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Prativa Mohapatra’s experience spanning over two and a half decades now prepares her for the most “exciting chapter yet”
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From PwC to IBM and then Adobe, throughout the 25-plus years of her professional experience, Prativa Mohapatra has always been associated with brands that have inspired her to excel at each stage of her career. “My journey has been full of highlights, bringing me to my most exciting chapter yet, which is leading a fantastic organisation like Adobe India,” says the first woman managing director of the company in India.
Looking back, for her, it was her ‘never-give-up’ mantra that served as a driving force. “Whenever against a brick wall, I tend to think of alternative and creative solutions. I view speedbumps as the inevitables that help build character and a value system, develop analytical thinking and instil a mindset that seeks all opportunities to succeed,” says Mohapatra.
Women in India@75
The managing director of Adobe India firmly believes the society as well as the workforce in the country have become more inclusive. “Over the years, I’ve seen women feel more empowered to make their life choices and thrive as mothers, homemakers, artists, sports players, officers, entrepreneurs, functional leaders, CXOs and more. However, we still have a long way to go,” she states.
Mohapatra cites several instances to make her case. The success of girls in STEM as opposed to very few women occupying roles as CFOs or business unit leaders is one such point. She points out, “Women-led unicorns or companies going for IPOs are few. Women must be given opportunities to prove their mettle in finance-related roles, and actively build their business acumen.”
More to be Done
Workplace sensitivity and out-of-the-box thinking on the various life stages as well as physiological changes that are unique to women must be thought through as well. Traits such as empathy, accessibility, personal touch and authenticity should be encouraged.
“Organisations must wake up to the fact that simply hiring more women is not the answer to solving gender imbalance at the workplace. They must adopt a holistic approach to diversity and inclusion through aspects like unbiased hiring procedures, embracing diverse leadership styles, offering pay parity, and providing equal opportunities for everyone to succeed,” advises Mohapatra.