Mumbai: Iron Lady is a leadership development organization dedicated to empowering women in their careers and businesses.

High Impact Leadership programs combined with a strength obsessed community of top women leaders in India, make Iron Lady 'THE Go To' Destination for women aspiring to grow in their careers / businesses. Thousands of Iron Ladies have gone on to become top CHRO and are now a part of this highly engaging and high impact platform.

Founded by CEO Rajesh Bhat and COO Suvarna Hegde, Iron Lady originated in 2017, from their shared desire to address the gender gap in leadership.

Iron Lady offers programs like the Leadership Essentials Program and the 100 Board Members Program, designed to equip women with practical skills and support to succeed in leadership roles across various industries. Our mission is to elevate a million women to top positions in diverse sectors, whether in corporate environments or running their own businesses.

Indiantelevision.com caught up with Bhat, where he shared insights of Iron Lady’s objectives, goals and the impact they have achieved to elevate a million women to top positions in diverse sectors.

Edited excerpts

On the specific objectives of the Leadership Essentials Program offered by Iron Lady

The objectives of the Leadership Essentials Program offered by Iron Lady are to address the unique challenges that women face in their career advancement journey. These challenges include navigating workplace politics, overcoming societal expectations, and combating gender bias in terms of unequal pay. Additionally, the program aims to equip women with the skills and mindset needed to navigate through these unique challenges, making them more confident and self-believing so they can excel as leaders.

On supporting women in advancing their careers

This program is designed to equip women with the tools and mindset needed to navigate the challenges they face in the professional world. Through a comprehensive 4-week program and 1-year community learning, participants learn essential Business War Tactics such as shameless pitching, strategic maximisation, and unapologetic mindset. Here's how the program empowers women to advance their careers:

•    Helps participants grow faster in their careers or businesses.
•    Enables women to learn to deal with challenges like bias and the glass ceiling.
•    Develops confidence and belief in their abilities.
•    Provides access to mentors for support.
•    Offers membership in a community of industry expert women and leaders who provide guidance and encouragement.
•    Ultimately empowers women to achieve breakthrough results in their professional and personal lives.

On providing insights into the curriculum and structure of the 100 Board Members Program

The 100 Board Members Program is meticulously structured to prepare women for leadership roles on corporate boards. The program begins with an orientation phase where participants engage in a welcome call with their Program coordinator, meet their buddy group and mentor, and define their objectives and B-HAG (Big Hairy Audacious Goal) while undergoing individual strength assessments.

Over the course of six months, participants attend one session per month, each focusing on critical aspects of board membership and leadership at the highest levels of business. These sessions cover topics such as building a personal brand suitable for a board member, strategies and tactics employed by top-level executives, developing breakthrough capabilities, and fast-tracking career growth. The curriculum is designed to cultivate an understanding of the intricacies of board-level decision-making, leadership dynamics, and industry insights.

The program methodology emphasises experiential learning through small cohort-based activities, case studies, and mock pitches. Participants benefit from sessions led by top board members and investors, individual reviews, and non-recorded sessions aimed at providing a comfortable environment to address challenges.

Upon completion of the program, participants are equipped with the skills and knowledge to function effectively as board members and are positioned as high-potential successors in their respective fields.

On measuring the impact of its programs in achieving its mission to elevate a million women to top positions in diverse sectors

To measure the impact of our programs in achieving our mission, we utilise a comprehensive monitoring and evaluation framework. We conduct regular progress updates, collect feedback, and celebrate milestones at 3-month, 6-month, and 12-month intervals. These checkpoints enable us to track progress and assess the effectiveness of our programs.

Additionally, Iron Lady conducts graduation ceremonies for each batch every month, providing an opportunity to recognise and celebrate the achievements of program participants. Furthermore, strategy meetings are held monthly, where participants share insights, challenges, and the principles they have applied. These meetings not only foster a sense of community but also provide valuable opportunities for reflection and improvement, ensuring that the program remains responsive to the evolving needs of its participants.

On the types of practical skills and support do you provide to women facing workplace obstacles

We help women who want to succeed at work by giving them practical skills and support tailored to their needs and situation. They learn and equip themselves with tactics like the Mirror Exercise and Positive Affirmations to boost their self-awareness and confidence. The program also focuses on setting goals and finding purpose, so women can pursue their career ambitions.

To help women learn these skills, Iron Lady uses case studies and practice sessions based on real situations. They also pair participants with experienced leaders to mentor them. They provide extra materials like sample videos and CV templates to help women succeed. With this personalised support, we help women overcome challenges and do exceptionally well in their careers.

On collaborating with companies and organizations to promote gender diversity and support the advancement of women in leadership positions

We collaborate with companies and organisations dedicated to empowering their women workforce and promoting women in leadership roles by providing tailored breakthrough programs. Through these workshops and specialised programs, we empower women within these organisations to enhance their skills and make significant business contributions.

On expanding Iron Lady's reach or introducing new programs to further empower women in their careers and businesses

Yes, we are continuously exploring avenues to expand our reach and introduce new programs aimed at empowering women in their careers and businesses. This includes developing self-learning programs, organising offline workshops, creating programs tailored for teenagers, and initiatives focused on supporting women in parenting roles. These efforts are part of our ongoing commitment to providing comprehensive support and resources to help women excel in all aspects of their lives.