The Story of Resilience, Entrepreneurship & Social impact

Madi Sharma is the founder and award-winning Entrepreneur behind the Madi
Group – A group of private sector sole trader companies, and some not for profit
organisations, with a philosophy to create innovative ideas tailored to local
action which can achieve global impacts beneficial to society.
Madi titles herself ‘Victim to Changemaker’ as her personal experience has
taken her through the University of Life from a victim of domestic violence and
single parent through to Entrepreneur and inspirational speaker. She
established her first company from her kitchen at home, which grew to two
factories and 35 staff. Today, Madi has been termed a ‘social capitalist’ as she
invests profits from her work into advocacy and the empowerment of others.
Madi has received the honours of Asian Woman of Achievement and UK’s Best
Boss and as well as the Woman of the Decade – Entrepreneur and Leadership,
All Ladies League Award. In May 2018, Madi was listed as one of the
Apolitical’s 100 World Most Influential People in Gender Policy.
Madi is a recognised international speaker, including TEDx Talks. She keynotes
at conferences and lectures in universities on Entrepreneurship, trade policy,
empowerment, leadership, valuing human capital, diversity, gender balance
and corporate social responsibility. As a presenter, Madi has the rare ability to
capture an audience through uncommonly direct and original insights that
engage individuals in her call to action. As a result of the success of Madi’s
speeches she authored her first book Madi No Excuses!
www.madinoexcuses.com and is a freelance journalist.
Madi received a UK Prime Ministers appointment, in 2002, to The European
Economic and Social Committee as UK Member, representing the Employer’s
Group. Additionally, she has been a member of the advisory board to the
European Commissioner Antonio Tajani, Enterprise and Industry, and also for
Commissioner for Transport Violeta Bulc, in regards women in transport. On
policy development Madi is recognised for her work on gender equality and
Entrepreneurship particularly. We managed to catch her for a conversation.

Rajni Vohra: Can you tell us about your background and how you became interested in
entrepreneurship and social impact?
Madi Sharma : My background has been the foundation of my achievements. I accredit all my successes to my genetic heritage, the strength that was gained from the struggles of my ancestors:
On one side I have my Indian soul, where my great grandparents and grandparents were
tobacco farmers in Hazro, India, pre-1947. My father and his family were then forced to
leave their homes, due to Partition, and travelled to Delhi, where they set up a new life with
only the few things they were carrying. The physical and emotional strengths that my
ancestors had, to find opportunity even in times of despair, are within me too.
I am digressing, but when my father died 2 years ago, as the eldest daughter of 5 girls, it was
me who took his ashes to the Ganges. There, not only did I learn, through all the
ceremonies, about my ancestors and the journey of their souls, but I also saw all their
names, and mine, handwritten in a book held with our pandit ji (priest). I have always
known that I am strong because of the souls around me but seeing the hundreds of pages of
my family history, which go back to my great-great-grandfathers village, made me truly
value the person I am, and the deep roots from where I have come.
Whilst my father was Indian, my mother is Austrian, and her story is not dissimilar to that of
my father. She had to travel in 1944 from Austria to England and report with her sister and
mother to the local Police Station. She was registered as an “Alien”, an untrusted foreigner.
Her father, and her uncle, both Polish, were leaders of the Polish resistance against German
occupying forces. They were fighters for freedom and justice, an inner commitment I have
possessed since the time when I was able to recognise injustice in the world.
So, where does entrepreneurship, feminism and social impact come from? Well, when my
father arrived in England in 1953, he had just £3.00 (300 Rs/-) in his pocket. He became a
bus driver, a coal miner and then set up his own business. Everything I was given as a child
was as a result of the struggles and sacrifices, he had made. However, what I recognised at
an early age was that he was in charge of his choices, his decisions, and he was controlling
his own destiny. All those things inspired me and him the great man he was in the eyes of
others. I wanted some of that too!
My poor father, we were 5 girls! Sadly, most Indian men still want a son – but my father was
gifted with 5 amazing, and now highly successful, women! He had no choice, or should that
be WE had no choice, we had to do everything that any male would do, and hence, equal
opportunities was not even a discussion in our house, it was a given! Hence, I have my
strong stance, that women have equal rights to men, because there are no argument to
challenge it!
Now, I have to backtrack slightly: My Austrian mother adopted all the Indian customs and
chose Hinduism as her faith. So, we were brought up as good Indian girls with all the values
of the Hindu philosophy and Indian culture – It is why I always say my heart and soul are
100% Indian. And yes, I was expecting an arranged marriage, but my destiny was to be
something else ……. because of MY choice! Something I take responsibility for.

