Mumbai: Reliance Industries Chairman Mukesh Ambani has called on corporate India to collectively build a stronger ecosystem for working women and mothers, saying businesses still have a long way to go in providing women the opportunities and support they deserve.
Speaking at the launch of the Hindi edition of former SBI chairperson Arundhati Bhattacharya’s memoir, Indomitable: A Working Woman’s Notes on Work, Life and Leadership, Ambani said women are increasingly shaping India’s growth.
Call To Corporate India
Ambani appealed to business leaders to launch an effective initiative aimed at strengthening support for working women and mothers across corporate India.
He requested Bhattacharya and other accomplished women leaders to guide the initiative, while saying Reliance Foundation would participate alongside other organisations.
“When women of the country become unstoppable, India becomes unstoppable,” Ambani said, describing Bhattacharya’s journey as an inspiration for working mothers globally.
Women Leading India’s Growth
Ambani said India is moving decisively from women’s development towards women-led development. Women, he added, are no longer merely beneficiaries of progress but its architects across business, science, sport, armed forces and communities.
He said Reliance now has more women in senior leadership roles and highlighted the importance of empathy in managing complex real-life situations.
Ambani said the world needs more emotional quotient alongside intellectual quotient, strengthening the case for more women in leadership positions.
Lessons From Bhattacharya
Ambani described Bhattacharya as a problem solver and strategic thinker who understands both the present and future. She joined Reliance Industries’ board in 2018.
He said her experience and independent thinking have enriched boardroom deliberations and praised her ability to remain optimistic while dealing with complexity.
Ambani also highlighted four lessons from Bhattacharya’s book: strength of family values, avoiding external blame, remaining a lifelong learner, and valuing people and leadership.
He described family as the first and most enduring form of emotional, moral and spiritual capital, saying professional success should never be confused with personal self-sufficiency.
