INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY 2022: CELEBRATING HESTER’S WOMEN LEADERS TRINITY

Success truly does not come easy and more so when one is a woman. To commemorate International Women’s Day 2022, we feature the incredible stories of our women leaders from India, Tanzania, and Nepal. Through their fierce grit, determination and perseverance, they have proven to be the leaders of their lives.

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Kajal Patel, Deputy Director - Plant Operations, Hester Biosciences Ltd, India

‍“Success is not about getting a high-paying job or fame. It is about using your full potential to contribute to your family, workplace, and society. Have faith in yourself and create positive vibes.”

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Unlike millions of her contemporaries, Ms. Kajal Patel was fortunate to be raised in an environment of gender equality from childhood. She says, “I agree that structural and social barriers for women are depriving our world of enormous talent. Society needs to understand that men and women complement each other by handling different responsibilities. Thus depriving women of opportunities is detrimental to society.” Reminiscing about her college days, she states, “In terms of career options, there was a general perception about women not being a good fit in the manufacturing industry. Other assumptions were about women’s inability to devote long working hours and maintain consistency in work tenure, etc. Interestingly, my fascination with the manufacturing sector, and the determination to break these biases, stemmed from those perceptions. 

 However, the journey was never easy. Real-life challenges related to skill set requirement, balancing work and family, justification of different roles, managing anxiety, staying motivated, etc. agitated me. But, persistence and a strong will to never give up helped me find solutions.

 Success is not only featuring yourself at a senior level, getting a good salary, or being famous. It is how you have contributed to your family, workplace, and society using your utmost potential. Have faith in yourself and create positive vibes around you. I strongly believe that when intentions are good, we don’t need to worry about end results.

Dr. Furaha Mramba - CEO, Hester Biosciences Africa Ltd, Tanzania

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“Women must dare to dream and never allow anyone to get in their way. No matter how many tears we might cry, we must keep persevering for nothing comes easy. Simply focus on your goals and you will succeed!”

Dr. Furaha Mramba was far too young to see her share of challenges. However, nothing stopped her from fulfilling her dreams. Says Dr. Furaha, “As a young girl, my uncles prevented me from using my family money for further studies. They believed that being a girl, I only deserved to finish primary school and get married at a young age. My father passed away when I was merely seven and so, I pleaded with my mother to send me to University. I attended my secondary school with minimal assistance from the family as my single mother had to take care of her six other children. 

At school, I worked very hard and developed an interest in science. My diligence paid off when I received my Ph.D. in Medical Entomology. Just when I thought that my struggle was over, I soon realized that there was no equity in the workplace. Employers interpreted men’s assertive behavior in the workplace as strong, commanding, and direct. But, when women displayed the same, they were seen as aggressive, pushy, and shrill. In spite of it all, by leveraging my strengths and striving persistently to build equitable work environments, I succeeded. 

Women must dare to dream, regardless of their means or background, and never allow anyone to get in their way. No matter how many tears we might cry, we must keep persevering for nothing comes easy. Simply focus on your goals and you will succeed!

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Dr. Sulochana Shrestha, CEO- Hester Biosciences Nepal Pvt Ltd, Nepal

‍“There is nothing that women cannot do. Do not pay heed to the naysayers. These are biases talking. Simply break them and go forward with strength and dedication”

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Dr. Sulochana Shrestha grew up with a great love for animals and their well-being. Caring for the voiceless gradually became a passion and that is when Dr. Shrestha decided to become a veterinarian. However, realizing her dream came with biases which she had to battle. 

She says, “During my interview for a scholarship for a Bachelor of Veterinary Science and Animal Husbandry (BVSc & AH) programme, I was asked why would a girl choose veterinary science? To that I replied, I love animals, and if I could save the lives of these voiceless beings who cannot express their pain, I’d feel a great sense of achievement. With sincere dedication and untiring support from my family members, I fulfilled my dream of becoming a veterinarian. The very same reasons enabled me to become who I am today, the CEO of an animal health company.

Women must know that there is nothing that women cannot do. Do not pay heed to the naysayers. These are biases talking. Simply break them and go forward with strength and dedication to achieve your goals because dedication is what it all comes down to. I urge all women to delete the word ‘cannot’ from their lives. 

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