Anita Bhogle shares insights on resilience, self-belief, and adaptability for women in leadership at FICCI FLO Hyderabad, drawing from her book Equal Yet Different.
Renowned author and management expert Anita Bhogle emphasized the importance of resilience, self-belief, and adaptability for women in the workplace during an engaging conversation at T-Hub on Tuesday evening. The event, organized by FICCI FLO Hyderabad Chapter, featured Bhogle in discussion with Priya Gazdar on themes of leadership, work-life balance, and entrepreneurship, drawing insights from her book Equal Yet Different.
Bhogle, an accomplished advertising and marketing professional, holds a postgraduate degree from IIT Bombay and an MBA from IIM Ahmedabad, where she met her husband, the well-known cricket commentator Harsha Bhogle. Together, they developed The Winning Way, a successful learning series drawing lessons from sports.
During the discussion, Bhogle highlighted that the title of her book was inspired by Australian cricket legend Steve Waugh, who, despite being equal to his contemporaries in skill, was distinctly different in his leadership and style of play.
“The book allowed me to reflect on my experiences. I spoke to many women while writing it and learned a lot through the process,” she shared. Bhogle stressed that women bring unique strengths and perspectives to the workplace and should be recognized for their distinct contributions. She noted that feedback should be tailored differently for men and women because women tend to internalize it more deeply.
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She advised women to cultivate a positive mindset and develop a ‘thick skin’ to handle workplace challenges. “A lot of women leave jobs because of insensitive comments. You need to prove people wrong through your work and performance,” she said. She encouraged women to focus on their strengths rather than dwelling on their shortcomings and urged them to seek jobs that align with their personal responsibilities.
Reflecting on her own journey, Bhogle spoke about managing relationships while living in Mumbai with a frequently traveling husband. She recalled setting up a home office as early as 1990 to maintain a work-life balance. “Success is a mix of ability, attitude, and passion. But passion is the most critical. When combined with ability and attitude, it creates wonders,” she said.
Speaking on leadership, Bhogle pointed out that leadership imagery remains predominantly male, much like professions such as drivers or carpenters. She shared how, despite being the brain behind several ventures, credit often went to her husband. “Women need to project themselves more,” she asserted. Leadership, she explained, is about managing people effectively and learning from everyone.
One of her key findings during her research for the book was that most women she interviewed neither had female role models nor aspired to become one, as they felt it required excessive compromises. “The perception persists that men work for their families while women work for themselves. Women are still seen as secondary earners—if the husband is the breadwinner, the woman is considered the jam,” she remarked, emphasizing the need to change such mindsets.
In her opening remarks, Priya Gazdar, Chairperson of FLO Hyderabad, reflected on the timely relevance of the discussion, especially in the lead-up to Women’s Day. “For decades, gender equality has focused on sameness—equal opportunities, equal rights, equal pay. But equality is not about being identical; it is about being valued for our uniqueness,” she said.
More than 150 FLO members attended the thought-provoking session, engaging in meaningful conversations about embracing women’s unique strengths in leadership, business, and society at large.
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