Hyderabad, May 8, 2024: Highlighting the critical need to dismantle systemic barriers that are holding women back, first woman IPS officer and former Puducherry Lieutenant Governor Dr Kiran Bedi has said that real change will occur when powerful women become less of an exception.
Bedi was speaking on the topic ‘Women in Leadership: Breaking Barriers and Glass Ceilings' at the special edition of The FutureYou Talks hosted by Woxsen University at its campus in Hyderabad on Monday.
During her keynote speech, Bedi said, "Always remember that in the past, people had to move to where the jobs were. Now, jobs are coming to where people are. This shift demands that you maintain yourself, study diligently, and constantly aim higher. Strive to rise above personal good to contribute towards the greater good.”
“Real change will occur when powerful women become less of an exception. This is why I challenge myself daily to step out of my comfort zone and not be an exception. It's heartening to recall that when I joined the Police Academy in 1975, I was the only woman among over 80 men in the batch. Today, one-third of the batches consist of women, which is why I frequently visit the National Police Academy in Hyderabad,” she said.
Addressing the challenges of women in leadership roles, Bedi emphasised that women have three unique challenges - marriage, motherhood, and mothering, and “it’s crucial to be prepared to face these challenges while maintaining your individuality”.
When asked about her prestigious Ramon Magsaysay Award, Bedi took pride in sharing that she was honored not for combating terrorism, but for empathetic, accessible, responsible, problem-solving, and creative policing focused on crime prevention. “This aligns with my belief in the power of prevention,” she stated.
In his address, Dr Raul V Rodriguez, Vice President of Woxsen University, said, "We are committed to empowering the women community. Out of our 7 schools, 3 are led by accomplished women, reflecting our dedication to gender diversity and equality. We are proud to maintain a 50-50 ratio of male and female students, fostering an inclusive learning environment. Furthermore, we are deeply invested in supporting rural communities, having successfully generated employment opportunities for them. Our impactful ‘Woxsen Elevate Program’ runs for almost 4 months annually and provides training to 600-800 children on average every weekend. The overwhelming response from the children, who willingly volunteer for these programs, demonstrates their appreciation for the invaluable learning opportunities we provide. Our overarching goal is to give back to society in every way possible. We are committed to nurturing our students' understanding of their role in contributing towards the upliftment of the underprivileged, fostering a sense of social responsibility & compassion."
