International Women's Day: Women entrepreneurs share their best kept productivity secrets

Celebrated on March 8, International Women's Day was first adopted by the United Nations as a global holiday in 1977. Meant to recognise the achievements of women across sectors, the day has been a cornerstone of the growing international women's movement. The origins of International Women's Day can be traced to labour movements of the West. Now, 45 years after the recognition of the day by the UN, it is necessary to emphasise and understand the nuances of female contribution to not just the economy but also socio-political and cultural spaces. On International Women's Day, Mid-day Online spoke to four trailblazing entrepreneurs across industries who shared how to boost productivity and make the most of one's time.

Rahat Beri
Managing Director, Blue Ocean IMC
Mumbai

Rahat Beri believes earning how to be productive on a consistent basis is a skill on its own. Pic/Rahat Beri

Rahat Beri, a communications professional with almost three decades of experience, is the founder and managing director of Blue Ocean IMC, a marketing communication and growth partner consultancy. The early riser starts her day with an hour of yoga, with time slots dedicated to specific tasks - ranging from reviewing her team's projects to responding to emails. Keeping productivity levels high throughout the week is a struggle for most of us, but Beri seems to have devised a deeper approach. "The truth is, learning how to be productive on a consistent basis is a skill on its own - one that doesn't come down to a single productivity hack. I believe the only way to be truly productive for long periods of time is to optimise not just for time and effort, but for your emotional state. The secret of productivity is simple: do what you enjoy. I enjoy my work and love my business."

I am not afraid to say ‘no' to unnecessary obligations. In a world with so much noise and clutter, I make room for what matters.

Being productive doesn't only refer to executing more tasks, but also knowing the value of your time and energy according to Beri, "I am not afraid to say ‘no' to unnecessary obligations. In a world with so much noise and clutter, I make room for what matters. That means pruning non-essential commitments and eliminating as many distractions as I possibly can. I find that one of the best ways to maintain my productivity is to incorporate power naps into my day. I take 15-minute naps once per day and find that it makes for increased energy and efficiency. " Every entrepreneur has days when they feel overworked and overwhelmed, adapting a sensitive outlook aids her mental and emotional wellbeing, "When I get lost in my work or feel frustrated that something isn't going well, I take a break. I make it a point to regularly step away and rebuild my energy. I always plan to do something in my break that I enjoy. The anticipation of pleasure motivates me to not skip the break."

When asked what makes her excel at time management, she credits planning and prioritising, "I always plan in advance and prioritise, delegate work to team members and set aside some time for myself. Ending each day with a plan for tomorrow allows one to have a head-start the next morning. I take 10 minutes every morning to just sit still and visualise how I want the day to go. That's when the clarity and decisions spring up. Thinking about the positive consequences of after achieving a task- is a strategy that helps me overcome difficult situations by motivating me to stick to the task until completion."

Nirupama Subramanian
Author, Leadership coach, and facilitator, co-founder of Growing Leadership of Women, and founder of Powerfulife Solutions
Gurugram

Nirupama Subramaniam says she has designed her life according to my values, incorporating room for freedom, joy, and contribution to society. Pic/Nirupama Subramaniam

A jack of multiple trades, Nirupama Subramaniam is a consultant, facilitator, and coach in the area of leadership development, change management, and personal transformation. With over 27 years of work experience, she has written three books, and founded Powerfulife Solutions - a business which provides personal and professional growth resources and GLOW- Growing Leadership of Women that supports women to lead with their whole being and reach leadership positions. Coaching sessions, workshops, and meetings fill most of her days, while her evenings are reserved for reading, and catching up with friends. She is conscious about spacing her day out with breaks to keep her going, "I start my day with an exercise routine that gives me energy for the rest of the day. I take a break of 45 minutes for lunch and don't schedule any meetings for an hour in the afternoon. I also get up and walk about, and go out to my balcony after every few hours. Sometimes, I do a puzzle in the middle of the day or read an interesting article to take a mental break."

I do many things but I don't do two things at the same time. Not multitasking makes me more efficient and ensures better output.

While most entrepreneurs preach hustle and thrive on hyper-efficiency, Subramaniam has a different strategy at play. "I think I have designed my life according to my values, not just time. Freedom, joy, and contribution are important to me. This helps me to choose work that is aligned to my purpose. At the same time, I also enjoy leisure--the time to read, write, travel, and just be. I don't confuse ‘many tasking' with ‘multitasking'. I do many things --each has a time and place. I don't do two things at the same time. Not multitasking makes me more efficient and ensures better output."

When asked to share some of her personal hacks, she says, "I keep a diary with things to do which are divided into two separate columns - personal and professional. I like to check off items and seeing that I have managed to accomplish things from my list gives me the motivation to get going. I also think allotting specific time slots for certain things, such as social media, reading, and physical activity helps add structure to your day and cultivate habits." She also stresses on the importance of delegation. "Delegating the things that I don't have to do myself has saved much time and effort. I now have an assistant to schedule meetings and work on presentations. I delegate almost all housework to my housekeeper. Learning to let go of some of the areas helps me to focus on things that matter the most."

Shilpa Khanna Thakkar
CEO, Chicnutrix
Mumbai

Shilpa Khanna Thakkar considers planning to be the driving force behind her multitasking self. Pic/Shilpa Khanna Thakkar

After working for Morgan Stanley for a decade, Shilpa Khanna Thakkar donned the entrepreneur's hat and founded Chicnutrix - a beauty, nutrition, and wellness brand for women in 2019. Her mornings include walking her dog and spending time in nature, which doubles as peaceful me-time and prepares her for hectic work days. The Mumbai-based entrepreneur balances meetings and quality time with her kids throughout the day, but remembers to squeeze in small breaks. "We have moved to a hybrid working model wherein even if I have back-to-back meetings lined up, I try and spend time with my kids, and also find time to take brief five to ten minute breaks in between. Working from home has helped shape my approach towards working holistically."

One must lead by example. This engrained philosophy drives me to maximise my productivity all week long so that I can spend my weekends with my family.

When asked if weekends are sacred to her, she shares, "I believe that one must lead by example. This engrained philosophy drives me to maximise my productivity all week long so that I can spend my weekends with my family." Thakkar considers planning to be the driving force behind her multitasking self. "As an entrepreneur, wife, and mother, multitasking is not just a skill for me, but a necessity. For effective time management, it is extremely important to plan in advance, decide vision, set goals, delegate tasks, and monitor performance. When each team member is confident of their role, scope of work, and expected results, it is then much easier to manage time to achieve success."

Globally, those working remotely have reported a decline in mental health and a sense of being overworked. While employees can still take a hiatus, running a business leaves little room to pause. Emphasising the importance of self-care, she adds, "I am known to be quite a workaholic. When I started working from home, my work never really ended. I have now decided to be mindful, prioritise leisure time, and stop working by late evening. Even if we love our jobs, it's important to take time off. A quick weekend getaway or change of scenery can be the stimulus you need for your mental and physical wellbeing."

Vanshika Bhatia
Head chef and founder of Petite Pie Shop, chef partner at OMO
Gurugram

Chef Vanshika Bhatia believes it is very important to keep tabs on your mental and physical health. Pic/Vanshika Bhatia

Her passion for ingredients, sustainability, and culinary heritage is what drives Chef Vanshika Bhatia. After pursuing her formal training in culinary arts from Le Cordon Bleu in London, Bhatia worked at some of the world's best restaurants, from Noma in Copenhagen to Junoon in Dubai before settling in Gurugram. Currently, she runs the Petite Pie Shop - a first of its kind French style bistro which caters to food enthusiasts who are seeking unique experiences. She is also the chef partner at OMO - a recently opened ingredient-forward 70% plant-based restaurant in Gurugram. "If anything, our country's culinary map is defined by this dazzling array of customs, techniques, and flavours, where the scope for discovery and learning is just endless. It's not just about what's good for the taste buds, but what's good for the soul. Our food is experiential in every sense and that will always set us apart, I feel."

The most important thing for me is not keeping anything for tomorrow. If something needs to be done, I always try to do it that very day.

The chef juggles multiple hats, "I usually have a lot of places to go, from one business to the other. The week tends to be super productive, but since I am in the hospitality industry the weekends become busy too." The hospitality industry is known for its never-ending hours and the toll they take on health, to which Bhatia responds, "It is very important to keep tabs on your mental and physical health. What I've realised is that surrounding yourself with good friends and family really helps. Also, maintaining a healthy sleep schedule might be difficult in the business but should be a priority. Waking up on time and having a good breakfast makes me focus better throughout the day"

Sharing her ultimate mantra for getting work done, Bhatia says, "The most important thing for me is not keeping anything for tomorrow. There is always a list that I make either the night before or first thing in the morning which I follow. If something needs to be done, I always try to do it that very day."

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