'Strategic thinking seen in saas-bahu TV shows must move into boardrooms'

The government has recently amended the Companies Act to make it compulsory for listed companies to have women on their boards of directors. Some reports suggest there could be a requirement of upwards of 5,000 women directors. I think Indian Inc is confident of finding enough women in the corporate world to be on their boards. And that itself is a positive sign.

To be on the board of a listed company requires a member to be leader in their job roles, while being decision-makers and having domain expertise. We should look at this legislation as a sign of growth, rather than addressing an impoverished need.

But many listed Indian companies still do not have women on their boards. This may be because they probably never thought of it. But now they would have to.

I think women directors would bring many changes to the way corporates function in India. Women are natural or born leaders and specialise in multi-tasking. Thus, they would add value to any company or board.

Traditionally, women are often credited with bringing in soft power in areas like HR, marketing, corporate social responsibility, and that is a thing of the past. Today, Indian women are like Indian goddesses, representing wealth (Lakshmi), education (Saraswati) and power (Durga).

At least at Vu Technologies where I work, the heads of departments like finance, corporate sales and operations are powerful and dynamic women.

I think the new law has larger implications for the society at large, in terms of women empowerment, socio-economic aspects, so on. When I watch scheming mother and daughters-in-law on national television, it just makes my blood boil. All that strategic thinking wasted in household politics!

We need to move that strategic thinking into the boardroom. When a man has to face a woman in his company’s board, he will automatically look at womankind differently. He will see potential in his daughters, wives and sisters to be strategic thinkers for his own business and involve them in the family business. I have got immense support from my father and grandfather – and Vu definitely has women in its board.

I am confident that the new law would encourage more women to aspire for leadership, rather than settle at middle management. And yes, corporate governance will improve. Why? Simple – isn’t your house optimally run because your mother/wife is in control?

Let me give you an example of how quickly things are changing. The Bombay Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCI), the apex chamber founded 173 years ago, just founded its women’s organisation in September called 'Fempower'. I am mentoring this initiative, along with BCCI president Neera Saggi (CEO of L&T Seawoods). We are working on increasing women in boards and the entire head-hunting and support system around it.

I think India will become a role model for the rest of the corporate world across the planet, in terms of women empowerment in organisations. Indian women have already made their mark in finance, science and technology, and we should have a much better statistic than the rest of the world in having women role models in organisations. Don’t forget, we were one of the first democratic nations to have a woman Prime Minister.


Devita R Saraf founded Vu Technologies in 2006 and is its CEO. In 2006, a prominent newsmagazine named her as one of the top 25 most powerful women in India