editorial
An instance from my journey as a woman entrepreneur Like most female leaders, I didn't like people treating me differently for being a female. The extra care, piercing look and the judgements about my ability at work irked me a lot. Ten years back, as a very young female entrepreneur in this male dominated business community, wanting to be treated normally was my supreme wish. Most people would want to know whether I am married and who is handling the business with me - my father, brother or husband? Generally as a society, women were/ are not considered to be playing the lead roles. Sharing an incident which is deeply etched in my heart- At an early stage of my work, a gentleman came for a meeting at my office to discuss his project. As discussions rolled on, we were talking about challenges in starting & sustaining a venture. With most certainty about his notion about me (or should I say women in general), he commented, "Madam, aapko kya pata struggle ke bare main? Ladies ko to bana banaya kursi mil jata hai. Jo eet se eet jodkar business khada karta hain, unko pata hain us dard ke bareh mein!" (How would you know about the struggles? Afterall, ladies get ready-made business set-ups to run. People who lay brick by brick to build their businesses know the real pain.) With a "Hmmmnnn...," I smiled while something inside me rocked, toppled & pierced to initiate backward flow of tears. I tried to be normal. I was quite successful in that. I didn’t tell him that I came to Delhi with just a backpack and a dream. The fact that I had to first make the brick and then lay them to build my business was worthless to discuss. Things have changed yet there is so much more to do. As per JLL research, women already head at least 9 banks, 5 FMCG companies and about eight IT/ITeS companies in India. There are at least 7% of women as board members in listed companies in India - but around 50% of them are family members of the owners, according to data from AVTAR Career Creators. ONLY a meagre 1.5% of women leaders - from a population of 500 million women - are the rest on company boards, while, according to WILL Forum, almost 90% of working women in India are stuck in mid-level jobs! As for Architecture, Design & Art space, WADe India 2017 is coming up with interesting data this year. Despite the differential treatment, general notion and other obstacles, those women who believed in their abilities have cut-through the stereotypes and evolved as matured leaders. I do not blame men. I see them as the strongest counterparts for supporting women at home & work. It is the society that slowly develops & moulds with time. Successful women have a huge role to play. Today, I understand the importance of being called a 'Female' entrepreneur - to come out and embrace the difference, to acknowledge and inspire more women. Success is not measured by your accomplishment, but by the obstacles & opposition you have encountered, and the courage with which you have converted them into smiles, growth & celebration not only for yourself but for many who are walking in similar paths! We hope you will enjoy the interactions & works of the 3 young women featured in this issue. Happy International Women’s Day!
Go to page – 107 & 109 for details about WADe India
Vertica Dvivedi
https://in.linkedin.com/in/verticad | https://www.facebook.com/verticad | vertica@surfaces.in
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ANNOUNCING THE CALL FOR ENTRIES
WADe India Awards 2017
For women architects & designers
Apply at www.wadeindia.com
Women in Architecture & Design A little Spark can light the whole world!
WADe India – the first of its kind platform for Women Architects and Designers in India, started with a humble idea to document the work of Women Architects in India, led to the creation of something much larger. That’s the beauty of an idea. Participation from 300+ delegates across India and the presence of 40+ Top Women Architects and Designers of India amongst large number of young designers and an equally eminent Jury Panel along with the presence of dignitaries from various institutions was amazing. We were overwhelmed to receive tremendous positive response across the fraternity with the launch of WADe on May 14, 2016. Women architects desperately wanted a platform to come together, network and learn from each other’s experiences, successes and failures. This kept our little team going.
To begin with, as is the case with anything disruptive, it was not an easy task or a topic that readily received acknowledgement. We met varied and diverse groups of women. Some even seemed contented with their achievements, and comfortable in their little shells with no idea about how much their contribution would matter for other women. WADe wanted to shake up the thoughts of those WHO CAN contribute and CONNECT with those in need of the support. Standing up for the rest of the community is important. Fortunately, WADe India got the support of some WONDERFUL WOMEN & EVEN MEN from the industry who stood by our side to SUPPORT & STAND for this cause. Sometimes, more needs to be done to awaken the women themselves to bring in the changes in men!
Among the developments v WADe India started series of WADe Talk Sessions in 2016 which will be carried forward to all major cities & towns in 2017. v NEW Web platform of WADe India which is the engine to drive all initiatives will be launched on 8th March 2017. Some exciting gift hampers awaiting! v Date for WADe India 2017 will be announced in www.wadeindia.com so keep checking the site. v Project Entries for WADe India Awards are accepted online. One may write to hellowadeindia@gmail.com for queries. v Women Architects & Designers can upload their profiles & projects at www.wadeindia.com.
