"Never Doubt, Live Your Dreams," CCO, uKnowva Believes
Between driving crucial Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion initiatives to pioneering work in various fields of innovation, today’s generation of women leaders is proving there’s nothing stopping them from rising to new heights in the business world. Despite strides in women’s representation in powerful roles, a surprising number of people across the world still don’t trust women to lead effectively. These biases are deep-seated – and may be difficult to change. To know more about women's leadership and about the hardships they face, we had a conversation with Bistriti Poddar, Chief Communication Officer at uKnowva.
What was the vision when you started paperless postcards?
The internet was getting saturated with frivolous and intimidating content, I wanted to disrupt that and create something meaningful, impactful and path-breaking. There was a need for something simple yet effective, subtle yet powerful, sensible yet raw and I just tried to fill that void. Postcards are synonymous with dialogues, expressions, and nostalgia. I wanted to crack a concept that resonates with these elements and was digital at its core. Hence, Paperless (digital) Postcards.
How do you look at the importance of content creation?
When you create content on a topic, you are establishing yourself as an expert in the field. If your audience finds the content helpful or insightful, they will eventually trust you. Creating, engaging, trustworthy, reliable, well-planned and well-executed content can heavily influence your business growth and lead to higher sales figures. To get the best returns on your content creation, you'll need to know trendy content and how it's resonating with your audience. When you are creating new content consistently, you're building a library of amazing resources that define your brand.
When you were starting your career was there any vision in your mind?
I am a manifester and I manifest firmly. I believe that if you want to achieve something in life then you should work twice as hard for that and leave your comfort zone. I have a hustler personality which means I don't wait for an opportunity to fall in my lap -- I go out and make it happen.
What do you think about gender biasedness right now?
I would like to think that these days, gender is not a motivating factor in the workforce. Everyone has to work hard for the best jobs and promotions, regardless of age, race, or gender. But I also know that unfortunately people still face discrimination. But when faced with such a situation, it is important to remind yourself of the options that you always have available. You can: 1) accept the situation as it is, 2) try to fix it, or, 3) remove yourself from the situation. That simple exercise can give you the time and freedom to do the right thing.
What is the specific quality that made you a leader?
It has a lot to do with my journey. I have always been a very opinionated woman and it got more refined as I paved my way up the corporate sector. I am a leadership-oriented person who tries to make the best of any situation and consistently motivates people to do their best. I am trustworthy and always prepared to hustle because I lead by example. I show my team how things are done and they know exactly what they need to accomplish, why they are doing it and that I have their back.
What is your Suggestion for women's leadership?
Women because of their family engagements and other commitments, fear having big dreams. They will consider options, angles, and alternatives in their heads before sharing what they believe to be a well-formulated and considered position. I think that every woman in any stage of life should have the vision to break the glass ceiling. It is important for them to ‘just dive in’ and not worry about the messiness or the awkwardness of the situation. Don’t be afraid to take up space and never doubt to live your dreams.
What is your message to the youth?
I urge everyone to dream big but at the same time, you must remember to start small. Transformation is not a big bang. Like everything in nature, it’s a gradual process. You have to work from the ground up. Every tree starts as a seedling – you have to take care of it and let it grow. Be proactive, self-starter, quick learner and self-motivator and don't have the fear of taking a calculated risk. If you want to touch the sky, you have to accept that you may fall down a couple of times.
