How we rise

They shattered glass ceilings, challenged the boys’ clubs and held their own. They’ve taken risks, persevered and transformed their lives and ours. Fifty-something and thriving, Aruna Jayanthi, Vani Kola and Falguni Nayar tell Gayatri Rangachari Shah how they made it

- Gayatri Rangachari Shah

ARUNA JAYANTHI

57, MD, LATIN AMERICA AND CANADA, CAPGEMINI

On leadership today…

How did you lead people across countries and continents during the pandemic?

Relationships helped. Once you build relationships with people, transitioning from in-person to virtual is seamless. I know my teams and their working styles well, so we didn’t think of it as disruptive. Respecting personal time helps. But the most important thing for me was continuing the organisation’s rituals. For instance, if you have a sales strategy meeting once a month and then head out for dinner after, simulate the same online.

Were there changes at work you drove as a leader that will continue in a post-pandemic world?

I was always a flexible leader. I was never a nine-to-five person for myself or my team. I never looked at work time, I only looked at work output. The pandemic reinforced that need for flexibility as well as respect for our people’s private lives and how they manage their time. We are talking a lot more about mental health and we will continue to do so. People have different levels of stress and anxieties. We have to carry on focusing on the emotional well-being of our employees.

How do you stay positive?