Page 34 - MACHINE TOOLS WORLD MARCH 2022 Digital Magazine

WOMEN ACHIEVERS

You should begin to accept challenges, risks, and
responsibility for your own life

work in a completely different industry of to be done by women and what was
engineering and machines after working in specifically meant to be done by men.
the food industry for about 5 years, but I’ve We were the first female entrepreneurs
always been close to machines throughout in my family. We were the only female
my career, so it was never awkward for entrepreneurs in our sector. We encoun-
me. Ever since my college days I’ve always tered more skeptical eyes than supportive
been fascinated by advertising and design. ones at first, but people gradually began to
But I never imagined that I would take my accept and acknowledge our presence. I
curiosity to the point where I would pursue believe we were able to change the minds
it as a career. Joining Mehta Cad Cam gave of many parents who had considered
me the opportunity to build advertising forbidding their daughters from doing what
concepts myself and I am glad I receive this they wanted. I believe that being stubborn
opportunity. was the most important factor in breaking
I’m not sure if the world will consider these stereotypes.
this an achievement or a failure, but I am
RIKITA AGRAWAL, confident that what I have learned over the Q. How can women entrepreneurs
Head, Digital Marketing
Mehta Cad Cam Systems Pvt. Ltd. years as an employee, an owner, and again broaden their horizons and become
starting new has taught me things that inspiring leaders of tomorrow?
Q. Could you tell us something I could not have learned otherwise, and As someone who has experience herself,
about your professional achieve- that my parents and family have always I can tell you that there are many fields in
ments and career progression? supported me in whatever decisions I have which you want to start your career are
Oh, where do I even begin? It was a made in my life. dominated by men, and when we enter
roller coaster ride, to put it mildly. After their space, we will always face resistance
completing my postgraduate diploma Q. What are the attributes that in various forms, but that resistance should
management in business entrepreneurship helped you to reach where you are never stop you. You must maintain your
from EDII, Ahmedabad, and coming from in your career? resolve until they begin to accept you. You
a business family, I was always confident I’ve always believed that doing things should never be discouraged from starting
that I would do something on my own after and failing is better than preferable to a business, venture, or industry because
finishing my studies. doing nothing and later regretting it. This, you are the first or only one to do so. To be-
With the same goal of doing something I believe, is the belief that has always come a leader, you must have big dreams,
on my own, I began my career by joining pushed me to try new things and work believe in yourself, and be determined.
a company to learn how the real world hard to achieve my objectives. This trait There is a chance you will fail, but failing is
operates. After almost a year of exposure, caused me experience failure more often, better than not trying at all right!
I took my first step toward working on my but I have never regretted anything in my Women entrepreneurs are regarded
own by joining my family business’s plan life because I have always tried whatever I as the backbone of society, and the
for vertical integration and entering into the wanted to do and will continue to do so. government of India is also providing
manufacturing of Wheat products. We (my special benefits to female entrepreneurs in
sister and I) were always proud to say that, Q. How far have you succeeded in order to encourage them, so just believe in
along with my brother, we were the only challenging the stereotypes? yourself and work on it.
female entrepreneurs in this industry. But, Stereotypes I’ll respond to this by
as the saying goes, life has different plans assuming it’s about gender stereotypes. Q. In both essential and digital
than what you have planned for it and I As I previously stated, my parents always functions, women suffered the
had to left what I was doing and have to believed in me and supported me in repercussions of the economic and
search for something new. This is when I whatever I wanted to do in life. At times, I social effects of the pandemic.
joined Mehta Cad Cam Systems Pvt. Ltd. had to be stubborn in order to break the old Your comments?
Some People may think it’s strange to stereotypes of what was specifically meant I am not sure about this but what I have

30 MACHINE TOOLS WORLD MARCH 2022 www.mtwmag.com