3 Young & Rising
Women Architects & Designers Their works, thoughts and some lessons learnt Four Young Women were the winners of WADe India Emerging Category Awards in 2016. On the occasion of International Women’s Day, we felt it was appropriate to cover the works & thoughts of these rising women in design that would enlighten & inspire other young women. Presenting the interactions & projects of Ar. B. Shweta from Hyderabad, Ar. Priyanka Khanna from Delhi and ID Farah Ahmed Mathias from Bangalore! Unfortunately, we could not establish connection with Ar. Pritika Kinra within the timeframe of Surfaces Reporter.
PRIYANKA KHANNA PARTNER, 42MM, DELHI
WADe ‘delta’ INNOVATIVE YOUNG WOMEN ARCHITECT Emerging CATEGORY AWARD
Priyanka Khanna completed her Bachelor of Architecture from Sushant School of Art and Architecture in 2003. After graduation, she was exposed to all aspects of design & construction management during her association with Aakar design. She got hands on experience on design, site management, budgeting & quality control. In 2005, 42mm was established as an Architectural & Interior Design practice. She is the founding partner at 42mm and leads project teams on all phases of design. She doesn’t conform to any particular design style. She is passionate about sustainable, multidisciplinary, research-based design. Priyanka has won several awards and recognitions and was also a winner of WADe Delta Emerging Award 2016 for Innovation. www.42mm.co.in
“Nothing will change unless women stay in the field until some of them rise to fill leadership positions.”
Read more...
B.Shweta
founder of Vistaar Associates, Hyderabad WADe Young Woman ‘N’Architect 2016 Emerging CATEGORY AWARD
B. Shweta is the founder of Vistaar Associates - an architecture and interior design firm based in Hyderabad. She earned a Degree in Architecture from JNTU, Hyderabad in 2004 and completed her Masters’ in Interior Design in 2010. She acquired experience under world renowned architect B. V. Doshi at Vastu Shilpa Consultants, Ahmedabad, and further pursued the nuances of Sustainable Architecture & Interiors at Inspiration, an eco-sensitive design firm in Kochi, Kerala. Her designs balance aesthetic elements dealing with space, form, texture, volume, mass, structure, light, shadow and colors with pragmatic elements such as cost, and functionality. B. Shweta has been a receiver of many prestigious awards among which she won the WADe Young Woman ‘N’Architect Award 2016 where ‘N’ stands for ‘Nature’. Her projects were appreciated for sustainability & use of natural materials intelligently. www.vistaarassociates.com
“You have the twin defects of being young and female, people will assume you are the interior decorator, or that you definitely have a partner who does the main job.”
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“They say for a working mother that when a child is born, guilt is also born. I now understand what that means.”
Farah Ahmed MATHIAS
partner, fadd studio, bangalore WADe YOUNG WOMAN INTERIOR DESIGNER 2016 Emerging CATEGORY AWARD
Farah Ahmed studied under graduation at Northwestern University, learning Photography and Political Science and later moved to Milan to complete her Masters degree in Interior Design from Istitutio Marangoni. Farah Ahmed Mathias and Dhaval Shellugar are Partners in the firm FADD Studio, which is an acronym for Farah and Dhaval Design, founded in 2012 in Bangalore. FADD Studio’s projects range from residences to offices and retail spaces to hospitality. Currently, the studio is designing a music lounge in Bangalore, a house boat in Goa, luxury villas in the outskirts of Bangalore and a holiday home in the heart of Bangalore. Apart from several awards that she won, Farah is also the winner of WADe Emerging Award 2016 for Young Woman Interior Designer. She loves Excel as much as she loves Photoshop and that we believe makes her work unique & interesting. www.faddstudio.com
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what’s in surfaces showcase?
www.wadeindia.com
A platform for Women in Design, Art & Architecture of India www.wadeindia.com
With the initiative of WADe India 2016, Role Models were felicitated, emerging young designers were awarded while we interacted with hundreds of aspiring women working in this space.
WADe India 2017 is looking for more: Women leaders in Architecture, Design and Art Women leaders in Product Design and Decor Women who are leading & managing design businesses Women professionals who are the backbone of design firms Women who are at the forefront of innovation Women who are rising fast with disruptive ideas Women who are leading in Infrastructure & Real estate Women who are adding value through Research and Education Women who are helping other women to spread their wings Promising Young women in Design, Art & Architecture And more...
Nominate someone you know or Apply at: WWW.WADEINDIA.COM For queries: hellowadeindia@gmail.com
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