Learning has to be a continuous process; adaptation, a way of life
Published on : Monday 01-03-2021
Litty Josekutty, GM (E&T), Incharge Infocom, ONGC – Tripura Asset.
What prompted you to pursue a career in engineering?
I belong to a middle class family and the goal of my parents, who worked for a PSU, was to make me and my sister independent and do well in life. In the 80s, the definition of doing well for highly educated amongst the service class people was to groom their children to be doctors or engineers. The comment from many in the family and friends ‘girls should not go for engineering, it’s a man’s job’ actually provoked and stimulated me to pursue this career.
Having obtained the qualification, what was the experience in getting a job?
Not easy. My parents wanted me to join the Public Sector, if possible in the same location. During the last semester of engineering, I had cleared the entrance exam to ONGC, so that gave a hope in hand. However, the interview call was yet to come through and after graduation, I had to wait for some time. In the meantime, I appeared for many other PSU exams. Eventually the call came through for an interview and I joined ONGC in 1991.
Is a career in engineering more demanding vis-à-vis other options?
Every career is demanding. My mother, being a nurse, had to do gruelling night shifts. This prompted her to ensure that my sister and I do not take up a career similar to hers. However, time has taught her and me that every career is demanding. It depends mainly on how involved and diligent one is on the job, what one’s career goals are and how agile and adaptable one is. With new technologies emerging daily, being relevant in the present business scenario is very challenging. But it is the responsibility of engineers to adapt and give their best in their field.
Often projects demand stay away from home. How is that experience?
Initial days of staying away from home were a nightmare – cooking and stuffing the fridge with food for as many days as possible, checking frequently if everything is fine at the home front, monitoring and giving instructions to kids, etc. And most of all, the guilt that I was somehow letting down everybody. However, over a period of time, I realised that it is OK to not do everything – I don’t need to be a Supermom or a Superwoman! The world will not fall apart if I don’t make everyone comfortable. My family too realised that everyone has to pitch in for things to move smoothly. This made my family more independent and more supportive. Now, I get some ‘me’ time and many-a-times, situations take care of a lot of things.
Have you ever missed a career opportunity or promotion due to gender?
So far, no. I have had very supportive bosses and senior officers. I tried to do the best in my career so far. But while climbing the career path, we can see the gender bias and the inclination towards favouring your own. It is subtle and unspoken – but it is very much there.
Are workplaces today more sensitive to gender issues than a generation earlier?
Definitely, yes. With the Sexual Harassment Act in place our company follows a zero tolerance policy. Sensitisation programs are held for all employees. Checks and balances are in place with formation of Internal Complaints Committees (ICC). My company has circulated detailed guidelines and strict punishments are provisioned under CDA rules.
Is there a glass ceiling when it comes to leadership roles in engineering?
Theoretically, everyone professes that there is no glass ceiling. However, the traits of patriarchal society still need to get weaned off from the mind-sets of both men and women. The ladies who could climb the ladder to the Board Rooms claim they never saw a glass ceiling. But the structure of the society is such that there are more expectations from the women folks both in handling the home front as well as office. So with additional responsibility on women, glass ceilings will always exist. Often we see women do not empathise with other women. Women also need to change their thought process and learn to bring up our kids with equality, irrespective of gender. We can find the gender bias in the new generation too.
ONGC has established many rules and policies to support women employees. Its implementation in the right spirit should also be ensured.
What has been the experience with seniors at works and the management?
For me the seniors at work have been very supportive. I get all help required for doing full justice to the responsibilities bestowed upon me. I try to give a similar supportive work environment to my juniors and my team.
How did the Covid pandemic affect your working routine and what are the learnings?
I am currently posted in Agartala and my family stays in Noida. So Covid time was no different for me from the regular work routine, except for more precautions, health-wise, to be taken. Our office was working without any break even during the lockdowns, as ONGC falls under essential services. Moreover, Agartala was declared a green zone with very few Covid-positive cases.
My family in Noida was in complete lockdown without domestic help. I had to provide ‘online’ coaching through video calls for cooking and other activities. While most people had ‘family time’ during the lockdown, being away from my loved ones at home and unable to physically interact with them, I missed my family sorely. This was a huge emotional drain. But like all things, I learned to take it in my stride and eventually, that stage too passed. This whole different experience taught me that human beings can endure any amount of tragedies and take things in their stride by adapting and being agile. My son, who never boiled water before, tried his hands on cooking, did baking, frying, cleaning, etc., and found that his food was tastier than that of our regular cook! It was tough for our old parents, though, without anyone visiting them. Working from home during quarantine, minimum contact with your colleagues and subordinates took its toll on work efficiency. However, we worked our way around these problems and started performing better as a team. The biggest takeaway from this whole experience is that learning has to be a continuous process, and adaptation has to be a way of life.
What would be your message to those seeking career guidance?
Explore your core interests, strengths, and values to guide your work journey.
Nurture your network to support your career development. Maintain your value in the workplace by keeping your skills fresh. Become an agile learner.
It is said if you educate a man you educate an individual, but if you educate a woman you educate a family, generation (nation). Your views?
This proverb is true because education gives women more choices and opportunities and empowers them to make decisions. They are able to help in the education of their children as well, thus enabling them to have holistic growth, making them grow up to be good people and responsible citizens. Often, uneducated women take the hardships in their life as ‘fate’. Education will help them understand personal, social and global issues affecting them and their family, especially their daughters. Education helps them understand their rights and privileges better. It also propels them with financial independence, which is a very powerful tool in building self-confidence.
Would you like to share information about your other achievements?
I was a team member for implementing e-tendering in ONGC. I was instrumental in starting the online complaint handling system in Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) during my deputation. Understanding the importance of coaching and mentoring, I try to inculcate this in all my subordinates.
What are the three words that best capture the essential you?
Cheerful. Dependable. Dedicated.
Litty Josekutty did her BE (Electronics and Communication) from Raipur University and PGDHRM from Narsee Monjee Institute of Management Studies. Litty joined ONGC in the year 1991 as Assistant Electronic Engg (Electronics) and continues with the same organisation, having worked at offices in various locations – Mumbai, Hazira (near Surat) and Delhi Corporate office. She also worked in the Central Vigilance Commission on deputation for 3-1/2 years, in the IT section. Litty is currently posted in Agartala (Tripura) since May 2017, and though due for posting, continues to be there thanks to the Covid pandemic, living away from family. Otherwise she is based in Noida where her husband works for NTPC. They have two sons.
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