Rob O’Byrne interviews business woman and media personality Kavea Chavali on the opportunities for women in Logistics in India.

Have you seen this other related video interview, women in operations.

Rob: You know one of the challenges that we find in Supply Chain Logistics industry is the gender imbalance. I’m from Australia and what we are saying there is that about 80% of the employment opportunities in supply chain logistics are male. We only get about 20% female to the participation in the industry. I think that’s pretty sad because were missing out on a lot of talents. Hi this is Rob O’Byrne from Logistics Bureau and I’m here today in Mumbai with let me get the name right Kavea Chavali.

Kavea: Absolutely

Rob: Thank you for joining us. Kavea is actually been the emcee at this wonderful event the 7th Express, Logistics & Supply Chain Conclave and Chavali you’ve been a journalist, you’re a professional emcee you got a round a lot of different events and I’m really curious and I know our readers of our blog and watches of this video will be curious about the sort of gender mix in industry generally here in India but more particularly Logistics and Supply Chain. What are your thoughts?

Kavea: okay, if I look back at a trend. Let’s say about 20 years ago. Mechanical engineering as a subject. I would always notice that in fact from what I’ve heard from my parents is that women wouldn’t really opt for that particular subject because they would require to be work for many numbers of hours put in a lot of effort so ideally mechanical engineering was not a trend setting subject then. But cut to the years of were in right now it’s an agreeing subject and everybody’s opting for including women. If I have to talk about my opinion when I have to talk about India. Logistics as a subject requires a lot of time and the kind of work that Indian women do they love to take care of their homes, they love to work but when you have to talk about logistics it’s a very operational sort of job so going beyond the office hours and putting in that extra hours will require a little bit of a foot, will require a little bit of that let me just that push, and I think somewhere we will be getting there because if there’s we not trend have you seen from that mechanical engineering as a subject with women did not that earlier and now they start to do and I’m sure logistics will also follow soon. People are aware, women are aware, and they love the subject it’s just the shift in the mind set if that can take place it’ll be fantastic and that’s when we can counter that gender in balance I’m sure a lot of women can contribute immensely towards these fees.

Rob: That’s interesting I hadn’t really thought of that cultural aspect if you like. Women maybe are more comfortable in sort of more traditional roles but what we’re saying elsewhere around the world is in particularly in Australia where on based you know some of the top people in Supply Chain logistics are women and in fact some of the organizations that I worked with have almost been predominantly women and it creates a really good work culture now women just bring a totally different perspective to business and you know it’s been really interesting talking to some of the women’s here who undertaking training programs you know there’s a lot of training organizations represented here and I really seem to be embracing it. So what do you think the future is maybe then for women in this industry?
Kavea: If I have to look back at this particular event also yesterday when we were giving away the awards we have the Ms Trasion day who won the very prestigious award as the ELSC Women of the year that is a very good mark of encouragement even if we look at the trends women are stepping out women are being part of the conferences and they are understanding that yes it’s the need of the art they can be part of this industry and they would love to be part of it. So let’s say we start of that five it becomes ten it becomes fifteen and then it’s very sure loop that’s even ten or twenty or even fifty years the women will be there. Like I mentioned it’s just gonna be a shift of mind set and when they know they can do it, they will do it. So I think India’s gonna be the baseled.

Rob: So it’s great to hear that women want to get in to the industry. Do you think there are any barriers there? Is it you know those maybe traditional thinking we have to overcome or?

Kavea: Barriers will always be there in any culture and when I have to talk about an in culture firstly I won’t call it a barrier it’s just a mindset that women love too and sure that they’d be the perfect people who balance a work plus home.

Rob: Oh I think that’s the same everywhere in the world.

Kavea: Absolutely, and Indian women particularly they’ll be like I want to devote that month time for my work, I want do that amount of time for my family. If operational industry firstly can insure that the men can be part of that can also modify to an extent it’ll be great so I guess there should be a shift of move from both the ends from the women as well as the industry and then that’s gonna be fantastic because I guess the kind of contribution women do is totally amazing.

Rob: Oh it is without a doubt and it’s interesting in countries like Australia and the States a lot of very progressive companies are actively trying to support women in the workplace with you know flexible working hours with childcare at work you know the soon new laws coming in Australia with the Maternity leave and so on to make it more attractive for work.

Kavea: And they also think that we’d love to insure that we pick some trends from what’s happening for example from Australia as you have mentioned so if our country can also ensure that we pick trends the good trends from each of the culture we can imbibe that we’d love to imbibe that kind of trend so why not and if we look at examples like you’ve spoken as an Australia I think if we can stop picking those trends and be great so I think one of the key focus should also be the kind of trends that’s happening across the other cultures

Rob: Okay well Kavea that’s fantastic I know you have to get back in and do your wonderful thing inside their in the room managing all of our streams sensations it was great talking to you today and thank you for those insights.

Kavea: Likewise, all the pleasures mine. Thank you very much Rob. Thank you.