𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩 𝐀𝐝𝐝𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐛𝐲 𝐒𝐮𝐬𝐡𝐦𝐚 𝐑𝐚𝐣𝐚𝐠𝐨𝐩𝐚𝐥𝐚𝐧 𝐢𝐧 𝐎𝐧𝐥𝐲 𝐖𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐧’𝐬 𝐆𝐥𝐨𝐛𝐚𝐥 𝐌𝐞𝐞𝐭: 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐅𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐂𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐓𝐡𝐫𝐞𝐞 𝐄𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩
 
Only Women’s first Global Meet was an unforgettable experience. We were privileged to host Sushma Rajagopalan, a dynamic and accomplished corporate leader, who delivered an insightful and empowering online address to an all-women audience from Pennsylvania — with enthusiastic participation from Singapore, the United Kingdom, Amsterdam, California, Mumbai and Bangalore. Sushma, Founder of 2ndcareeres.com, is a Partner with Rittenhouse Ventures, Philadelphia, Chair, Women’s Initiatives, TiE, Philadelphia and Global Program Co-Lead, TiE Women’s Pitch Competition. She has led many companies in India too before moving to the United States.

Her engaging and interactive session, where she personally addressed members and guests from various countries by name and sought their inputs, emphasised the Four Cs essential for great leadership:
𝐂𝐥𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐨𝐟 𝐓𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭: The foundation of discerning your identity.
𝐂𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐚𝐠𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐯𝐢𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧: Having the strength to act on what you believe in. “You may be clear about a lot of things but the courage it takes to act on it is not something everybody is endowed with,” she said.
𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐞𝐫: Being true to yourself across situations through introspection and self-awareness. “Who you are — in various circumstances and what you are. You have to introspect. You have to question”.
𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐚𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧: “Knowing what to say, when to say it, and when to stay silent are important,” she advised.
Sushma beautifully connected these with the 𝐓𝐡𝐫𝐞𝐞 𝐄𝐬 vital for creating one’s identity:
 𝐄𝐱𝐩𝐥𝐨𝐫𝐞: “Don’t fear failure; it’s part of growth”.
 𝐄𝐯𝐚𝐥𝐮𝐚𝐭𝐞: The ability that turns an explorer into a successful entrepreneur.
 𝐄𝐦𝐛𝐨𝐝𝐲: “Own what you do and live it fully”.

She also reminded the members that the way we express ourselves matters deeply. “Calmness, a subset of clarity, helps us deal with challenges effectively, though it must be balanced to avoid seeming complacent,” said Sushma.

It was an enlightening, heartfelt and truly global exchange of ideas and experiences.