A.R. Rahman's Journey to the Oscars - International Indian

WOMEN22Ritu Sethi: Asian WomanAward 2008 ‘Our girlshave a blank canvas to bewhat they want’The International Indianthe 1st network for Asianwomen in the UK, whichhas a holistic approach toaddressing professional,entrepreneurial & selfdevelopmental needs.The basic aim has beento positively contributeto the changing demandsof the workplace andexpectations which theyface and balance asAsian women.“In today’s Britain,there is the likelihoodthat Asian women areappointed into positionsto tick the diversity box,my advice is – get in andprove what an asset youare to the organizationby challenging theirexpectations. Once youare there you have alegitimate voice whichis far more exciting thanstanding on the sidelines,” advises Shaheena.Where the business community is concerned she says, “for everyAsian owned business that has defied racism and economic depression,women have supported, run and managed behind the scenes. The Asiancommunity is celebrated for the potential to achieve through educationand economic development – the foundation of which lies with motherssupporting and nurturing their children. There are Asian women inpowerful positions and the head of the most influential human rightsgroup ‘Liberty’ is Shami Chakrabarti!Shaheena herself has won the ‘Women of the Future Award’ in2006 which was awarded to her by Cherie Blair. Ritu Sethi haspicked up a string of awards along the way in her career. The latestbeing the ‘Lloyds TSB Corporate Markets /CBI First WomanAwards 2008’ in the Business Services category for her personaland professional accomplishments.Vimmi has made clear observations, “On the domestic front, thingshave changed only after diversity became a business issue. All aroundus the power of the Asian consumer is increasing. Women make all thedecisions with regards to what the family does and in many respects havecontrol over the budgets in the households and major family purchases.For the younger lot, the pressureto marry in the community willalways exist but that is changing asimmigrants realize that it doesn’tnecessarily spell a successfulmarriage. Similarly, living within-laws is a phenomenon thatis dying with the educated andprofessional classes striking outon their own and moving wheretheir work takes them.”As Shaheena concludes, “It isstill a delicate balance betweenwhat they desire, what theirparents desire and of course whattheir parents think they desire! Ithink over time these issues willchange as the measure of successchanges for the younger womenin Britain.”Women’s solidarityDAWN is the first networkfor Asian women in the UK,which has a holistic approachto addressing professional,entrepreneurial & selfdevelopmental needs. Thebasic aim is to positivelycontribute to the changingdemands of the workplace andexpectations which womenface and balance as Asians.For more information visit:www.mydawn.co.ukSarina Menezes is a freelancewriter based in UKWith contributions fromVimmi Singh, Smitha Sujir,Dr. Shaheena Janjuha-Jivraj,and Ritu SethiHolder of theprestigious“CharteredInsuranceBrokers”title fromCharteredInsuranceInstitute,LondonFor the bestavailable adviceSpeak, loginor write to:Delivering Excellencewww.gargashinsurance.comDUBAI Tel: 04-3379800SHARJAH Tel: 06-5754848ABU DHABI Tel: 02-6717100personal insurance?click, pay and get itdeliveredcorporate insurance ?you need the bestavailable professionaladvice on yourinsurance exposureand liabilities tounderstand and avoidfine prints, warrantiesand exclusions youneed professionalinsurance adviceMotor, Home or Travelyou can now buy theseinsurances online andget the documentscouriered to youfree of costwww.gargashinsurance.com