that was thrown my way. Results and performance are what matter, not the gender of those delivering these, but unfortunately, we continue to face these challenges.
Do I think the inequality gap has been eliminated?
Although there are many initiatives in place working toward a gender-neutral society, I feel that more could be done to increase awareness around being more inclusive. I have always wondered why women fail to receive the same opportunities as men and ponder if this is due to the widespread inferiority stereotype that is ingrained across many societies.
I believe that the key to tackling gender inequality is through the establishment and awareness of more female role models in business. Greater opportunities should be presented to women who have earned the right to be considered for leading positions, and as the emergence of women in leading roles increases, the less prominent bias will be within business. Despite this, I do feel that the inequality gap has reduced from what it was like 20 years ago. There are more females in managerial positions across the board, and change is much more apparent now than ever before. I would however love to see more female CEOs in these roles to help break gender stereotypes.
I believe that both diversity and inclusivity always bring a wider set of skills to any business. At PG Paper, our team consists of people from all different cultures and backgrounds, which in my view, is what being diverse is all about. I recently read an interesting article stating that social mobility is still an issue within business, as only 34% of people in professional and managerial jobs come from ethnic minority backgrounds, with more needing to be done to create a more inclusive and diverse business world. We have a range of people from various backgrounds and upbringings at PG Paper, and each individual adds value or brings something different to the table. I truly believe that this is a vital aspect for any business to be successful.