Charu Thapar
Executive Director - Property & Asset Management, Asia Pacific | Head of Strategy, Platform & Emerging Markets India, Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam and Philippines
Who is a female inspiration/role model to you and why?
My mother is my inspiration. She has been bound to a wheelchair for 13 years. Yet she radiates positivity and inner happiness. Her coping mechanisms and self-motivation are exemplary. Especially during COVID, when mental health emerged as a challenge, her ability to stay positive got even more magnified for me.
In the corporate environment, I have looked up to Indra Nooyi, ex-Global CEO of PepsiCo. And Sheryl Sandberg, the COO of Facebook, in recent times. There are so many women and men who continue to inspire me with their grit, determination, and vision.
Why does inclusion matter to you?
Inclusion is critical for success. It is not about giving the same opportunity to everyone. It is about providing unique opportunities to each individual that they need to succeed in life. It is about creating an environment in which we feel confident to ask unapologetically; where we feel respected, included, and where we are recognised for our true potential.
How are you inspiring women to achieve their ambitions at JLL?
You don't inspire women and men differently. You share your goals. You narrate your journey how you reached each milestone. I encourage my colleagues to collaborate; I motivate them to continue investing their energy to achieve common and personal goals. I tell them to be transparent. When we are brave enough to acknowledge our shortcomings fearlessly, we are right on the path to self-fulfilment, growth, and success.
