The Reflection

She stared at the warped reflection of herself, incredulous. She had heard so much about it all her corporate life, but had believed in the triumph of human spirit to belie its existence. After all, there are exceptions to every rule. Why cannot she be one? 

Meera, Vice President, Global marketing sat at her expansive and elegantly furnished cabin and stared at the Glass Ceiling. After 25 years of climbing the corporate ladder, she had more than enough to show for it. She had joined Mercury Candies & Confectionary as a marketing trainee exactly 25 years ago. At that time it was the largest seller of candies, ranging from chewies to condensed milk. It was also a male bastion, with the only female employees being four secretaries and the cleaning staff. Mercury hired her because they were looking for “fresh” ideas that would help rekindle the interest in the candies segment, which was rapidly losing market share to imported brands like Nestle and Cadbury’s. Mercury was a completely Indian brand, a product of the soil, so to speak. She had graduated with honours from the top management institute of the country and was hungry to prove herself. 

The next 25 years was not extraordinary, by any corporate employee’s estimation. The marketing campaign that she had conceptualized resulted in a market share increase of 5% in the candies segment, which is no mean achievement in this highly fragmented category. She also spearheaded the launch of two new product categories in an already crowded market, spurring another market share increase, not to mention the incremental sale from being the first in the category. Along the way, she married her classmate from college and was blessed with two children – Rhea 19, and Nishant, 15. 

It was true, the numbers spoke for themselves. But apparently that was not enough. She was lucky to have a good boss, a man who believed in her capability and gave her the freedom to follow her beliefs. Not one to let an opportunity go by, she made full use of the freedom and recorded the most rapid promotion in the company ever since its inception. Now her boss was retired and she was reporting to the Chairman, a jovial 75 year old who founded the company. 

He had met her 2 days ago. To tell her that in his cheerful inimitable style that there was just no more promotion they could give her! “You have been such an asset to us dear. Many of our key successes over the past 2 decades are credited to you. Normally, the next step for a VP is to make them a member of the board. But we do not have any women on the board, neither do we intend to. Company policy, you know? We will be very happy for you to continue as VP, of course and I am ready to give you a 40% bonus in salary in the coming year.”

She had listened in stoic silence, punctured by nods at the appropriate moments. She had smiled at the Chairman, saying that his offer was very generous and that she would think about it and get back in a week’s time. 

She closed her eyes and thought of the years gone by. The travel, the staying away from the kids, phone calls across continents. Late nights powered by the light of the laptop. The familiar ping and vibration of her Blackberry, which she always kept under her pillow. Missed fancy dress competitions, exam revisions and horse riding classes. Her kids had been wonderful. And her husband of course. She could not have made it without them. Every time she faced opposition to her ideas, or another block in her promotion her family stood by her and egged her on, confident that she will always come out a winner. 

Rhea will be completing college in a few months. She was planning to apply to engineering courses in the US. In 3 months, her daughter will leave for a foreign land and she will see even less of her. They were very close and the relationship they shared was very dear to her. Did she regret all the moments she had missed in her kids’ childhood? Sure she did. But her job was a part of her identity, it defined one aspect of her, like being a mother defined another aspect. All these identities came together to create Meera, the woman. 

There may be limitations in people’s minds, but there was no limit to her will and determination. No Glass Ceiling was going to stop her from being who she was. She fingered the document in front of her. It was the Rules & Regulations of the running of the company. A friend at Legal had obliged her with it. In the document was a clause that enabled any employee who had served for more than 10 years in the company to petition for a change in any of the clauses. Including the one about not having any women on the board. This route would be a one-way street though. If she filed a petition and lost she will have to exit the company. Staying on will be awkward. 

When had any of her choices been easy? Over the years she had learnt to follow her heart. Her heart never lied to her. 

She pulled out the copy of the petition letter and started filling it.