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Atalanta Diaries Breakthrough Women in Conversation with Enma Popli episodes
- Ep 43: Leading with Purpose at Schneider Electric: Insights and Lessons from Annette Clayton's Inspiring Journey
Annette Clayton serves as the chief executive officer for Schneider Electric North America. She is responsible for the business strategy and developing and fostering new growth business models in the areas of sustainability, decarbonization, and renewables for the company's largest operating region, which generated $12 billion in revenue in 2022. She is also a member of Schneider Electric's executive committee.
Annette has successfully led the execution of the North American region, overseeing a workforce of 30,000 employees and achieving impressive sales exceeding $8.5 billion in 2021. Her contributions extend further as she previously held the title of Chief Supply Chain Officer, responsible for the $13.4 billion Global Supply Chain (GSC) operation. Under her leadership, Gartner recognized this operation as the global leader, ranking it first in their annual Top 25 list.
Annette also sits on numerous public, private, and industry boards, including serving as a two-term Chair of the National Electrical Manufacturers Association. As a Champion for the 'Journey To Lead' organization, she also contributes to accelerating the diversity and trajectory of women in leadership.
Annette's commitment to industry extends to her founding membership on the Zero100 Advisory Board, focused on advancing cross-industry initiatives to design supply chains that not only enhance customer experiences but also make positive environmental and societal contributions.
Clayton holds a bachelor's degree in general engineering from Wright State University and a master's degree in engineering management from the University of Dayton. Her educational journey also includes completion of the executive development program at the London Business School.
Key themes emerging out of our conversation:
- Creating a psychologically safe environment
- Being the change you want to see in the world
- Taking risks helps build confidence and resilience.
- Finding something you love and being passionate about it
- Setting Boundaries, communicating, and forgiving yourself
- Acknowledging Impostor Syndrome, Trusting your instincts
- Personal and professional development is a lifelong journey
- Embracing Feedback, never missing an opportunity to receive it.
- Learning agility to ramp up in new roles and develop effective strategies
- Creating Adaptive Policies, keeping in mind culture and challenges allows diversity and inclusion
Connect with Enma Popli on Linkedin:
>> https://www.linkedin.com/in/enmapopli/
Visit Enma Popli's website
>> http://www.enmapopli.com/43 min - Ep. 42: Breaking grounds and Barriers: Lieutenant Colonel Kristal Turner-Childs' Inspiring Journey
Kristal Turner-Childs served as a Pennsylvania State Police Trooper for 25 years. She was the first African-American female Deputy Commissioner of the Pennsylvania State Police. She has also distinguished herself as the first African-American female to command a troop and the second African-American female to obtain the rank of Major in the history of the Pennsylvania State Police.
Kristal Turner-Childs earned a bachelor's degree in criminal justice from Elizabethtown College and a master's degree from Central Penn College. She is also a graduate of the Northwestern School of Police Staff and Command and the FBI National Academy.
She is the recipient of numerous awards, which include an Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters from Central Penn College, the Harrisburg Regional Chamber and CREDC Athena Award, the NCBW Trailblazer Award, and the Greater Harrisburg YWCA Woman of Excellence Award.
A motivational speaker and community health advocate, Kristal is described as "passion with a purpose!".
Key themes emerging out of our conversation:
- Women need to advocate for one another
- Prejudging and making false assumptions
- Treating others how we want to be treated
- Winning people over through emotional intelligence
- Acknowledging and respecting diverse leadership styles
- Being intentional about the impression one leaves on others
- Importance of communication skills in prisons, where there are no weapons
- What women lack in physical strength, they make up for in their mental abilities
- Removing egos from interactions and seeking to understand different perspectives
- Personal trauma and the lack of recognition, even by adults. Moving past the trauma
- First African American woman Lieutenant Colonel in the department's 116-year history
Connect with Enma Popli on Linkedin:
>> https://www.linkedin.com/in/enmapopli/
Visit Enma Popli's website
>> http://www.enmapopli.com/48 min - Ep 41: From Filmmaking to Folklore: Shabnam Virmani's Passage into Kabir's Legacy
Shabnam Virmani is a national award-winning documentary filmmaker, writer, and artist. She is the founder of the Kabir Project, which was initiated in 2002 as a response to the Gujarat riots that propelled her on a quest for understanding. Over the past two decades, she has delved into the philosophy of mystic poets like Kabir and Shah Latif through a deep engagement with their oral folk traditions.
