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. Their responses offer thoughtful reminders of the impact women have in shaping not just organisations, but leaders themselves.
Prasad Shejale, Founder & CEO, LS Digital
Guided by my mother and elder sisters during childhood, and now by my wife and two daughters, I’ve learned that leadership is a profound blend of empathy and systemic thinking. At LS Digital, I’ve sought to emulate Indra Nooyi’s rare blend of deep empathy and clinical decisiveness—caring for the ‘support system’ while making the hard calls. Equally, Indira Gandhi’s unmatched decisiveness and resilience inspire my path. Much like Mrs. Gandhi, who famously lived by Frost’s ‘miles to go before I sleep,’ I lead with the conviction that empathy is a strategic power, not a soft skill.
Nikhil Kumar, Chief Growth Officer, mediasmart
I have been fortunate to be mentored by and learn from two exceptional business leaders and inspiring women marketers: Richa Singh, Managing Director at the Natural Diamond Council for India and the Middle East, and Viksita Singh, General Manager for Southeast Asia at Paula’s Choice Skincare. They lead with empathy, calm conviction, and an instinct to nurture strengths rather than dwell on weaknesses. Their ability to balance ambition with grace and composure has inspired me to stay curious, people-focused, and grounded in how I lead.
Argho Bhattacharya, Head of Marketing, PayU
What’s been the Impact – Colossal! Patience, empathy, eye for detail and being steadfast in face of adversity are some traits that I have been lucky to pick up from the women who have been Managers, Peers and team members. Life Lesson – Its not just what we achieve, but how we achieve and who we achieve it with Matters, sometimes the latter more than the former.
Adityan Kayalakal, VP Brand ,Pocket FM
One of the most defining influences on my journey was Sarita Raghavan, my boss at Rediffusion Y&R. She was insightful, unflappable, fiercely loyal, and always focused on solutions—but what set her apart was the quiet strength with which she held her team together in the toughest moments. She taught me that leadership is human before it is strategic. Working with her early in my career didn’t just make me a better professional—it made me a better leader, and more importantly, a better person.
Prashant Choudhari, Head of Marketing, Fino Payments Bank Ltd
In both my personal and professional life, I’ve been fortunate to work with some truly remarkable women. Each of them has shaped my thinking in different ways—some taught me to smile under pressure, some showed me what resilience really looks like, some reminded me to take a chill pill, and some simply stood by like a rock when it mattered most.
The lessons have been many, but a few have stayed with me:
* Smile under pressure.
* Have a point of view—don’t just nod with the room.
* When something is wrong, be the one who stands for what’s right.
* Tomorrow is a new day—step out again with renewed energy.
Absorbing these lessons was easy; turning them into habits took time. Looking back today, I realize they’ve quietly shaped my leadership. I may still be as aggressive as I was as a young sales executive—but I definitely smile more now.
And perhaps the most humbling lesson comes from watching a colleague travelling one and half hour one way, put in a full workday, go back home to care for their families, and still show up the next day with a smile.
That level of strength and balance is something I deeply admire—and honestly, something I don’t think I could ever fully match.
Taken together, these reflections reveal a quiet but powerful truth about leadership. The women who shape our journeys do so not only through titles or formal mentorship, but through everyday examples of resilience, empathy, conviction, and strength. Their influence often shows up in subtle ways — in how decisions are made, how teams are supported, and how challenges are faced. As these leaders acknowledge, the lessons learned from working alongside women continue to shape not just their leadership style, but the kind of workplaces they hope to build going forward.
