Women in business have never had it easy. We know that. But with more and more women joining the workforce, there is hope that the future will be brighter for women. However, while this happens, we thought it’s high time that women in business started getting recognised. For this purpose, we have been speaking to women who have excelled in their careers and continue to rise to the top in a competitive world. Last week, we spoke to Dr Jaskiran Bedi, author and economist, on women in the development sector and the kind of hurdles they face. This week, we’re speaking to Ridhi Ghelani, Marketing Manager at Jean-Claude Biguine India, a luxe salon and spa chain from France.

If you’re considering a woman considering a career in marketing, you need to read what Ridhi has to say.

All About Eve: In your experience, how difficult or easy is it for women across the world to make it to the top in a corporate environment?

Ridhi Ghelani: Women in business have always had a challenging path, especially to the top. But I believe the environment is changing, albeit slowly. But it is changing, for sure, owing to 3 main factors – women ASKING for what they deserve, women SPEAKING UP when required, and women UNDERSTANDING the need to create their own identity.

From my own experience, I know that I am lot more confident today (due credit to my MBA) about fighting for what I deserve than what I was early in my career. And I believe that the day any woman, currently employed or otherwise, knows her worth and capability and is ready to stand up for it, this question will be redundant.

AAE: As a woman, have you faced any obstacles or had any experiences that have made you aware of a gender divide, however small?

RG: Yes and no. No, because I am extremely grateful and lucky to have hailed from a family where I was always taught to build my own identity and work towards being an independent woman – in every aspect.

The ‘yes’ part of this answer would stem particularly from my own lack of courage and confidence to have asked for what I deserved. But that has changed with time and age. The more I interacted with women across industries, in functional and entrepreneurial roles, the more I became aware of my own worth and developed the confidence to get out there and stand shoulder to shoulder with my male peers and seniors.

AAE: What made you choose marketing as a career?

RG: I have always been drawn to the creative side of life. I started dancing at the age of 3 and painting at 7. I believe this translated naturally in my professional instincts and marketing was just the perfect fit from the beginning.

AAE: What advice would you give to young women who have just started a career in marketing or are thinking of going into marketing?

RG: Marketing today has grown leaps and bounds in its career offerings globally. My two cents of wisdom on someone wanting to explore their career in marketing would be: