Sujal Shah Sheth (Directors),
NewAge Fire Fighting Co. Ltd.

Women’s Day Celebration 2020
After graduating in information technology engineering and having a successful career in software industry, she decided to leave the pure IT corporate field and put her earned professional skillsets to work towards expanding her family business. She very quickly learnt the basics of the firefighting industry and she has risen through the ranks of her field and today she is one of the Directors of NewAge Fire Fighting Co Ltd, India, where she oversees the operations of exports and imports for the company. She is also the first woman to run a business unit at the organization.

Please let us have your views on the female leadership in our industry. What leadership skills do you think are important as a female leader? What advice do you have for women aiming for leadership positions?

I am born into a family which is well-educated and cultured. I was always raised to be a "human being" and not to be a "woman" limited by society definitions. My capabilities are neither linked nor measured by my gender. I personally do not feel there is a difference between men and women on business grounds, both the genders are sufficiently capable of achieving what they dream strongly for and in my journey, to say the least, this was never a hurdle. I feel overwhelmed to be a part of this industry; it has given me a different identity of my own. Speaking about the industry in general, there is indeed a significant gender gap and a shortage of females in leadership roles. I believe gender diverse teams bring more value and effectiveness in business and in turn more success. Hence, it is important to promote diversity as well as involvement. The most common leadership skills for females in this field are determination, communication and innovation. The determined and courageous attitude of "never giving up" does wonders to women working in male-dominant environment. Communication and networking help and take you a long way. Effectively passing on the message makes a difference in several situations. It is important for good leaders to inspire their people and being innovative is inevitable for that. My advice to women aiming for leadership roles is "Just do it. Dream it and do it. Learn how and when to say no and delegate. Enjoy what you are doing, and make sure you are having fun. And don't be afraid to bring new ideas forward but be respectful of people."