I am glad that you have given me the honor of speaking at your leadership summit today and I thank you for sharing your platform with me.

I am a feminist, and not without a few stressing moments in my years of growing up simultaneously as a son, husband and father. For much of my life I lived with my mother, one wife and two daughters. That left me with very little choice. Quite often I was run over by all four. In one such moment of onslaught, I decided to resist and brought home a male dog. Dogs, if you did not know, are intelligent folks. The fellow quickly summed up the following pieces of data about myself: middle-aged male, comes home occasionally and when at home, is charged with menial tasks such as walking him. He promptly concluded from all the data-points that indeed, I was the servant of the family.

That day, I gave up all resistance and conceded that I would be a feminist for the rest of my life.

But on a far more serious note, I believe that women in India matter. For one, they are 50% of India’s total population. However, census figures tell us that they constitute only 18% of the “organized sector”. That is not a good indicator of national development. In developed nations of the world, that number would be closer to 50%, and certainly it is 50% for all white collar jobs. There is a direct correlation between women in employment and the economic wellbeing of a nation. So, at 18%, we have our job cut out for us. We have to take the number to where it belongs: 50% in our lifetime.

You have invited me to talk about a very interesting topic - Board Room of the Future and the role of Professional Women in it. Let me now spend some time looking at both the issues. But, I may tell you a few unpopular things along the way, so brace yourselves.

First and foremost, board rooms are de-sexed places. Even if in certain countries the law requires that a certain percentage of directors must be women, you do not want to enter a board room with your gender. You want to enter the board room with your intellect and your proven capability.

Yet, let us look at the emerging face of the board room, the Board Room of the Future, and there may be a twist to the tale. I believe that the traditional board room is ready for a makeover. In it, there are eight emerging themes that the Board Members must engage in, in addition to what they do best: protecting the interest of the shareholders, read: make the management deliver maximum profits within existing legal boundaries.

The eight themes that define the Board of the Future:

1. Multi-disciplinary View
   Board members must develop a broad understanding across fields. Interdisciplinary thinking and synthesis of insights are crucial.

2. Process Centricity
   Boards must focus on how things are done, not just what is achieved. Process oversight is key in preventing future failures.

3. Understanding Innovation
   Innovation is not just for short-term success. Boards must guide and encourage innovation for long-term sustainability.

4. Sustainability
   Boards must hold the sustainability mirror to every decision. Inclusion and risk management are foundational.

5. Emotional Infrastructure
   Beyond physical and intellectual capital lies emotional infrastructure—creating lasting value, engagement, and meaning.

6. Governance
   Beyond legal compliance, governance involves global standards, transparency, and defense against reputational risks.

7. Environmental Responsibility
   Boards must take ownership of the company’s impact on the environment, not just because it’s ethical, but because it’s essential.

8. Social Responsibility
   Enterprises must stand for something. Boards represent civil society and must ensure the organization is driven by values.

Are Indian Women Professionals Ready?

Between the two genders, women are naturally inclined toward these eight themes. However, there are three major hindrances:

1. Stereotyping

2. Mid-career Guilt

3. Glass Ceiling

Examples abound: women being steered into softer roles, relocating after marriage, dropping out for family expectations—these all slow career progress.

To grow, women must:

• Refuse to be stereotyped.

• Answer key questions about their identity and ambitions.

• Accept the price of leadership and train for it, just like an athlete does.

The Guilt Trap
Women often feel torn between professional success and parenting. But most kids today are growing up with far more than their parents ever had. Guilt is not necessary, and it's harmful. Instead, support from the spouse and clarity in personal choices go a long way.

The Glass Ceiling

Yes, it exists. But it is being broken every day. We have role models who’ve proven that it’s not insurmountable. The future belongs to those who break through.

Final Words

Opportunities in corporate India are exploding. If you are good enough and your organization is not, it's the organization's loss.

So, be comfortable with your gender.

To the men: Respect and empower women. As the ancient saying goes:
“Jatra Pujyante Nari, Tatra Ramante Devata.”
— Where women are worshipped, the gods dwell.

Thank you for listening to me today. Best of luck with the deliberations of the leadership summit.