India Included by Godrej DEI Lab

The ‘DEI’ in the Godrej Lab’s name expands to ‘D’ for diversity, the representation of various populations in a given group of people; ‘E’ for equity, which means fair treatment for all people in a group, by taking each individual’s unique situation into account; and ‘I’ for inclusion, which is about a culture that makes every individual feel like a valued part of the group. Godrej isn’t unique in this respect. But it’s striving constantly to get inclusion right.    In this episode, Parmesh Shahani speaks to Sandhya Ramesh, the DEI Lead at Godrej Consumer Products Limited, and Zoya, who spearheads DEI for Godrej Properties Limited, about the story of inclusion at the Godrej Industries Group – how far we’ve come, how we got here, and how we’re going to go.   Sandhya and Zoya talk about scaling queer inclusion in a predominantly male workforce, the importance of meaningful disability inclusion initiatives, ensuring representation and fair treatment across leadership roles, and how to measure progress sustainably beyond DEI awards. The duo unpack challenges, celebrate progress, and discuss how a 127-year-old company is preparing for a more inclusive future.   Join us for insights into scaling inclusive hiring practices, fostering workplace equity, and creating cultures where diversity isn’t just a goal but a core value.   Learn more about the Godrej DEI Lab and our work at https://www.godrejdeilab.com/.   Our Guest: Sandhya Ramesh Zoya   Find the Lab on social media: Instagram Linkedin   Email us at godrejdeilab@godrejinds.com / contact@maed.in   This is a Maed In India Production; check us out at www.maedinindia.in Creative Director: Mae Mariyam Thomas Project Manager: Shaun Fanthome Head of Audio Production: Kartik Kulkarni Producer: Meghna Gulati  Sound Editing & Mixing: Nihar Temkar

The idea of social and economic justice wasn’t invented in a boardroom – it was dreamed up and fought for throughout the world. It’s what gives us in India our constitutional values. It’s part of the laws that Indian workplaces have to follow, and it’s something Indians take very seriously.   That’s how we come by our ideas of DEI. But what’s it like in the rest of the world? Today, Parmesh Shahani is in conversation with Dr. Rohini Anand, a trailblazer in the world of DEI. Dr. Anand is the author of Leading Global Diversity, Equity and Inclusion and a globally recognised expert whose journey has taken her from academia to corporate boardrooms.   Dr. Anand reflects on her cultural shocks upon moving to the United States, her transition into corporate DEI work at Sodexo, and the pivotal gender balance case study that demonstrated the business value of inclusion. The conversation delves into how DEI efforts must be contextualised to local cultures, the importance of intersectionality, and the need for organisations to embed DEI into their core processes with measurable outcomes.    Tune in as they explore the evolving global landscape of DEI and how external factors like societal movements and backlash shape its progress. Hear how Dr. Anand’s insights and experiences offer actionable strategies for leaders and organisations to create inclusive, equitable workplaces that stand the test of time.   Learn more about the Godrej DEI Lab and our work at https://www.godrejdeilab.com/.   Our Guest: Rohini Anand   Find the Lab on social media: Instagram Linkedin   Email us at godrejdeilab@godrejinds.com / contact@maed.in   This is a Maed In India Production; check us out at www.maedinindia.in Creative Director: Mae Mariyam Thomas Project Manager: Shaun Fanthome Head of Audio Production: Kartik Kulkarni Producer: Meghna Gulati  Sound Editing & Mixing: Nihar Temkar

Every two or three years, McKinsey puts out a diversity and inclusion insights report with numbers that show how the case for growth and the case for workplace inclusion go hand in hand. Basically, if you’re the type of business leader who thinks that DEI is fluff, or that it gets in the way of your bottomline, or that it’s fuzzy social service stuff – you’re very last-to-last century.    In this episode, Parmesh Shahani is in conversation with Anant Ahuja, Directorof ESG and Sustainability at Shahi Exports and CEO and Co-founder of the Good Business Lab, an initiative dedicated to transforming worker well-being across manufacturing and beyond.    Anant shares his journey of balancing a purpose-driven approach to business. He delves into how his family business empowers over 100,000 workers, primarily women, by offering high-quality jobs and fostering workplace inclusivity. He also discusses the transformative impact of the PACE programme and GBL’s innovative initiatives like health interventions and the InAce tool, that address worker well-being and amplify their voices.   Tune in as they explore actionable strategies for creating sustainable, worker-centered business models and the potential for businesses to drive meaningful social change.   Please note: The Gap Inc. PACE Program mentioned by Anant is now part of RISE: Reimagining Industry to Support Equality. RISE brings together the four largest women’s empowerment programs in the apparel industry - BSR’s HERproject, Gap Inc. P.A.C.E., CARE international, and Better Work—to empower women workers, embed gender equality in business practice and catalyse systems change.   Learn more about the Godrej DEI Lab and our work at https://www.godrejdeilab.com/.   Our Guest: Anant Ahuja   Find the Lab on social media: Instagram Linkedin   Email us at godrejdeilab@godrejinds.com / contact@maed.in   This is a Maed In India Production; check us out at www.maedinindia.in Creative Director: Mae Mariyam Thomas Project Manager: Shaun Fanthome Head of Audio Production: Kartik Kulkarni Producer: Meghna Gulati  Sound Editing & Mixing: Nihar Temkar

