At Moxy, we believe in inspiring action by highlighting real stories of real women. Meet Dharshi Harindra, a dynamic professional whose career defies convention. Her journey spans continents and cultures, shaping her into more than just a seasoned professional, but a symbol of resilience, diversity, and inclusion. Her experiences not only expanded her professional horizons but also empowered her to conquer cultural barriers to leadership while embracing motherhood.
Introducing Dharshi Harindra
Can you briefly share about yourself, your professional journey and the most important milestones that have shaped your career?
I was born and raised in the UK where I studied law and started a career in a large corporate law firm. Qualifying as a lawyer during the global financial crisis in London 2010 my professional journey has exemplified the “jungle gym” rather than climbing the ladder: Over the past 17 years I have traversed industries (media, PR, Technology and Financial Services), worked in boutique law firms to global law firms, in-house, big tech companies, banks, legal consulting, entrepreneurship, coaching and diversity and inclusion.
Important milestones for me were:
- Moving overseas after getting married and working in new markets and navigating cultural barriers to leadership.
- Becoming a parent, after my second child, I left full-time employment to work as an independent consultant
What unconventional approach or lesson learned in your career has had the most significant impact on your success?
Learning new skills and building a personal brand - something that is still not very common for lawyers who remain by and large conservative and resistant to change.
The impact for me was that it opened up so many doors to new experiences and for the first time I started to receive job opportunities that were aligned with what I represented as part of my brand online rather than relying on active advertised job roles.
In building a world where everyone has equal opportunities, what advice would you give to emerging professionals, particularly women, navigating their careers in your industry/field?
On top of your training and technical credentials, layer in your creativity and authenticity. Use your credibility to dismantle the status quo and the most destructive of phrases in our industry: “that’s how it’s always been done”.
Reflections on Gender Dynamics and Inclusivity
If granted the creative freedom to shape a distinctive, gender-inclusive employee well-being initiative for your workplace, what would it look like, and how do you foresee it fostering a positive and inclusive work environment for all?
“No questions asked” leave policy, fully flexible hybrid working policy and well-being budget which staff members are obliged to spend and account for however they wish could all help.
I don’t think one single initiative can serve all as well-being is personal and depends on a person’s personal circumstances and preferences.
What is the one of the most shocking or surprising encounters you have had in the workplace as a woman?
Over a 17 year career I’ve had a smattering of encounters that sound cliche but happen - toxic leadership, workplace bullying, gaslighting, constantly moving goal posts at promotion rounds, exclusionary behaviour from other women, working all nighters whilst pregnant, a client asking in a phone pitch if “I was running off to have a baby any time soon?”, and when they found out I was in fact pregnant, asked (and were successful in) having me removed from their account.
How do you stay informed about the latest news on workplace inclusivity, and how does this knowledge contribute to your ongoing efforts in building a more inclusive work environment?
Are there any reading sources you can share with us?
When it comes to gender diversity, and having spent several years in Australia, intersectionality is very important to me to ensure that even the gender agenda is addressed inclusively in and of itself.
Having spent time as a diversity, equity and inclusion practitioner I am always consuming information, learning, coaching, training and consulting in this space.
As the host of “unbiased” podcast I regularly interview people who are actively seeking to disrupt the status quo and address unwarranted biases. Kimberle Crenshaw coined the term intersectionality and I recommend her work. Lily Zheng also. Adam Grant and Brene Brown tackle from different angles. There are a myriad of podcasts and books in this space and it continues to grow.
How do you think a collective approach, as advocated by the Moxy Movement, can effectively drive positive change in workplace gender dynamics?
Given the inequality that forms the fabric of the society we live in and the workplaces we operate in, a collective approach is the only way to drive lasting change.
Despite the growing spotlight on the issues affecting women in the workplace, many still don’t feel able to speak out or ask for what they want. Given the extent of this inequality in all areas, women who already have the privilege to work in secure, corporate jobs should use that privilege to start moving the needle together.
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Thank you for joining us on Dharshi's inspiring journey. Feel free to share your own story in the comments or join the movement by sharing your insights on Moxy Movement to make your voice heard!
