Blurb of the book:

She Walks, She Leads which profiles twenty-six iconic women in modern India. These leaders tell their stories, up close and personal. Their relentless ambition to shatter the glass ceiling, their pursuit for excellence and the challenges that came their way – all of this is captured vividly in this exclusive anthology. Each chapter is based on extensive research and has never-seen-before photographs of these luminaries. The chapters are followed by interviews with their companions and close confidants who have seen them grow over the years. The women leaders profiled in the Book come from different fields like banking, media, cinema, sports, fashion, philanthropy and industry.

Q & A

Q. What is the book (or books) you’ve given most as a gift, and why? Or what are one to three books that have greatly influenced your life?

A: The one book that I have given as a gift over and over again is When Breath Becomes Air by Paul Kalanithi. One day he was a neurosurgeon treating the dying, and the next he was a patient with not too long to live. This book is an inspiring and uplifting experience because it is full of profound insights on mortality, what it means to be alive and what it feels like to look at impending death in the face and the meaning contained within these experiences.

Q. In the last five years, what new belief, behavior, or habit has most improved your life?

A: Now, as I come to wakefulness every morning, I lie in bed with my eyes closed. I think of all the things in my life that I am grateful for—my family, friends, my writing, the books and ideas buzzing inside my head. I have found that feeling gratitude not only helps me to feel good at once, but it helps me live in the present and builds my strength to see me through challenging situations.

Q. In the last five years, what have you become better at saying no to (distractions, invitations, etc.)? What new realizations and/or approaches helped? Any other tips?

A: What I find most distracting is the constant buzzing of smart phones. I don’t just mean my own but everyone’s around me. It’s hard to get through an interaction or a meeting without either you or the person(s) you’re with checking their phones. About a year ago, I started locking my phone in a drawer (the key was with someone else!) for the first half of the day. It was hard going for the first few weeks but the difference to my creativity and productivity was astounding! I’m a better listener and better at my personal and professional relationships. 

Q. When you feel overwhelmed or unfocused, or have lost your focus temporarily, what do you do? (If helpful: What questions do you ask yourself?)

A: Sometimes, when I’m working on a book, especially in the initial stages, I have trouble deciding on what I should do first—writing, outlining, conducting interviews or research—and end up feeling overwhelmed. What I find most useful when I’m feeling this way is to go the old-fashioned route. I physically clear my desk and ask myself what is the most important thing I wanted to accomplish that day. On a notepad, I take a minute to jot down my top priorities or tasks for the day. Making that list is like a totem – it always brings me back to where I need to go. 

Q. How has a failure, or apparent failure, set you up for later success? Do you have a “favorite failure” of yours?

A: Pain builds character they say and I consider Failure a chance to recover, reassess and improve. It makes you better as a person, more empathetic, sensitive and opens your mind to seeking solutions in many different ways. When I was a young girl, my father shared his favorite Winston Churchill quote with me: “Success is the ability to go from failure to failure without losing your enthusiasm.” It is advice that has stood me in very good stead through the years.

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