It’s true that Indian women live longer, eat better, have more education and give birth to healthier children than they did before. But these modest gains come with a whole set of unprecedented challenges – whether at home, out in public, and, of course, in the workplace. And for some women, progress is more tenuous, and comes with fewer opportunities and more risk than many of their peers.    In this episode of India Included, Parmesh Shahani talks to Dr. Ruha Shadab, a doctor, social entrepreneur and the founder of Led By Foundation, to discuss the invisible yet significant challenges faced by Muslim women in India’s workforce.   Dr. Ruha explores the systemic barriers Muslim women encounter—from hiring biases to social media hostility. She also talks about how the Led By Foundation addresses these barriers head-on, offering a fellowship program that provides Muslim women with skills, mentorship, and pathways to impactful careers. Tune in as they explore research-backed insights into workplace inclusivity and the broader implications for a more diverse and equitable future in corporate India.   Learn more about the Godrej DEI Lab and our work at https://www.godrejdeilab.com/.   Our Guest: Dr Ruha Shadab   Find the Lab on social media: Instagram Linkedin   Email us at godrejdeilab@godrejinds.com / contact@maed.in   This is a Maed In India Production; check us out at www.maedinindia.in Creative Director: Mae Mariyam Thomas Project Manager: Shaun Fanthome Head of Audio Production: Kartik Kulkarni Producer: Meghna Gulati  Sound Editing & Mixing: Nihar Temkar

It’s one of the defining stories of India in the 21st century – the way women disappear from the workplace. In some sectors, it’s because they never get a foot in the door at all. In many others, it’s because they get married, move away, have children, and then find no way to get back to their careers. At the highest levels in corporate India, it’s simply about who gets acknowledged as a leader, who gets to have power, and who gets to make a company’s biggest decisions – all overwhelmingly male.   In this episode, Parmesh Shahani talks to Amrita Padda, Chief People Officer at Airtel, about redefining how corporate India approaches inclusion and gender representation.   Amrita discusses her experiences as a woman leader in male-dominated industries, and her vision for fostering a genuinely inclusive corporate culture. From innovative programs like "Step In" for women returning to work after career breaks, to policies addressing practical challenges like driving licenses and hygienic washrooms, she has implemented solutions that drive real change. Amrita also shares her thoughts on systemic changes, the nuances of performative versus genuine diversity efforts, and her hopes for a more equal future.   Tune in to hear how Amrita Padda is working to create systems that dismantle structural barriers and translate intent into impactful action.   Learn more about the Godrej DEI Lab and our work at https://www.godrejdeilab.com/.   Our Guest: Amrita Padda   Find the Lab on social media: Instagram Linkedin   Email us at godrejdeilab@godrejinds.com / contact@maed.in   This is a Maed In India Production; check us out at www.maedinindia.in Creative Director: Mae Mariyam Thomas Project Manager: Shaun Fanthome Head of Audio Production: Kartik Kulkarni Producer: Meghna Gulati  Sound Editing & Mixing: Nihar Temkar

Throughout Indian film history, many filmmakers have been privately and secretly queer. Generations of movies, arts and entertainment have depicted LGBTQIA+ lives either for comedy or featuring queer people on the margins as villains or tragic figures. So who tells our stories, and what kind of characters get to be included in those stories? When those stories change, does it mean that the status quo is changing?   In this episode, Parmesh Shahani is in conversation with Faraz Arif Ansari, an award-winning filmmaker known for deeply personal and pioneering works like Sisak and Sheer Qorma, about whether the representation of historically excluded groups can actually change culture.   Faraz shares their journey from growing up on 1990s Hindi cinema to making independent films that center queer and Muslim identities. They delve into the challenges of representation in cinema and advertising, the transformative impact of films like Sisak, and their initiative to empower queer and trans actors. Faraz also gives us a peek behind the scenes of their film, Bun Tikki, and discusses why inclusive storytelling is vital for social and economic progress.   Join us as Faraz inspires us with their stories, challenges stereotypes, and pushes boundaries to make Indian cinema more inclusive.   Learn more about the Godrej DEI Lab and our work at https://www.godrejdeilab.com/.   Our Guest: Faraz Arif Ansari   Find the Lab on social media: Instagram Linkedin   Email us at godrejdeilab@godrejinds.com / contact@maed.in   This is a Maed In India Production; check us out at www.maedinindia.in Creative Director: Mae Mariyam Thomas Project Manager: Shaun Fanthome Head of Audio Production: Kartik Kulkarni Producer: Meghna Gulati  Sound Editing & Mixing: Nihar Temkar  