Her deep inspiration in this poetry has taken the shape of four documentary films on Kabir, a digital archive named Ajab Shahar, authored books, the organization of urban festivals and rural yantras, singing and performing herself and instilling students with an appreciation for mystic poetry. Her film "Kabira Khada Bazaar Mein" (In the Market Stands Kabir) received the Special Jury Prize at the National Film Awards in 2011.
Shabnam Virmani's literary endeavors encompass two books: "I Saw Myself: Journeys with Shah Abdul Latif Bhitai" (Penguin, 2019) and "Burn Down Your House: Provocations from Kabir" (Upcoming, Speaking Tiger). The Kabir Project, housed at Srishti in Bangalore, earned the Sadbhavana Award in 2016 for contributing to interfaith understanding. This recognition was bestowed by Shri Morari Bapu and the Vishwagram Trust in Gujarat in 2016.
Early on, as a young reporter, Shabnam made a significant impact by breaking the story of Roop Kanwar's sati in Rajasthan. Her landmark report sparked a powerful women's movement.
Shabnam has studied journalism at the Times Research Foundation in Delhi and communication at Cornell University.
Key themes emerging out of our conversation:
- Burning down your house.
- Reclaiming satsang and its radicality.
- To pass on inspiration, first, you need to be inspired.
- Attachment comes with the idea that this is mine, which is a delusion.
- Learn how peace-building and resolving conflict propelled her to take on different roles.
- Imposter syndrome is a sign of your integrity. You don't have to have all the answers.
- Discover how poetry and music that nourished her lured her to come on stage as a singer.
- To dance with death, to appreciate that things are not real and are continually changing. In order to receive something, we must surrender to it. Letting go of the idea of yourself.
- Being able to appreciate that sorrow is a gift, actually, and brings you closer to what is real.
- A sense of ambiguity can be the only breeding ground for compassion. It's not a loser's response to say, I don't know.
- The need to feminize the workplace. Vulnerability is liberating, not easy, It takes a lot of guts to be vulnerable.
- Allowing experience to slap you in the face, transform you, turn your world upside down, drench you.
Connect with Enma Popli on Linkedin:
>> https://www.linkedin.com/in/enmapopli/
Visit Enma Popli's website
>> http://www.enmapopli.com/1 hr 12 min - Ep 40: Breaking Barriers: Devita Saraf's Unconventional Entrepreneurial Odyssey
Devita started her entrepreneurial journey at the age of 24 by founding the Vu Group in California, a leader in high-end consumer electronics. Vu Televisions has a revenue of Rs.1000 Cr ($130 Million) that has sold more than 3 million televisions to date. Her passion for technology, leadership and innovation has led Vu to become the highest-selling Indian-owned TV brand in the world, and her speech to the Prime Minister at the Young CEO Champions of Change initiative had an impact on the government's Make in India manufacturing policy.
Devita is the richest self-made woman in India under 40, according to the Hurun Report, and has been listed among Fortune's Top 50 Most Powerful Women in India. She also wrote an Op-Ed column for the Wall Street Journal for two years and is an astute observer and speaker on subjects such as leadership, entrepreneurship, innovation, technology and the empowerment of women in business.
Devita was named 'India's Model CEO' by Forbes for being the first businesswoman in the world to appear in her brand's advertising campaigns and since then has collaborated with luxury brands worldwide.
She is an alumna of the University of Southern California and Harvard Business School.
Key themes emerging out of our conversation:
- Respect is a two-way street.
