The 18th edition of SEGUE Sessions by Avtar Career Creators Limited, held in Hyderabad, marked a significant shift in how career growth for Indian women professionals is being reimagined. Themed #LeadHerRise: Move Forward to Gain Momentum, the event moved beyond inspirational narratives to focus on the structural and strategic frameworks required for sustained career advancement.
A woman’s career journey is often likened to a game of Snakes and Ladders—where opportunities such as global projects and strong sponsorship act as accelerators, while biases and career breaks can become unexpected setbacks. However, a defining insight from this year’s sessions was clear: career progression is not a matter of chance. It demands deliberate strategy, enabling professionals to transform pauses into pivots and actions into momentum.
The Power of Reciprocal Leadership.
Traditional leadership models have long emphasized individual success, but the future of leadership lies in collective growth. In a panel moderated by Amita Kasbekar, leaders like, Dr Shilpa Kabra Maheshwari, Group CHRO, Amara Raja Group and Krishnakumari Palle, Senior VP, Global Delivery and Operations Head – Retail, CPG, Logistics, Energy & Utilities, Public Sector, Tech Mahindra, highlighted how “giving” is not just an act of goodwill but a strategic advantage. Building cross-functional collaboration, creating allies, and fostering trust were identified as critical enablers of long-term success. This shift allows women to move beyond advocating for themselves to becoming champions for others. By combining authenticity with ambition, leaders can build resilient ecosystems that thrive on shared success, even in times of uncertainty and disruption.
Give to Gain: The Role of Enabling Ecosystems
The “Give to Gain” philosophy reinforced that career growth does not happen in isolation. Moderated by Veena Mukund, Head of Sales, Avtar Career Creators Limited, this panel discussion, with Capt. Jyotsna Malhotra, Head, Culture Employee Engagement, D&I, TVS Motor Company, Sasmita Pattnaik – People & Organisation Business Partner, Mars Pet Nutrition India, and Manju Bharathi Vasanthati, Director HRBP, RealPage, Inc., the discussion emphasized that challenges often act as catalysts for growth. What differentiates high-momentum careers is the ability to reflect, adapt, and leverage these moments intentionally. Equally important is the role of organizations in shaping these journeys. Environments that actively enable learning, inclusion, and opportunity creation become powerful accelerators, ensuring that talent does not just exist but thrives.
Rising in the Age of AI: Reinvention as Strategy
As the workplace undergoes rapid transformation, reinvention has emerged as a non-negotiable. Moderated by Anju G Parvathy, Senior Vice President & Head of Workforce Strategy, Avtar Career Creators Limited, this panel discussion with Archana Bajaj, Director of Software Engineering for GenAI Engineering, Pegasystems, Janani Prakaash, SVP, Global Head of People & Culture, Genzeon, and Jyoti Shailendra, Senior Vice President and Business Unit Leader, Asia Pacific Communications, Media and Enterprise Services Delivery Center (CME), CGI, leaders highlighted that thriving in the age of AI requires more than technical upskilling – it demands a mindset shift rooted in curiosity and continuous learning.
Professionals must take a proactive approach: anticipating change, experimenting with emerging technologies, and aligning with innovation agendas. By stepping into high-growth roles and openly sharing successes, women can move from being passive participants in change to active shapers of the future of work.
Women at the Helm of GCC Transformation
Global Capability Centres (GCCs) are evolving into hubs of innovation and leadership, and women are playing a critical role in this transformation. Moderated by Lakshmi Vijaykumar, Vice President – MarComm & Events, Avtar Career Creators Limited, this session had interesting insights from Captain Dileep Narayan, Director – HR, EPAM Systems, Prachi Jain ACC (ICF), Head, HR, Macquarie Group India, Sameera Siddiqui, CCAT Siddqui, Senior Director, Operations at Optum, T. S. Suryanarayanan Sankaran, Director & Managing Partner, Weaver India, the session emphasized that career journeys are deeply personal, shaped by different life stages and experiences. In navigating these complexities, empathetic leadership has emerged as a key differentiator. Leaders highlighted the importance of clarity, prioritization, and the understanding that not every challenge requires confrontation—an approach that enables sustained impact without burnout.
HackEquity: From Ideas to Action
A standout feature of the event was HackEquity, a solutions-driven initiative aimed at addressing systemic barriers to inclusion. Moving beyond problem identification, the platform focused on creating actionable frameworks to advance women’s participation in the workforce. The winning solution by Genzeon exemplified how innovation, when combined with intent, can drive tangible change.
The 18th edition of SEGUE Sessions reinforced a powerful truth: career momentum is intentional. By embedding the “Give to Gain” philosophy into everyday professional practice, individuals move from being contributors to becoming architects of inclusive growth. Whether navigating career transitions or leading innovation at scale, each step forward creates pathways for many more to rise.
