In 2006, when Geetha Kannan was working at Infosys, the opportunity to head Infosys’ women inclusivity network came her way, and she readily embraced the chance. “At the time, we held our first conference for women in technology. It was a real eye-opener, as I discovered that women in technology face discrimination, and there is a need for support to make sure that they are successful in their careers. And, this was the year when we thought we can do something that will really support women in technology. I should be the one to take the message across to the industry.”
Over the years, she has initiated a lot of coaching assignments, especially for people, who want to become better speakers. “One of the reasons that I have noticed that makes one person stand apart from the other is the ability to be confident no matter what you say. It gets translated to your voice, to your body language and to the audience, overall making you a better speaker. If you want to create change, you should have confidence in the message you are giving.”
She adds, “If you want to really transform, you should be clear of the sense of purpose and what you are requesting the audience. I think I will tell the same to my younger self.”
All of us go through ups and downs, that is what life is about, she points out, and it is the way one deals with it that makes things different. “One of the things that set me on this path is that if I have very strong sense of purpose and my goals are clearly outlined, coupled with a strong sense of values, then I am better off. Whenever there are setbacks in what I am doing, I reassure myself saying I am coming that much closer to what is happening and this is only a setback.”
Ask her what keeps her going, and she says, “What has stood well with me is a lot of hard work that I have put in, in the last four decades of my mindfulness journey. Mindfulness, meditation and yoga has kept me strong, mentally and physically, so that I can deal with these setbacks with a mind that has much more clarity and has the ability to see more into the future, rather than just looking at the present.