- Encountering challenges in finding investors.
- Recognizing what you're good at and building on it.
- Guiding values and principles in stakeholder engagement.
- How life and experiences helped see the entrepreneur within.
- Being secure, hiring people who are younger and smarter than you.
- Surround yourself with people who will support you, role models.
- Following the path of the men in the house, having respect and power.
- Making your own money and having the right mindset, not playing victim.
- What happened, why did it happen, and what are we going to do next time?
- Entrepreneurship and modelling, embracing the beautiful and intelligent side.
- No one invites you to be a king or queen. You have to decide that on your own.
- Navigating working dynamics with family members to establish mutual respect.
Connect with Enma Popli on Linkedin:
>> https://www.linkedin.com/in/enmapopli/
Visit Enma Popli's website
>> http://www.enmapopli.com/55 min - Ep 39: Enma's Musings: Reflections from the Atalanta Diaries
In this edition, we delve into a thought-provoking article from the Wall Street Journal that sets Enma's thoughts in motion, leading her to pause and reflect on her journey.
As we walk alongside Enma, we'll uncover how conservative mindsets have an impact on the progress of women in the workplace and sometimes even hold them back.
Enma takes us on a journey into these attitudes, identifying them as barriers to women's empowerment and growth. Her exploration opens up a broader conversation, blending seamlessly with her own experiences through the 30 inspiring journeys chronicled in the Atalanta Diaries.
These tales have the potential to rewrite established narratives, challenging old norms and paving the way for a future that is more inclusive and empowering.
Join us as we journey through these compelling narratives, navigating through Enma's personal growth interwoven with shifts in societal perspectives.
Connect with Enma Popli on Linkedin:
>> https://www.linkedin.com/in/enmapopli/
Visit Enma Popli’s website
>> http://www.enmapopli.com15 min - Ep 38: Weaving a Legacy: Mridula Jain's Entrepreneurial Journey in Shawl Innovation
Mridula Jain's journey is a testament to her dedication to innovation and entrepreneurship. In 1987, with only eight handlooms, she embarked on a transformational path that redefined the shawl industry. Her infusion of vibrant designs, bold colors, and contemporary aesthetics breathed new life into traditional shawls, setting Shingora Shawls on a trajectory of trendsetting success.
With a visionary outlook, Mridula Jain recognized the potential of the global market. Taking Shingora Shawls beyond borders, she expanded her brand's presence to over 275 cities across Europe, Australia, the USA, and China.
Mridula played a pivotal role in driving significant changes within the shawl industry. Her contributions led to the amendment of the Reservation Act for Shawls, which allowed for the production of shawls on power looms and electronic looms. This transformative move bolstered India's shawl production capabilities, fueling growth and innovation within the industry.
Despite her business commitments, Mridula Jain managed to strike a balance between her entrepreneurial pursuits and her responsibilities as a mother. For a decade, she dedicated her time to tutoring school students, illustrating her commitment to family and education alongside her business aspirations.
Mridula is a recipient of prestigious awards such as the Mahila Udyog Ratna, Women Entrepreneur of the Year, State Award for Best Entrepreneur, and the Global Achievers Forum Lifetime Achievement Award.
Key themes emerging out of our conversation:
- Seeing opportunities, even amidst adversity
- Navigating jealousies and setting boundaries
- Prioritization and resilience in facing challenges
- Strong family support for her professional pursuits
- Letting go and adapting to different working styles
- Unveiling fresh perspectives on trade practices through innovation
- Embracing self-belief and intuition to become a personal role model
- Maintaining strong bonds through effective communication with her sons
- Advocating for policy change and successfully amending the Reservation Act
Connect with Enma Popli on Linkedin:
>> https://www.linkedin.com/in/enmapopli/
Visit Enma Popli’s website
>> http://www.enmapopli.com/40 min - Ep 37: Finding Purpose: Sandhya's Quest to Reimagining Education
Sandhya is the founder of Aavishkaar - A Center for Science, Arts, and Technology that aims to make teaching science and math effective, efficient, and fun. The program aims to encourage hands-on learning through models, experiments, experience, and projects. This is where teachers become the storytellers, and the experiments/models become the props.
