International Women’s Day is often a moment to celebrate the achievements of women across industries and leadership roles. But just as important are the quieter influences, the lessons learned from the women who challenge perspectives, offer clarity in moments of doubt, and shape the way leadership is practiced.

Across their careers, many male leaders have worked alongside women who have influenced how they think, lead, and show up in the workplace. Whether through mentorship, collaboration, or everyday interactions, these experiences have helped shape their understanding of empathy, resilience, and inclusive leadership.

In this piece, male leaders reflect on a simple yet powerful question: what is a lesson they have learned from working with women, and how does it influence the way they lead today? In this second part of the series, more leaders share their reflections, offering thoughtful reminders of the impact women have in shaping not just organisations, but leaders themselves.

Kartik Mehta, Chief Business Officer, Channel Factory

In honor of International Women’s Day, I would like to share a story about a former colleague, Ms. Jimmi.She was a member of my team back in 2011-12 and was the person who encouraged me to embrace vulnerability. Today, I attribute my inclusive leadership style to the lessons she taught me about openly admitting when I don’t have all the answers. This has helped my teams to be more collaborative and “real”.Her influence made such a significant impact on my life that she eventually became my partner for life, Mrs. Jimmi Mehta.

Abhik Sanyal, Head of Marketing, DSP Mutual Fund

One of the most important lessons I’ve learned from working with women across my career is how much changes when someone feels truly heard. Not managed, not second-guessed. Really heard. I’ve watched brilliant women hold back simply because the room wasn’t built for them to speak. That has shaped how I lead. I’ve become more aware of the space I take up, more intentional about creating safety for honest voices, and more interested in the kind of leadership that lifts others quietly rather than performing loudly.

Rajiv Ravindrnan, Director – Growth & Experience, Namma Yatri

Some of the strongest leadership lessons I’ve learned have come from working alongside women colleagues and women drivers across our community. Their clarity, resilience and grounded perspective continue to influence how we think about building products at scale. It constantly reinforces that safety, dignity and choice are fundamental to mobility, and that belief is now translating into product action — with a feature that enables women riders to prefer women drivers expected to go live in the coming week.

Dr Kushal Sanghvi, Director, Komerz

There are many women we meet and interact with through our careers, but only a few leave an indelible impact on our lives.

For me, that one magical woman is Dr. Indu Shahani, who was my Principal when I was a student. She played a massive role in shaping my journey into the advertising and marketing industry. Razor sharp and always on top of what’s happening in the world, she would often remind me that continual reading is the only way to stay aware and informed.

She also believed strongly that this is a people’s profession, and if you want to succeed, you must genuinely connect with people and be able to gel with them easily.

Over the years, our bond has evolved from that of a Principal and student to that of a mentor. Today, while she leads Atlas Skill University and guides over 10,000 students each year, she continues to champion a global vision — one that believes in building for a borderless world where we learn and grow across countries.

Quite early in my career, when I began taking on global roles, much of my understanding of people, cultures and temperaments came from what I learnt from Ma’am. I truly believe women have that innate sixth sense with people, and I continue to draw from many of her traits.

Her communication style and composure are qualities I’ve always admired, and I’ve been fortunate to learn some of these simply by observing Ma’am.

We are blessed to have such women in our journeys. Celebrating them on just one day is not enough, it’s really about celebrating the bonds and the magic mentors like her bring into our lives.

 

Bhushan Kadam, Senior Vice President – Creative & Strategic Initiatives, White Rivers Media

Over the seven years I worked at WRM, one of the most defining influences on my journey was Brigith Dsouza. She helped me understand that while creative growth is a never-ending process, people skills must be built early they become the foundation of future leadership. She led with empathy but never compromised on clarity or accountability. From her, I learned that strong cultures aren’t built through authority, but through consistency, active listening, and fairness. That experience shaped me to show up as a more patient, people-first leader someone who values diverse voices, prioritises culture as much as craft, and creates space for others to truly thrive.

 

Seen together, these reflections reveal that the influence of women in professional journeys often extends far beyond formal roles or titles. Sometimes it comes through mentorship, sometimes through collaboration, and often through everyday moments that quietly reshape how leaders think, listen, and lead.

From learning to embrace vulnerability, to creating space for voices that are often unheard, these lessons speak to a deeper shift in leadership itself — one that values empathy, awareness, and the ability to build environments where people feel seen and respected.

International Women’s Day reminds us to celebrate the achievements of women across industries. But as these stories show, the true impact of women is also reflected in the leaders they shape along the way — in the perspectives they influence, the cultures they help build, and the quiet lessons that continue to guide leadership long after the moment has passed.