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| Vol. 14 No. 53 | Monday
June 29, 2015 |
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| Pooja Sees
Red
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 For Pooja Ahluwalia, business manager, Red Express & Logistics in Delhi, her office is the place she feels completely at home. That is where all the action resides and that is, incidentally, where she feels “very comfortable in this male-dominated cargo industry.” After all, Ahluwalia has spent more than a decade dabbling with consignments. The initial years—she was candid enough to accept (and admit)—were tough. In fact, when she joined the industry, she had formed a mental picture. “Cargo,” she said, “is perceived as a laborious and manual job, and thus not appropriate for women.” Later, she thought to herself: “More than half of our agricultural sector is dominated by women. So why this gender divide?” Such pre-conceived ideas are changing very quickly. Indian women, said Ahluwalia, are hard working, committed, and capable of any job whether it asks for physical, intellectual, or emotional strength. That is why she feels at home in “this male-dominated industry.” As for regular interactions with male colleagues, Ahluwalia termed it as a “mixed bag,” but encouraging, though over the years “I have seen a huge change in acceptance of women as leaders.” Today, she is confident about the growth of her female colleagues and is certain that they will be able to stand their ground with men around them. That is because there is a “growing recognition for diversity in this industry” and that calls for exciting times. She has a message for employers: “Integrating women into this industry would only help to utilize the great volume of female talent available,” she said. Her advice to aspiring women who want to take the cargo industry as a career option? “Feel confident and powerful about yourself and be outstanding in what you do.” For the lady who has spent more than a decade in the industry, “the journey has been extremely challenging and daunting.” Yes, she has had some battles, but “my belief that hard work and aptitude are the two key qualities to survive, grow, and succeed in any field has helped me to do well,” she said. Every time Ahluwalia sees consignments headed out to some corner of the world, she feels excited. She confided, “Even after so many years, the unexpected nature of this business, new possibilities, and the opportunity to learn something new every day excites me,” she said with a smile. Tirthankar Ghosh |
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