Sandhya is an electrical engineer, a math & science enthusiast, and a women's education advocate. She has a Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering from Iowa State University, USA, with several publications and patents. She has been an academic achiever with many awards. She also has a Master's in Public Affairs from the Humphrey Institute at the University of Minnesota.
Sandhya worked in Semiconductor Technology Research for 20 years in the US before moving to Himachal in 2009. She keeps thinking about ways to remove the fear of Math from every child and create excellent women Math Educators for every community in the country. She currently lives in a village near Palampur with her husband Sarit Sharma, dog Belaa, and cat Koyal.
Key themes emerging out of our conversation:
- Problem-Solving Mindset
- Community at the heart of everything
- Being experimental, you only live once
- Lessons from her Father Land, United States
- Crafting the Narrative, choosing the storyline
- Being the only woman can be a position of power
- Making science and math interesting and engaging, and fun
- Exploring the journey of seeking purpose to add depth and meaning
- Recognizing a passion and vocalizing it, Confronting Fear, and looking for partners
- Taking control, only when you ask for permission somebody gets the right to say yes or no
Connect with Enma Popli on Linkedin:
>> https://www.linkedin.com/in/enmapopli/
Visit Enma Popli’s website
>> http://www.enmapopli.com/45 min - Ep 36: [Republish] From Struggle to Impact: Nichol Ng's Inspiring Resilience in Life and Entrepreneurship
Nichol Ng is CEO and Managing Director of X-Inc Pte Ltd, the parent of a group of companies that has been in the food business since the 1930s. She oversees about 200 employees, more than 5,000 products, over 4,500 customers, and an annual turnover exceeding S$65 million. Together, the companies bring to life dreams in the food ecosystem – from foodservice and retail to logistics and property.
It was her passion for food as well as a desire to deliver service with a heart that drove Nichol to take over the family business and she rebranded the company in May 2007.
Prior to this, Nichol was a Marketing Executive in MediaCorp Radio Pte Ltd where she was part of the team that was in charge of rebranding all the MediaCorp radio stations, including Class 95, Y.E.S 933 and Gold 90.
In 2012, Nichol co-founded The Food Bank Singapore, a charity which re-distributes excess foods to more than 370 non-profit organizations that reach out to more than 300,000 underprivileged.
For her effort in feeding the needy, Nichol was named as one of the 10 honourees in The Peak magazine’s The Peak Power List 2016, and listed in Forbes Asia’s 2017 Heroes of Philanthropy and Harper’s Bazaar’s The Power List 2018. In 2021, she was the Southeast Asia honouree of the YPO Global Impact Award Regional, which recognises young CEOs for their impact outside of YPO, celebrating CEO impact that is both sustainable and scalable.
Nichol has leadership roles in various local and global organizations, including President of ONE (Singapore), Executive Committee Member of Young Presidents Organisation – Singapore Chapter and she is a Board Member of Global Compact Network Singapore.
Nichol is happily married to her partner of 26 years and believes that the best legacy to leave her four children (ages 3-10) is not money but her values.
Key themes emerging out of our conversation:
- Loving oneself enough
- Having a startup mindset, reinventing
- Adverse situations an opportunity to recalibrate
- It is more of a blessing to be able to give than it is to take
- Developing teams to succession plan and giving the permission to fail
- Not giving up on oneself, because you are the only permanence in your own life
- Nurturing relationships, making do with each other's insecurities and imperfections
- Working with a family member, love each other as siblings, respect each other as individuals
Connect with Enma Popli on Linkedin:
>> https://www.linkedin.com/in/enmapopli/
Visit Enma Popli’s website
>> http://www.enmapopli.com/53 min - Ep 35: [Republish] Dr. Ettie Zilber on Building Inclusive Communities: Lessons from an International School Leader
Ettie has served as an educator and school leader at international schools in Israel, Singapore, China, Guatemala, Spain, and the USA and has also served as Adjunct Professor for various universities.
