Webinar on “Choose to Challenge” to Celebrate Women’s Day by KSOM

KIIT School of Management (KSOM) conducted a webinar on “Choose to Challenge” to celebrate the International Women’s Day. Prof. Sasmita Samanta, Pro VC, KIIT-DU talked about sustainable development with respect to gender equality, the necessary changes which the society must strive to achieve, and the balance in nature which should always be maintained.

There were three panel discussions consisting of nine women speakers from the corporate sector as well as KIIT Deemed to be University. They gave their views on being vocal, breaking stereotypes as well as managing work from home in this digital world. Four student speakers from MBA-I gave their individual views for celebrating today’s women. Speakers shared their experiences, reflecting on the past events, challenges faced and overcoming the obstacles. The event was all about choosing to challenge such obstacles, which in turn encourages women to stand up and raise their voices and learn to say no. 

Speaking at the webinar, Ms. Sonali Nanda said that a woman should showcase her capabilities to companies. She focused on turning oneself into an asset for the company. She stated, “Being a single woman in the group is not always a weakness”. Ms. Priyadarshini Mohanty beautifully stated, “Behind the success of a woman is a supportive, open-minded family”. Ms. Bobby Pattnaik stated, “We are more fortunate than others. Let’s try to play the luck forward”. Ms. Renu Khanna emphasized what a woman means and that woman is itself an abbreviation. She described the 4ps – Purpose of challenge, pick your battle, be persistent, and peace within the self.

Being a woman has always been difficult because she is destined to face the extremes and be answerable to society. Yet, a few choices are at her disposal. A woman has to struggle against the two most important challenges, i.e., challenging the social stigmas and balancing the professional and personal lives, the speakers at the webinar opined. “People assume that women take the support of the words ‘Empowerment’ and ‘Protection’. Why would women need empowerment when they build up an entire family, guide it to contribute to the good of society? Why would they ask to be protected, when they are bold enough to take decisions and stand strong with every move they make?”, they stated.