Anuradha Gupta shares with us her journey of getting back to work and how she found the perfect opportunity through SHEROES.in.
We would love to know a little about you.
My name is Anuradha Gupta. We are a family that loves traveling and I am fortunate to have lived, studied and worked in different countries. Although Bengali by origin, both me and my elder sister were born in Chennai and spent our early years in the South. My younger sister was born in Kolkata. As a family, we kept shunting and shifting from one place to another. Our years of travel exposed us to a myriad cultures, customs, and cuisines. I inherited my love for travel from my parents. I love languages, the company of diverse and different people and the simple fact that each person you meet has a different story to tell and the many things you can learn from them.
What are the different aspects of your work?
I started working with Piramal Foundation for Education Leadership as a Program Manager – Fundraising and Donor Relations.
Initially I had applied for a different job with the Piramal Foundation. I was keen on working with the Gandhi Fellowship, of which I got to know because I saw an opening for the program at SHEROES.in. However, after several rounds of talks and interviews, it was mutually decided that with my background and work experience I would prove to be a better fit in the fundraising team.
Piramal Foundation is a non-profit organization working in the areas of Healthcare, Education, Water and Women Empowerment. The Piramal group funds many of these projects themselves. However, the scope of some of the projects are so large that additional funds need to be raised from independent donors as well as other foundations. I have joined them in their Education vertical to help maintain relations with their current list of donors and to mobilize new donors and raise funds for their education projects.
We’d like to hear more about your professional and educational journey.
I have done my Bachelors in Computer Sciences from Fergusson College, Pune, my Masters in Computer Science from K.T.H.M. College, Nashik, and my MBA in Public Relations and Leadership with National Institute of Business Management, Chennai.
I began my career in the Middle East in a software company as a Systems Analyst. Through the years, I saw my role change with the different companies I worked for in different countries. After my first job in the Middle East I moved to The Netherlands, where I lived and worked for 7 years first as a technical pre and post sales consultant, then as an international business development manager and finally as Deputy Team Leader at UN ICTY. I quit my job with the United Nations International Criminal Tribunal for Yugoslavia (ICTY) to return to India and explore my roots. I stayed on in India for eight years, first working as a freelance consultant and then working as a trade-promotion consultant for the Netherlands Government. In 2011 I headed a project for the Netherlands government to promote Dutch design and designers in India. On completion of the project, I moved back to the Netherlands to join a similar project for Europe. I returned to India last year with my two and a half-year-old daughter since I believe that India is an ideal place to have a career as well as raise children. Child care is affordable, our culture and roots make it easy to ask and receive help from family and friends and of course being an emerging economy India is full of opportunities.
What is your source of inspiration and what would you say to women on their career journeys?
My greatest sources of inspiration are my parents. My mother being from the previous generation did not pursue a career after her marriage. She made it her mission to be a wonderful homemaker, raise her children and run her household to perfection. Although my mother did not work in a corporate environment, she has always been my advisor for all my work-related issues. She gives practical, tactical and insightful advice to this day.
My father has never let anything or anyone stop us from what we wanted to do. He has always supported us, believed in us and given us the strength to believe in ourselves. I have traveled the world, experimented at work and changed careers because I knew I had my parents to support me.
What’s your SHEROES Story?
My SHEROES story is not my own alone – but the story of all the women in India who I see choosing to return to work after having moved cities, countries and continents with their spouses, raised children, battled domestic issues, handled the home front, cared for elders, etc. etc.
When I was interviewing for jobs on my return to India, someone asked me – why do you want to take up this job? Is it just something to do on the side while you raise your child, is it just for some extra money in the household or is it because you have a passion? I told my interviewer that I was looking for a job for myself – because I didn’t consider my career or my life to be over because I have a child. Yes, my child would always be a priority for me but she was not my only priority. Another priority – equally important in my life was “me”. I wanted to have a job and a career not only to be a role model for my child but also to be a role model for myself and to continue fulfilling my dreams and doing something that would leave an impact on society.
I am proud to see women – daughters, wives, and mothers –take the time out to think for themselves, to pursue their dreams and to continue living full and meaningful lives regardless of what other roles they may play.