Mumbai: Today, women are breaking the glass ceiling in every sector. Beyond all this, there still exists a patriarchal mindset. Not many women are in the C-suite taking important decisions. And, of course, there still exists pay parity.

This Women’s Day, we, at Indiantelevision.com, are acknowledging some women leaders of the media, marketing, and advertising fraternity and also from other professions, who have given more than expected.

Her journey

My entrepreneurial journey began in 2001, when my husband, Sourav Mondal, and I co-founded Ssoftoons with the goal of producing relevant, constructive, and engaging animation content. We had the vision that there might be a demand for high-quality animated video at the time because animation was less widely known or understood by some individuals. We additionally held the opinion that original, compelling stories that would captivate a variety of audiences might be produced via animation. Ssoftoons recognised a chance to use animation as a medium to tell tales and engage audiences in a way that wasn't being done at the time, so we proceeded forward with this specific goal in mind. Despite many obstacles, our belief in animation's potential and our passion for the medium kept us going. Today, we are delighted to have played a part in putting smiles on the faces of millions of people, especially Gen Z, through our work. By providing entertaining, educational, and high-quality content in the local tongue instead of English, we also succeeded in revolutionising the animation sector and building a library of relatable and culturally significant content that adults as well as children could enjoy. Some of our many popular works in the regional genre are Gopal Bhar, Pandav Goyenda, Mollah Nasiruddin, Nonte Fonte, Lullu, Batul, Panchatantra, Thakumar Jhuli, etc.

Despite the enormous respect and acceptance our content received, we continued. The majority of Ssoftoons content was released on CDs, VCDs, and television. Ssoftoons adapted to the changing times and the emergence of the digital platform by distributing our material on cutting-edge video platforms like YouTube and Facebook in addition to the traditional distribution routes. Without a doubt, we succeeded in leaving our imprint and setting an impressive record for viewership that keeps rising! Our own specialised OTT app, SsoftoonsPlus, will soon also feature our videos.

Her inspiration and inspiring the team

My biggest inspiration has been my parents, who always encouraged me to pursue my dreams and never give up. They taught me to work hard, stay focused, and believe in myself. I try to instill these values in my team at Ssoftoons by leading by example. I am always available to listen to their ideas, concerns, and feedback, and I encourage them to think outside the box and come up with creative solutions. We work as a team, and I believe that every member's contribution is valuable, regardless of their position. I try to motivate and inspire them to work towards a common goal and to take pride in their work.

Empowerment of women

I strongly believe that the empowerment of women in India is crucial for the country's growth and development. Women make up half of the population, and their participation in various fields is essential for the nation's progress. It is heartening to see that many women are breaking barriers and excelling in traditionally male-dominated fields. However, there is still a long way to go, and we need to continue to support and encourage women to pursue their dreams and aspirations. Education and skill-building are critical in this regard, and I feel that the government and private organizations should work towards providing women with equal opportunities and resources. At Ssoftoons, we have a gender-neutral work environment, and we encourage and support women in all aspects of their careers.