At India’s biggest diversity and inclusion summit, the Rising 2024, Kiran Bedi, the first woman to join the Indian Police Service (IPS), awed the audience.
In a fireside conversation led by Megha Sinha, the vice president of Genpact’s AI/ML practice, presented a captivating AI-generated poem honouring Bedi.
It beautifully captured Bedi’s essence:
A name etched in honour, a spirit so bold,
Kiran Bedi, a story that is yet to be old.
In a world carved for men, a woman, she stood,
For justice and fairness of force for the good.
With eyes filled with kindness, a heart full of might,
She shattered the ceiling glass.
A beacon so bright from streets calmed to reforms that took root,
Her legacy blossoms, a life-bearing fruit.
So here’s to the woman who broke every chain,
An inspiration for all sunshine or rain.
May her courage ignite us and her integrity bind,
Leaving footprints of hope for all humankind.
During her address, Bedi emphasised the importance of women prioritising their careers and having a purpose-driven approach. “That was the key for me. I grew up making my career self-reliant, self-sufficient, and made it right to the top. My first priority was my career. Nothing else mattered to me,” she asserted.
Bedi also shed light on the challenges she faced as a woman in a male-dominated field, particularly in the Indian Police Service, where women were underrepresented and often faced discrimination. Despite these obstacles, she never questioned her own abilities or let the biases of others deter her from pursuing her goals.”I never questioned my ability, till today. I learned to value myself right from my childhood, and I grew up so confidently taking on whatever came my way,” she said.
The former IPS officer stressed the importance of family support in enabling women to reach the top echelons of their careers. Recounting her own experience, Bedi said, “My mother and father left Amritsar and moved to Delhi when my daughter was ill because they thought this is what we brought Kiran up for.” She said she didn’t lag behind or have to make difficult choices between her career and family because of the support she got from her parents.
Bedi also highlighted the need for women to plan and manage their personal lives effectively to succeed in their careers. “Motherhood must be planned and if you are married and you’ve got families with you, please welcome them. Please find a place for them and give them all that will make them happy so that they stay at home with you,” she advised.
When asked about the low representation of women in top management positions, Bedi attributed it to the lack of prioritising careers and insufficient family support. She noted, “We don’t make it to the boardroom because we don’t get the kind of family support we do.” It’s all about management, she said. “We become mothers without planning for management. Every child is a project. And do you know what even husbands are projects! They’re all projects,” she remarked.
Bedi’s message to the audience was clear – women must prioritise their careers, seek family support, and manage their personal lives effectively to break the glass ceiling. She encouraged women to recharge their energy and focus on their goals, stating, “If you have to be totally career conscious, prioritise that in all possible ways while balancing all others and providing for. That’s my key. And that was the reason I made it to the top.”
Kiran Bedi’s inspiring presence at Rising 2024 and her powerful words left an indelible mark on the audience. Her journey serves as a beacon of hope for women aspiring to make it to the top in their chosen fields, reminding them that with determination, support, and effective management, no goal is unattainable.
