IWD: #InspireInclusion with Nandini Vijayaraghavan, Analyst and Author

​​​This International Women's Day, I interviewed Nandini Vijayaraghavan, Analyst & Author, and she shared her thoughts on how we can #InspireInclusion.

When we inspire others to understand and value women's inclusion, we forge a better world. The IWD 2024 campaign theme seeks to inspire others to understand and value women's inclusion. Organisations, groups, and individuals worldwide can all play a part, and to truly include women means to openly embrace their diversity of race, age, ability, faith, body image, and how they identify.

International Women’s Day belongs to everyone, everywhere. Collectively, we can all help create a diverse, equitable and inclusive world.

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1. What does inclusion mean to you, and why?

Inclusion is the systematic and conscious reduction of all kinds of biases at home, in the workplace and in society, which I believe will enhance harmony, well-being and efficiency.

2. What are some actions you have seen organisations take to commit to inclusion in the workplace?

Current initiatives which support inclusion in the workplace include:

• The provision of hybrid and work from home options,

• The creation of forums for women to network and discuss career progression and impediments, and

• Ensuring female representation at the board level

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3. What initiatives or strategies can be implemented to increase the representation of women in leadership positions in your industry? ​

• Systematic drives for recruiting women returning to the workforce

• Organizations may make it mandatory for C-suite personnel to appoint executive assistants (EAs) and stipulate that a percentage of such EAs should be women. Such opportunities enable middle management personnel, especially women, to understand the responsibilities and perks of senior positions.

• Implement a two-pronged performance appraisal system. The first component will be the employer’s extant appraisal system. Artificial intelligence and machine learning may be used to generate automated performance assessments free from human intervention. Comparing the results to arrive at the final assessment may help reduce all biases.

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4. Why is International Women’s Day important to you?

​International Women’s Day helps us focus on women’s achievements in industry thus far and reflect on what needs to be done so that both the home and the workplace are more equitable.

I’d like to take this opportunity to make a request. Economists have long highlighted that the contribution of women at home is excluded from GDP estimates. Singapore may give impetus to this initiative if a few home-grown enterprises asked employees to ascribe a monetary value to the contribution of the women in their household. The organization should aggregate these guesstimates and disseminate the value women silently add at households which underpins corporates generating employment, earning profits, and paying taxes.

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5. What advice would you give aspiring women in the industry you work in?

• It is imperative to project one’s accomplishments at work; humility is not a virtue at the workplace.

• ​Networking is as important as meeting and exceeding targets.

• ​Ask for help from your family and at work.

• ​Feel comfortable about discussing compensation at work and finances and investing at home