She has served as Secretary on the Board of the Academy of International School Heads and ECIS and participated on the Advisory Council for AAIE.
As a consultant to internationally mobile communities, she is passionate about sharing her experience, research, and strategies with communities worldwide and assisting them to thrive in a multicultural and multilingual world. After retiring from full-time work in international schools, Ettie devoted her time to Holocaust Education and published a book about her family's Holocaust experiences. She teaches about the Holocaust in schools, universities, and community centers in the USA and internationally.
Ettie has been married for 48 years and has 3 wonderful children and 3 delightful grandchildren, who all share her passion for the big wide world.
Key themes emerging out of our conversation:- Being different is special. You are unique, and it's a tremendous skill. You fit in almost everywhere you can. You can fit yourself in because you know you. You are already aware of how to survive in these different cultures.
- If you want to assimilate into the majority culture, just let yourself go, and you will assimilate. But if you want to maintain your home culture, your traditions, which many minorities have, you have to work for it.
- If somebody gives you a task, just say yes. You can figure out how later.
- Not everybody is going to love you. If you want to get into leadership, you have to develop a thick skin.
- If you see a path as a leader and want to have a family, you need to make sure you have support. Whether it's from your partner or whether you hire somebody to be that support at home.
- Sometimes it's not just a matter of the amount of work you do; it's about communication, networking, putting yourself out there, and being visible.
Grab the book A Holocaust Memoir of Love & Resilience: Mama's Survival from Lithuania to America by Dr. Ettie Zilber
Connect with Enma Popli on Linkedin:
>> https://www.linkedin.com/in/enmapopli/
Visit Enma Popli’s website
>> http://www.enmapopli.com/45 min - Ep 34: [Republish] From Darkness to Empowerment: The Inspirational Journey of Sandhya Rao
Sandhya is a staff attorney in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas, Houston Division. She conducts legal research on constitutional issues and drafts judicial memoranda.
When Sandhya was two months old, she was diagnosed with a rare brittle bone disease called osteopetrosis, which caused her blindness. Sandhya attended Rice University where she graduated Magna Cum Laude in 1991 with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and Behavioral Science. In June 1994, she received her Doctor of Jurisprudence from the Stanford University Law School. She was admitted to the State Bar of Texas in November 1994 and started working as a law clerk of the United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas, Galveston Division.
Sandhya Rao, is the vice president of the i Blind Users Group or iBUG Today and their mission is to promote the individual independence, social integration, and educational development of the blind through accessible technology training.
Sandhya has been honoured with the Garland Walker Inn of Court Professionalism award and the Recognition Award for twenty years of Distinguished Federal Judiciary Service.
Key themes emerging out of our conversation:
- Taking things in your stride
- Using technology to empower
- Using humor to put people at ease
- Surround yourself with positive people
- You need one person to give you a chance
- Challenges are opportunities to educate people
- People with disabilities are just like everybody else
- Nothing like self pity, make the best of what you have
Connect with Enma Popli on Linkedin:
>> https://www.linkedin.com/in/enmapopli/
Visit Enma Popli’s website
>> http://www.enmapopli.com/43 min
About Atalanta Diaries Breakthrough Women in Conversation with Enma Popli
From the publisher's feed
In 'Atalanta Diaries,' Enma Popli interviews breakthrough women including CEOs, Artists, Athletes, and Scientists, sharing their unique stories to inspire listeners. Born from a profound 'WHY,' AD is…
the outcome of coaching conversations Enma engaged in with her clients as they navigated leadership journeys through a world full of biases, both conscious and unconscious securing a place at the table and building influence. Launched in November 2022, Atalanta Diaries ranks among the top 3% of global podcasts, delivering rich narratives from North America to Brunei, India to Europe.