Your journey as a woman in the cleaning industry

 I've had a fulfilling career in the not-for-profit sector for over 18 years, working on various issues such as Livelihoods, Women Empowerment, Water Sanitation and Hygiene, and Skill Development. My passion lies in empowering communities, particularly women, through policy advocacy, community development, skilling, and enterprise development. Growing up in India, my parents instilled values like kindness, doing good, and giving back to society.

I have lived in Singapore for 11 years and am now based in Dubai, where I work as the General Manager of the World Toilet Organization, advocating for sustainable and safely managed water, sanitation, and hygiene facilities globally.

In my current role, I co-created and led the World Toilet Summit, which was held in physical locations in India, Brazil, Melbourne, Nigeria, and Singapore. 

Gender related challenges in your career

Two big challenges that I faced as a woman are managing competing priorities both at the workplace and at home and finding a mentor who can guide me in my career journey. I learned to navigate the system by actively advocating for myself and seeking support from other women in the workplace and at home. Joining professional women's networks and mentorship programs helped me develop the confidence and skills necessary to make a difference through my work.

To overcome career obstacles, I recommend that women follow certain strategies, including working hard to establish themselves and make their voices heard, trusting their voices and expressing their ideas freely, cultivating networking and influencing skills to create alliances and find new career opportunities, continuously developing new skills, and seeking out mentors, and building personal credibility, trust, and executive presence.

Advice to young women who aspire to pursue a career in the cleaning industry

 If you aspire to pursue a career in the cleaning and hygiene industry, there are several things you can do to prepare and position yourself for success:

1.   Obtain relevant education and training  
2.   Gain relevant work experience 
3.   Be open to learning and growth
4.   Build a professional network

The cleaning and hygiene industry demands hard work and dedication. With the right preparation and mindset, one can excel and achieve career goals in the industry.