3 leading female bosses prove it is never too late to reinvent, re-scale, and reimagine your career

It may be the only constant, but change can be extremely daunting. Especially if you’re returning to the workplace or reconsidering your path after a considerable while. Reinventing the wheel—whether it’s to catch up on work responsibilities after a pregnancy or sabbatical, navigating a new career path unrelated to your original field, or simply acquainting yourself with office life in a new space—is never easy. In fact, adjusting to the new may require you to unlearn years of conditioning, realign goals, and even reassess your work personality. Yes, it is challenging, but sometimes this ‘rebranding’ is just the boost your professional life needs.

For instance, the British brand Burberry, not too long ago, was almost written off as ‘gangwear’, and was banned at many places in the UK. The Evening Standard, in 2004, reported that two pubs in Leicester teamed up with the police to identify Burberry as one of the labels to be popular among hooligans who regularly caused “trouble” and “alcohol-fuelled violence”. After an immediate overhaul and new campaigns, the journey of an elite brand began. Today, Burberry is a global ‘luxury’ fashion house. The brand enjoys high ranks with celebrities including Kim Kardashian, Rihanna, and Deepika Padukone. Tech brand Apple had a similar trajectory—where it was on the verge of bankruptcy in 1997, before Microsoft pitched in a $150 million investment, appointing Steve Jobs as the CEO to revamp the company. Apple, presently, is valued at more than a trillion dollars.

The biggest takeaway, here, is that whether it’s an organisation or an individual, it is never too late to reinvent, re-scale, and reimagine your ‘brand’. And so, Bazaar India spoke with three female leaders who had to take some time off of work due to various reasons—only to make a resounding comeback. Here’s their journey, and all that led them to unprecedented success.

Nitasha Badhwar, co-founder and chief strategy officer, Sunpower Renewables

"My career has spanned multiple geographies and markets, which has required a few alterations to my professional persona over time. The most significant adjustment, however, came during and after the birth of my baby. I had an emergency delivery (my daughter was born a micropreemie) and had to take 10 months off. Returning to work in a different capacity, and juggling two roles, was a whole new feat. I was used to the freedom of putting in long, strenuous hours, and prioritising work over everything—that changed dramatically. One major obstacle for me was my reactive decision-making instead of a strategic one, which was largely driven by the lack of time. I was torn between professional and familial responsibilities, with no time for myself to recuperate, take stock, develop new skills, or travel. 

I believe the key to adjusting to any ‘new’ circumstance is acceptance. For me, it was accepting that a better work-life balance was essential. Therefore, I focused on setting up quality teams and automating processes. I also altered my leadership style to empower my co-workers to function more autonomously—and all these changes made a huge difference to the business as well. Another major step was to nurture lofty thoughts. While it’s necessary to be realistic, it is equally important to stay positive and have great aspirations. Furthermore, do not give in to the double-peak you hear about ‘readjusting goals’ (especially after starting a family). In fact, when you return to work, doubling down on your ambition will help you develop a stronger sense of direction, and something larger to strive for.

I also am an active part of entrepreneurial communities that centre around self-development. Being with women who are going through similar experiences—and sharing thoughts and ideas with them—helps you stay relevant and informed. While a good mentor can be highly beneficial in finding the right direction, I also recommend self-reflection, as it paves the path for learning and growth. I keep a daily journal and make it a point to highlight at least one constructive thing about my day.

Getting dressed up for work is a valuable confidence booster, too! It reaffirms your inner strength and keeps you motivated through the day. While picking an outfit for the day, choose something that complements your individual style and flair. Having beautiful nails and bold, dramatic nail art is one of my guilty pleasures; I like to wear powerful hues of red for important meetings.

In today’s world, it is not enough to be who you were yesterday; making quantifiable changes takes time, but hard work galvanises to produce worthy results. So stay the course.”

Kanika Tekriwal, Founder and CEO, JetSetGo Aviation

“When I was 20, I was diagnosed with cancer. That phase—both personally and professionally—played a critical part in shaping me into the woman I am today. Even as a young girl, I was fascinated with aircrafts and wanted to become a pilot, but a lot of the decisions prior to my ailment were largely driven by what others expected of me. My battle with cancer made me a warrior—it gave me the courage to put myself out there and take risks. I had nothing to lose; I decided I wasn’t going to play safe or take easy decisions anymore. That’s when I launched JetSetGo. The aviation industry is a male-dominated sector, and putting my point across to be taken seriously was a challenge, because I had always been at the receiving end of prejudiced comments about being too young and a woman.

