A key member of Amagi's Corporate Marketing team, Preethi Nair is a writer and strategist who enjoys working on new ideas and thrives on challenges. Preethi has chased her corporate dreams aggressively and moved up the career ladder with hard work and dedication. In this Q&A, Preethi urges young women to never give up on their dreams and goals, nor shy away from expressing themselves - no matter how people perceive them.
Tell us a little bit about yourself and what you do at Amagi
I am a Corporate & marketing communications specialist with experience spanning MNCs and creative/content agencies. After heading content marketing at Amagi for more than a year, I have now moved into a new role heading Base Marketing, driving some of the strategic initiatives for the company.
Do you think it’s important to celebrate International Women’s Day? Could you tell us why?
Data on women's empowerment and health, and their representation in corporate and public offices across the world continues to be grim. Women's Day is therefore an occasion to remind ourselves of the work that remains to be done to evangelize and embrace true equality and empowerment across communities and countries.
What do you think Amagi should do to improve gender equality?
I believe we need more women in engineering, product management and in leadership roles across teams. There should be a conscious and diligent effort to encourage more women to join the company in these roles and also groom competent women to grow into leaders within the system. Sensitizing interviewers and managers to avoid bias while recruiting is a necessary step. Of course, having flexible policies in place for women to realize their full potential without compromising on their health and the multiple roles they play in life, is table stakes.
As a woman, have you faced any barriers in your career and if so, how did you overcome them?
As a staunch feminist, I have always chased my corporate dreams aggressively and grew up the corporate ladder through hard work. Staying abreast of professional and industry trends helped me deliver the best and be recognized for the same wherever I worked. However, oftentimes, as a woman, I have faced the pressure to 'be nice', to tone down my emotions at work, and to not come across as an aggressive person - things that men very rarely have to bother about, especially in senior roles. Today, after being in the corporate world for over 14 years, I am much more confident of being myself and not shying away from expressing my views and insights, oftentimes with brash confidence. It has taken conscious effort and persistence to reach this state.
Would you mind sharing the most important piece of advice you’ve been given?
My mentor once told me: "No matter what, be unapologetically yourself."
Tell us, what is the most important message you want to send out to young women thinking about their careers?
Please do not give up on your dreams and goals! Cherish them and chase them with passionate confidence. Work hard & smart at being the best in your field. But most importantly, build support systems at home and workplace to continue being successful at work even when you have to take up multiple roles in life as a spouse or mother or even a secondary caregiver.
If you could have dinner with three inspirational women, dead or alive, who would they be and why?
Mary Kom - champion boxer and a powerful woman in and out, who is rocking life in her 40s!
Jacinda Ardern - former PM of New Zealand whose term as the prime minister is considered one of the best in her country's history
Manju Warrier - an actor from Kerala who has built a very powerful personal brand and a successful career despite the many hardships she has faced in life