Since 2020, every Tata Harrier and Tata Safari SUV has been assembled, start-to-finish, from scratch, by teams staffed fully by women. At their sprawling plant in Pimpri-Chinchwad, their workforce includes close to 2,000 women, from mechanics to engineers, many coming from the remotest corners of our home state, Maharashtra. What does it take to reshape an industry as massive and traditionally male-dominated as auto manufacturing?     In this episode, Parmesh Shahani speaks to Amrita Ganguly, Chief Diversity Officer at Tata Motors about how she champions diversity, equity, and inclusion across the Tata Group.   Amrita reveals behind-the-scenes stories of transformative initiatives at Tata Motors, the challenges of shifting mindsets, and the measurable impact of inclusive policies. She also discusses the importance of intersectionality, affirmative action, and creating opportunities for underrepresented groups in manufacturing.   Tune in to hear how Tata Motors is building workplaces that reflect the values of a progressive India, helping re-imagine the future of inclusion in corporate India.   Learn more about the Godrej DEI Lab and our work at https://www.godrejdeilab.com/.   Our Guest: Amrita Ganguly   Find the Lab on social media: Instagram Linkedin   Email us at godrejdeilab@godrejinds.com / contact@maed.in   This is a Maed In India Production; check us out at www.maedinindia.in Creative Director: Mae Mariyam Thomas Project Manager: Shaun Fanthome Head of Audio Production: Kartik Kulkarni Producer: Meghna Gulati  Sound Editing & Mixing: Nihar Temkar

Disability touches all our lives, whether through injury, age, or life’s unpredictable turns. Yet, accessibility remains a conversation too often centered on limitations rather than empowerment. How can we move beyond retrofitting solutions to creating a world where inclusivity is a way of life?   In this episode, Parmesh Shahani speaks to Nidhi Goyal and Apoorv Kulkarni. Nidhi is a stand-up comedian, disability and gender rights activist, and founder of Rising Flame; and Apoorv is a researcher, policy advocate, and head of OMI Foundation. (He’s also Nidhi’s husband.) Together, they bring a wealth of experience and insight to the fight for disability inclusion, emphasising representation, policy reform, and the need for systemic change.   Nidhi and Apoorv share their perspectives on creating inclusive environments, the challenges and successes of advocacy, and the vital role of media in shaping perceptions. They explore how accessibility impacts every facet of life and discuss practical steps to foster inclusion in workplaces, public spaces, and policies.   Tune in to discover how we can all contribute to co-creating a society that values dignity, potential, and the flourishing of all its members.   Learn more about the Godrej DEI Lab and our work at https://www.godrejdeilab.com/.   Our Guests: Nidhi Goyal Apoorv Kulkarni   Find the Lab on social media: Instagram Linkedin   Email us at godrejdeilab@godrejinds.com / contact@maed.in   This is a Maed In India Production; check us out at www.maedinindia.in Creative Director: Mae Mariyam Thomas Project Manager: Shaun Fanthome Head of Audio Production: Kartik Kulkarni Producer: Meghna Gulati  Sound Editing & Mixing: Nihar Temkar

India Included is a Godrej DEI Lab podcast that dives into the transformative world of diversity, equity, and inclusion in India. Hosted by Parmesh Shahani, each episode brings you conversations with visionaries and changemakers who are reshaping corporate spaces, redefining accessibility, challenging cultural narratives, and driving inclusive business practices. Their insightful discussions will help you discover how to find solutions to overcome structural barriers, make space for yourself and others in the workplace, and understand what makes good business inseparable from inclusive values. Join us in our journey to advance inclusion through corporate India and beyond! Help us build a world where everyone truly belongs.  Learn more about Godrej DEI Lab and our work at https://www.godrejdeilab.com/. Find the Lab on social media: Instagram Linkedin Email us at godrejdeilab@godrejinds.com / contact@maed.in