Unfortunately, on my return to work after almost a year of being away, the bias only increased! I also sensed pity from people—‘Oh poor thing! She’s just recovered, she can’t be too ambitious’. Many thought that since I had just battled cancer, I’d keep falling ill. I knew that I’d face such pushbacks, but I went ahead with complete conviction and commitment, which only happened because of my unwavering self-belief. I knew the success of my business would only be determined by extraordinary ideas, my competency to execute them, and my sense of self-worth. My foremost advice is: work on building resilience and mental strength. We often hold ourselves back—worrying about the unknown and creating ‘what if’ scenarios in our minds. Don’t do that! Trust that you can do whatever you want. If you don’t believe in yourself, why will anyone else?

To inspire myself, I’d listen to motivational TED Talks, and the two I treasure most are How To Let Go Of Being A “Good” Person—and Become A Better Person, by Dolly Chugh, and The Secret To Great Opportunities? The Person You Haven’t Met Yet, by Tanya Menon. To stay healthy, physically and mentally, I started kickboxing and hitting the gym, and I also went for long runs to declutter my mind. Envisioning what you want, and how you want it executed, can be a huge thrust forward. Due to my mental clarity, I wouldn’t hesitate to voice my opinion. Men would often write that off as being too aggressive, or ‘she thinks she knows too much’, but I was determined that I wanted to be someone who’s known for her intellect and punctuality. So, cut out all the noise and concentrate on your goals. Be hands on, and if you know that you’re right, never be apologetic about speaking up.

Finally, stay persistent. Building yourself as a brand is about becoming a person who you can trust—so be open to being vulnerable, keep learning, and be determined. With time, people who didn’t give you much credit will start noticing you. One movie that I’d suggest is The Founder—it gives you a glimpse into an entrepreneur’s journey, and teaches you the importance of perseverance. How do you create a restaurant business and become an overnight success at the age of 52? Raymond Albert Kroc said, ‘I was an overnight success alright, but 30 years is a long, long night’.”

Manasi Chadha, Director, Customer Experience, Uber India and South Asia

“In May 2020, I became a mother for the second time amidst the pandemic. Before I went on maternity leave, I had a good sense of the role I would be returning to. However, due to Covid-19, things took an unexpected turn—and when I resumed work, my designation no longer existed. I had to determine what value I could add to the organisation, given that so much had changed, and the future was so uncertain. One of my important learnings through the years has been to have an open mind about my career, which can go in any direction. I held on to this thought during my crisis, and was keen on finding ways in which I could contribute meaningfully to the new environment.

We are all a work-in-progress. We should start with self-awareness and an understanding of our capabilities, and then proceed to hone our key skills. An important career lesson I’ve learnt is to always put your best foot forward. And for that to happen, you have to be aware of your superpowers, so that you can play according to your strengths. Make yourself visible and uninhibitedly display characteristics that you want to be known for. At work, showcase your expertise and let your uniqueness shine through. Equally crucial is to be consistent and authentic, and build credibility for the brand ‘you’. Regularly seek feedback from trustworthy peers and supervisors, and remember to share what you’ll do differently—that is, things you will start, stop, and continue—and guard yourself against imposter syndrome!

To cultivate an impressive work personality, three important mantras for me are: a) Collaborate, build relationships, and find allies in your workspace; b) Invest in yourself by learning new skills and expanding your know-how; c) Stay committed to growth...which often comes outside your comfort zone. So, one must be willing to embrace new opportunities in order to grow. Recently, I’ve also started listening to some podcasts; I enjoy Amit Varma’s The Seen and the Unseen, which has thought-provoking discussions on topics related to economics, policy, society, and culture. Work Life by Adam Grant is also great for insights into leadership, work, people, and productivity. For stories and issues of real women, I’d recommend Mahima Vashisht’s blog, Womaning in India. It is deeply relatable, humorous, and honest. Another gem I’d suggest is Andre Agassi’s Biography, Open, in which he reflects on his life, career, his journey of figuring out his true self, and the struggles of dealing with the highs and lows of being a top tennis player—hich I believe are eye openers.”

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