As part of our ‘Women in HR’ special interview series, All Things Talent speaks to Meenakshree Nanda Panda, General Manager – Capability & Talent at Vodafone Idea Limited. From handling an entire gamut of L&D initiatives to mentoring others in work and life, this is Meenakshree’s journey as a leading woman.
I firmly believe that learning doubles up when shared with others. Our personal stories/relevant business examples help develop that seamless connection where people look up to us as their facilitator, thereby sharing that genuine common interest to develop as successful professionals.
Q: You have been handling an entire gamut of Learning and Development initiatives and developing young leaders. What personal qualities have influenced your career path?
A: Thinking on my feet, being meticulous, being passionate about making a lasting impact, investing in self-development, and being authentic has helped me transform initiatives into successful best practices throughout my career.
Q: You’re training women leaders as well. In your opinion, how can women in L&D help aspiring women leaders break down the leadership barriers?
A: Finding what their inherent strength is and how they can sharpen, leverage it in the best possible ways. It is imperative to strive for high performance at every life stage and invest in self-development. One should be passionate about making things happen, being assertive, building relationships, learning from each other through core groups, and ensuring seamless work-life integration.
Q: As someone who is passionate about engaging people and enabling learning, how are you encouraged to both be a leader and help others grow as leaders?
A: I firmly believe that learning doubles up when shared with others. Our personal stories/ relevant business examples help develop that seamless connection where people look up to us as their facilitator, thereby sharing that genuine common interest to develop as successful professionals. In the end, genuine intent should reflect with every word we speak and every action we take.
Q: What do you think we, as leaders, should be doing to encourage more girls to consider a career in tech?
A: Share more success stories, help them find mentors to harness their potential with relevant opportunities, encourage them to be a part of other women professionals’ networks so that they are updated with what’s happening in the tech space. Most importantly, encourage them to be bold to make unconventional choices.
Q: Looking back, what advice do you have for your younger self to ensure she is best equipped to succeed as a leader?
A: Never let failure dishearten you as this is also a stepping stone to success. You cannot expect to always win and feel dejected if it doesn’t result in that way. Failures and setbacks make us stronger and help us sharpen ourselves.
“Never let failure dishearten you as this is also a stepping stone to success. You cannot expect to always win and feel dejected if it doesn’t result in that way. Failures and setbacks make us stronger and help us sharpen ourselves.”
