“There’s always more pressure to perform and prove yourself when you’re a woman. No matter how well you do, the question remains: Was it because of your performance, or because of who you are?” 

If you think Hadeesa’s experience sounds familiar, you’re not alone. It’s what many women in the workplace know too well: a double standard that can undercuts their achievements. 

When Hadeesa began her career in sales too, she was often treated differently. “During my Graduate Trainee stint, I met a distributor who wasn’t comfortable with a female field officer,” she shares. “But over time, more women joined, and it became clear — this is the new normal.” 

Even today, she faces comments suggesting her success is not fully earned. “There’s always pressure to prove yourself, to show that you deserve it every day,” she says. “No matter how well you perform, the perception will always be the same.” But that’s never stopped her from showing up and giving her best. 

Hadeesa finds strength in doing her job well. And she believes that things are changing; even if slowly. “Godrej is one of the finest companies, doing every possible effort to make women feel more inclusive. It’s not really a privilege, it’s a need,” she argues. 

So, what’s real inclusion? If you were to ask this question to Hadeesa, she’d say that it’s something that goes beyond headlines or announcements. For her, it’s about making sure people have what they need to do their jobs well.  

“We need to create an ecosystem that enables a person, right?” she says as she continues to build a career rooted in effort and integrity. To those who doubted her, or told her she had it easy? Her answer is simple – it's time to prove them wrong.  

Text by Yukta Chaudhari