It can be hard to pinpoint what will inspire someone. A meaningful conversation, finding a sense of belonging, downtime in nature, a great book, answering your inner calling… there are several possibilities that push us to fulfill our untapped potential. Sometimes more important, though, is who inspires us. As the DEI Manager at a company with a leading percentage of female-identifying leaders and employees, I wanted to spend Women’s History Month digging into what inspires the successful women with whom I spend my workdays.
In this endeavor, I asked several of my female colleagues from our company about the inspirational figures who shaped their careers and lifestyles. Each had something wonderful to share, and the range of women that inspired my colleagues is as diverse as our company.
Vidya Tanikella, Sr. Project Manager
Inspirational Woman: Kirthiga Reddy, the Co-Founder & CEO of both Virtualness and Laddrr, a Stanford University School of Business graduate, and a self-described “builder, turned investor, & now back to building as CEO.”
Niksha Wadhwa, Sr. Recruiter
Inspirational Woman: Prajakta Koli, a YouTuber who showcases her daily life in Mumbai, India. Through her success in growing from a small creator to a full-time content creator, she inspires Niksha to continue to work and pursue her dream career of becoming an actor.
Katlyn Cummings, Client Services Coordinator
Inspirational Woman: Penny Jefferson, a Lummi Island Native American woman from the Pacific Northwest who spent countless hours of her life advocating for the BIPOC and LGBTQ+ communities. She inspired Katlyn to begin volunteering with shelters and the American Red Cross while also taking “some time each day to dance in the rain.”
Shilpa Sharma, Assistant Manager – Quality Support
Inspirational Woman: Indra Nooyi, a trailblazer and role model for women in leadership who broke barriers as one of the few women of color to lead a Fortune 500 company. She uses her platform to advocate for diversity, equity, and inclusion in the workplace. As a leader who values empathy, collaboration, and lifelong learning, Nooyi inspires Shilpa through her advocacy for work-life balance and employee wellness.
Sreevally Pasumarthy, Assistant Manager – Arya Product Testing and US Hiring
Inspirational Woman: An anonymous but worthy role model, this global leader in the cloud technology sphere inspired Sreevally during a work conversation about the conflicting priorities that many women navigate: education, career, and motherhood. She reminds us that we are much more needed in our own world than the outside world – but also that you can be an active and successful participant in both.
“The range of women that inspired my colleagues is as diverse as our company.”
In the conversations with my colleagues, I noticed a recurring theme: women regularly overcome adversity in their lives and still strive to grow and improve. Women have shattered glass ceilings and made a mockery of stereotypical limitations that stem from race and culture. Whether it’s professionally or personally, the stories of these women serve as reminders that learning and growing never stops in life.
Another theme I observed is how the women I interviewed gave tangible examples about the impact their inspirations have had in their lives. For Shilpa and Vidya, their inspirations nudged them into bolstering their educations and furthering their professional development. For Niksha and Katlyn, their inspirations helped them prioritize a healthier lifestyle and find balance in their lives while giving to others.
My female colleagues and I work with the knowledge that our organization recognizes the immense value that women bring to the global workforce. SPECTRAFORCE has a long track record of elevating women throughout their careers, both within the company and using the state-of-the-art enterprise recruitment platform Arya, which helps to overcome some of the bias that women can face in hiring and workplaces. Additionally, in Raleigh, SPECTRAFORCE is involved with Dress For Success, assisting women with mock interviews and feedback to help them land positions that will empower their futures.
If you’re an aspiring woman professional, I hope reading this inspires you in some way too 😊.
