We are asking for gender equality and not role reversa
Published on : Tuesday 08-03-2022
Dr Anuradda Ganesh, Director and Chief Technical Advisor, Cummins Technologies India Pvt Ltd.
What was the inspiration that prompted you to pursue this career path?
My guides, friends and philosophers!
I have been very fortunate to have had role models, guides and friends at every phase of my life. Like for most people, my mother made it very clear to me her wish that I must not get married until I had completed education and earned my first salary. As she desired, my first salary cheque as a Lecturer at IIT-Bombay was in my maiden name.
My supervisor Prof P D Grover was one of my first role models and inspired me to work on ‘biomass’, and biomass conversion technologies for rural applications. He was a wonderful teacher, and I was inspired by him and my father (who also was a scientist and professor) into the profession of teaching and research.
Prof (Mrs) P P Parikh, IIT-B, a role model for many women engineers and professors introduced me to Internal combustion engines—a field which was conventionally men’s forte. After 20 productive and rewarding years at IIT-Bombay, as a Professor at the Department of Energy Science and Engineering, I met Dr John Wall, the then CTO of Cummins Inc. Once again destiny introduced me to a person who had a major influence in my life and I was encouraged to leap out of my comfort zone of academia into the corporate world. All through this, my husband stood by me and always encouraged me to do something different and take up any challenges head-on and undeterred.
This was about people who were my guides, philosophers and friends!
Can you recall your early days – say the first few days at work – and anything you would like to mention about that?
As I mentioned earlier, Prof Parikh introduced me to what was conventionally a man’s domain—IC Engines. I cannot forget the week when she asked me to tear down an engine and put it back. The lab staff were to help me only with tools and parts—and nothing else. I got down to dismantling and reassembling all on my own—what an introduction to the world of engines!
For a woman, it is a matter of finding the right balance between the jobs and managing the home – how do you manage this?
An advice from a friend of mine explained it all – everything is project management. Emotions, responsibility, duties and accountability are there both at work and at home. All the skills required to be a good project manager at work is required at home too – just that the type of emotions related are different. Accepting our strengths and weaknesses, setting boundaries, and appropriate communication is the key to maintaining work-life balance – pick your battles wisely
I believe in communication—with family, friends and colleagues. I spent quality time with my family, whenever I could. I try my best to give focussed time to my close ones, however little it may be. And above all, I am Anuradda at home—not the Professor or the Director at Cummins. This helps a lot. And not to forget – support system like house helps, cooks, vegetable vendors, etc., are my extended family.
What challenges (or privileges) do women stereotypically face, based on their gender?
Women had to work harder to demonstrate their skills and be taken seriously – often overlooked in leadership roles in the past. Thankfully, things are changing and gender diversity is helping, although we still have a long way to go before the gap in opportunities and inclusion is bridged.
Have you ever missed a career opportunity or promotion due to the gender?
There are two ways of looking at it. We may call it missing an opportunity or we may call it prioritisation and choice. I did not apply for one promotion and did not take more PhD students in my initial stages of career because I wanted to give more time to my daughter, but I caught up with other peers soon enough! I believe I have achieved and done more challenging things in my career than so many other male peers – we just need to plan it, and be ready to revisit the plans depending on the situation destiny puts you in.
Are workplaces today more sensitive to gender issues than say, a decade ago?
Yes, absolutely. But like I said, we cannot afford to be complacent about this as we still have a long road ahead.
Which women’s ‘cause’ needs to be challenged and changed, first?
I am not sure what this means but I believe that we are asking for gender equality and not role reversal (a statement made by my daughter!). That point needs to be driven clearly. The idea is to allow equality and freedom in opportunity.
Are there areas at work that still restrict women when it comes to leadership role?
I would not say areas of work, I would say that while some restrictions are a result of systemic issues, there are some that are self-imposed. In these times women have proved themselves in all areas of work—business, defence, marketing, sales, manufacturing, politics, law, journalism and the list can go on. Yes, challenges are there and more efforts are required by them than the male counterparts to be taken seriously and rewarded appropriately. However, slowly, steadily and surely women are being accepted in all leadership roles.
What women-related myths or taboos need to be broken?
That women are ‘emotional’ – I think being emotional is what brings in a different perspective and being ‘inclusive’ includes this aspect of being emotional. Being sensitive to others is what makes us human – I don’t see why that is categorised as a weakness.
Do you have a mentor or a role model? If yes, you may state briefly how it inspired you.
Already mentioned in the answer to the first question.
What would be your message to the youth who are just starting their career?
Young women –
1) Must hold each other’s hand, and help lift each other
2) Effective communication is as important with family and home as is in professional world
3) One needs to be first be proud of being a woman and only then can she take up challenges positively.
Describe yourself or your aspirations, dreams in 3 words.
I have gratitude, am happy and proud that I am a woman!
Dr Anuradda Ganesh is the Chief Technical Advisor at the Cummins Technologies India Pvt Ltd. She advises on innovative technology, regulatory trends and policy. She also advises on University and Government collaboration areas and strategic partnerships. In her earlier roles, she established and led the Research and Innovation for Cummins Tech Centre (India), to address the fit-for-market requirements for Cummins India products. She was the Director of Cummins Research and Technology India, focusing on application of Analysis Led Design tools to reduce time and cost of product development.
As a PhD in Chemical Engineering, she brings in a unique combination of excellence in academia as well as industry. Prior to joining industry, she had an extensive career in Academia and Research as a Professor of the Department of Energy Science and Engineering (DESE) at the Indian Institute of Technology Bombay (IITB).
Dr Anuradda has contributed extensively to the field of renewable energy. Her research spans across different subjects including alternate fuels (producer and syngas), chemicals (using supercritical fluid extraction) from biomass and “smart-carbon”, underground coal gasification, and energy systems modelling. She has contributed to the subject with over 60 international publications, over 4000 citations, supervised 16 PhDs and has half a dozen granted patents.
In 2020, she was inducted as a Fellow of the Indian Nation Academy of Engineering. She is the recipient of the SWE Prism Award in 2021 for her impact on Society as well as the engineering community. She has shared her journey and tips in an e-book published in 2021, by Confederation of Indian Industries (CII) on 51 Indian women achievers in STEM.
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