In my years of experience, I have found that women are naturally more inclusive leaders

Co-founder of Sonder Connect talks about what it takes to strike balance – in life and at work.

Few people exemplify balance more than Vaishali Kasture – an MD, Marathoner and Mentor, who champions leading a life of passion and fulfilment, that goes beyond the boardroom. As International Women’s Day approaches, we chatted with Kasture on what #BalanceforBetter means to her.

#BalanceforBetter Health

“Running has been a great leveler for me. It is food for my soul and keeps me balanced as a person.”

Vaishali has been running for almost two decades now – a journey that led her to discover herself outside the boardroom, an experience she terms as “finding here third dimension”. But what keeps her motivated to run?

“Running has been a great leveler for me. It is food for my soul and keeps me balanced as a person. We all need some “me-time” – time that we invest in ourselves, our thoughts and fitness. Besides making me healthier, it also puts things in perspective as it helps clear the mind.

I think fitness is especially important for women, no matter what your profession is. When you invest in making the woman of the house healthy and fit – you are making the family, the community, the society and eventually the country fitter.”

#BalanceforBetter Time Management

“Don’t hesitate to cut out things from your life that don’t add value or spark joy… time is the only thing in this world that you cannot buy back”

Despite her demanding career, Vaishali has made it as the fastest female veteran runner on the Indian Marathon Circuit, first amateur Indian woman to qualify for the prestigious Boston Marathon and the fastest Indian woman at The Comrades Ultra marathon. If you think you don’t have time to follow your interests, here’s a tip from Vaishali.

“Like everything in life, you need to prioritize what is important to you and go after it, no matter what! I always take an hour out in the morning on weekdays and about 90 minutes on weekends for my workout/ run. Inadvertently, I am an early riser and get to sleep by 10 pm. My friends and colleagues know my lifestyle and plan evenings with me accordingly.

Don’t hesitate to cut out things from your life that don’t add value or spark joy. Time is the only thing in this world that you cannot buy back… even if you are the wealthiest person in this world. So, treat your time more precious than your money.”

#BalanceforBetter Life Goals

“You must invest time in finding out what is your passion. What gives you unbridled joy?”

Vaishali’s journey has been an inspiration for many people to build a well-rounded life that goes beyond work. As someone who took a sabbatical from work at the peak of her career, Vaishali talks about how time off can help one find their “third dimension”.

“You have to invest in yourself. You cannot let just work or home define you. You must invest time in finding out what is your passion. What gives you unbridled joy? And for that you must keep experimenting… even the journey itself can be very rewarding.

I took up multiple hobbies until I found running or rather, running found me. The best advice I can give you is to embark on that journey of discovery and be open to new experiences. Because if you don’t, then you haven’t lived your best life.

I always tell women who want to take time off – make sure you stay current with your skills and network. So that when you are looking to come back to the work force, you are still “relevant”. And on their part, companies must provide part-time employment, work-from-home initiatives to women who need these flexible arrangements.”

#BalanceforBetter Leadership

“In my years of experience, I have found that women are naturally more inclusive leaders.’

How do women leaders stand out? What qualities do they exhibit? What strengths do they bring in? Vaishali draws on her own experience to explain what makes women great leaders.

“In my years of experience, I have found that women are naturally more inclusive leaders. They are inclined to make the decision-making process more democratic, by getting more people involved, which is great to bring in different points of view.

They also tend to have a sixth sense and can hence pick up on dynamics and nuances in a conversation far better than men. And in closing deals, they are often a big asset as they tend to be more empathetic.”

#BalanceForBetter Gender Parity

“…sponsorship is key to improving confidence in women. When senior leaders take on the mantle, young women are able to rise up and speak up!”

When it comes to gender bias, Vaishali strongly believes that maternity leaves top the list and that senior leaders can pay a big role in helping women speak up.

“Gender parity is about ensuring equal men and women at all levels, right up to the boardroom, especially equal access to the corridors of power. And to do this, we must first work on unconscious biases, which are often seeped right into the culture and ethos of companies, such as discounting women after marriage or baby breaks.

One of the biggest unconscious biases I see in the work place is the maternity leave. Why not give 6 months of shared leave to both parents, that they can split between themselves? If we need to create an equal workplace, let it start with shared maternity-paternity leaves. Let’s call it baby leave.

In general, across the corporate world, I also find that women are less vocal about asking for promotions, negotiations, and taking on challenging roles. This is where sponsorship is key to improving confidence in women. When senior leaders take on the mantle, young women are able to rise up and speak up!”