Last Updated:
Highlighting the critical traits women bring to the table, Srinivasan said that women are better at ‘being open-minded’ and at ‘multi-tasking’
Srinivasan also addressed the transformation in business strategy at TAFE. Image/News18
At the CNN-News18 She Shakti 2025 summit on Thursday, Mallika Srinivasan, chairperson and managing director of Tractors and Farm Equipment Limited (TAFE), offered powerful insights into women’s evolving role in leadership, the challenges facing India’s workforce, and how businesses must adapt to a rapidly changing global landscape.
Highlighting the critical traits women bring to the table, Srinivasan said that women are better at “being open-minded” and at “multi-tasking”. She emphasised that an open mind is essential in today’s volatile global geopolitical scenario, especially for business leaders navigating unpredictable shifts. “If your mind is open… that’s how you cope with change,” she noted, stressing the value of flexibility and agility in leadership.
Drawing from her own experience leading one of India’s foremost agricultural machinery manufacturers, Srinivasan reflected on how leadership styles are evolving. She noted that women often adopt a consensus-driven, collaborative approach, which she believes is more effective in fostering inclusive growth and long-term resilience in organisations. “In terms of leadership, women take a more consensus-based approach,” she said, adding that this collaborative mindset is increasingly valuable in a complex, interconnected business environment.
Srinivasan also addressed the transformation in business strategy at TAFE, pointing out a significant shift in product development. “Earlier, we used to design products for India and then take them to international markets. Today we design products for international markets,” she said, underscoring how Indian companies are now thinking globally from the outset.
Despite these strides, she raised a serious concern: the low participation of women in the Indian workforce. “In terms of women’s participation in the workforce, we are woefully behind,” she remarked, calling for urgent attention to structural and cultural barriers that hinder women’s economic engagement.
The News Desk is a team of passionate editors and writers who break and analyse the most important events unfolding in India and abroad. From live updates to exclusive reports to in-depth explainers, the Desk d…Read More
The News Desk is a team of passionate editors and writers who break and analyse the most important events unfolding in India and abroad. From live updates to exclusive reports to in-depth explainers, the Desk d… Read More
Read More
