Ranju Raja
Senior Director - Human Resources, India, and JBS, Global
Who is a female inspiration/role model to you and why?
I’ve been inspired by many women at different stages of my life. My first inspiration has been my mother. She instilled in me the determination to prioritise my career and financial independence at all times. My grandmother was ahead of her times – she was bold, outspoken and upheld her belief in equality. The values instilled in me through generations always guide me to fearlessly stand up for what I believe is right. Another source of inspiration is a close friend who, despite multiple perilous experiences, never leaves her positive outlook on life.
Why does inclusion matter to you?
Inclusion has always been very close to my heart. I grew up in a family where I have relatives belonging to three different religious identities; respecting them and celebrating their differences has been part of my life. The significance of inclusion further deepened after I became a mother to a special child.
I believe that every individual has their unique gifts and should have equal opportunities to make the most of their lives. As individuals, society and organisations, it will take all of us to come together and build a truly inclusive world, where no one is left behind because of their disability, economic conditions, ethnicity, age, religion, or gender identity.
There is ample research that proves diversity, inclusion and belongingness make business sense. Thus, celebrating what makes us all different and unique is both – supporting humanity and driving productivity, innovation and growth.
How are you inspiring women to achieve their ambitions at JLL?
At JLL, we endeavour to build an environment where every employee can achieve his or her ambitions. As a leader, irrespective of gender, my efforts have been to know people as individuals – know their aspirations - professional or personal, know what they do best and support them in attaining those.
Women all over the world typically carry the additional load of managing family responsibilities while pursuing careers. Empathy, care and flexibility are the three essential ingredients of a support system, that I have extended to such women colleagues to facilitate their growth. I candidly share my own life instances of navigating challenges, gaining family support and the mistakes I have made. I believe it helps women colleagues pick up learnings.
