This Women’s Day, we spotlight Sonia Khurana, Chief Operating Officer at Digitas India, as she shares her leadership and operational excellence journey. From key career milestones to fostering inclusivity and navigating the complexities of a fast-paced industry, Sonia’s insights offer valuable inspiration for overcoming challenges and making a lasting impact in today’s ever-evolving business landscape.
1. What’s one thing you’ve always wanted to learn or try but haven’t had the chance to yet?
Typing. The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog kind of typing!
2. What’s a defining career moment that shaped your perspective and the professional you are today?
There are two defining moments from my time at a previous agency. The first occurred when my manager went abroad, leaving me to close a project we had pitched to a client. Intimidated by the unfamiliar project, I froze. He called me one day, and I got the nicest yelling of my life. Surprisingly, I was both angry and encouraged—yes, it’s possible to feel both. It taught me that failure was okay and gave me the confidence to go ahead and close the business.
The second moment happened during a leadership change at the agency. In a meeting with the client CMO, he asked our new leader what she would do for his brand. She replied that she was there to manage the agency, to which the CMO stood up and said, “Since you won’t be contributing to my business, we can end this meeting here. I wish you luck in your new role.” And he walked away. It was a pivotal learning moment: clients seek active contributors, not just managers.
3. If you weren’t in this industry, what would you be doing?
I’m not entirely sure—perhaps I would have become an architect or even a bread baker. There’s a long list of imagined experiences I see myself living out if I were on another journey.
4. How do you stay motivated during tough or challenging times?
I talk to myself a lot. I sit with the moment instead of pushing the feeling aside. Once it passes, I take action. Self-talk and taking action have been my best antidotes to demotivation.
5. How can companies foster a more inclusive and supportive environment for women leaders?
I’m fortunate to be at Publicis Groupe, where many women leaders and initiatives support us, including long-term and speed mentoring on work-life balance, career progression, and financial decision-making. We also have inspiration sessions with women leaders and programs promoting allyship among men.
The real change lies in the small, everyday actions. Do we listen to our female colleagues? Do we invite them into important conversations? Do we accept their vulnerabilities (which applies to men as well)? We’re all navigating competitive work environments, but unless we change how we show up daily, true change will take longer. That should be our goal.
6. In your opinion, what is the most essential skill for women to develop in today’s fast-changing business world?
The most crucial skill today is learning how to remain relevant, and this applies to everyone, regardless of gender. For women, however, the unique challenge often lies in finding the time and mental bandwidth to dedicate to learning. I see this with myself and my friends—there’s no lack of enthusiasm or resources. We sign up for courses, but life, with all its everyday demands—like needing to restock detergent—always seems to get in the way.