I married an English man against my parents wishes. I had 7 years of a great marriage, and
as a result, I have two beautiful daughters Laxshmi Ann and Melissa Darshna. But the last
two years of my marriage were not what I was expecting. I experienced rape in marriage
and violent domestic abuse.
Yes, I am sharing this. Yes, as good Indian women we don’t share our person issues. NO,
domestic violence and rape in marriage are NOT domestic issues, they are societal
problems. NO, this does not only happen when you marry a white man!
So, this is where I gained my strength to be a social impact activist and fight to eradicate
domestic violence. Gender based violence happens to 1 in 3 women, and 1 in 5 men. It
should not happen to anyone! Domestic Violence is a crime. And the reason I talk about it is
because it’s not something that should be swept under the carpet!
As an international speaker, consultant, policy advisor and businessperson I am in a
privileged position – and with that privilege, comes responsibility – A responsibility to speak
out for those who can’t.
Of course, my work doesn’t stop with just trying to eradicate domestic violence, it has
expanded into fighting for any injustice I see. This includes working with persons with
disabilities, ethnic minorities, Roma and those facing human rights abuses. It’s as simple as
this: To turn away from any injustice, is to be complicit in the crime.
So, after finding my inner strength, that of my ancestors, I was able to leave my home and
my abusive husband. I took my two little children with me, and despite having very little to
my name, I knew I was alive. Now it was down to me, my choices, my decisions, my
opportunity to define my destiny. That moment, the moment of my worst day, was also the
first moment of my best life. I have never looked back, but occasionally, I do reflect and say
“Thank you” – I am who I am today because of the challenges I was put through.
A few days later, in poverty, without any qualifications, skills or training, being a single
parent and without any confidence, I started my own business. If my father could do it with
£3, I could do it with 50p, some potatoes, onions, peas, flour and oil! That was the point I
became an Entrepreneur and started making samosas in my kitchen at home.
I am not a victim; I am a survivor.
I am not just a survivor; I am a success.
I am a success because I would not change my life with anyone else on this planet.
Let me ask you all now, what is your definition of success for yourself? And what, in your
past, has given you the strength to know you can achieve the success you deserve?

Rajni Vohra:( pause) I feel very moved after hearing your story of courage, determination to protect your self-esteem as a woman. By valuing your worth and refusing to settle for less than you deserve, you set an example for others and pave the way for a brighter future. To answer your question – To me, success is reaching at the better and greater level of life, from the current point , in terms of maturity, self reliance, learning, career, health , everything! Because that renders me a sense of inner peace and the contentment. Ultimately, the strength to achieve success often comes from within, So did in my case too in the form of self-confidence, determination, and a willingness to persevere through setbacks and obstacles. By believing in myself and taking consistent action towards my goals, I focused on building the momentum needed to achieve the success I deserve.

By the way, you have been involved in various international trade missions and initiatives. How do
you see the role of entrepreneurship and innovation in promoting economic growth and
development?
Madi Sharma :There are two major fundamental economic assets which ALL countries still fail to
acknowledge sufficiently, nor invest in adequately.
The first is women. “Women are the strength of the nation” – This is the mantra for my
NGO The Women’s Eco-nomic & Social Think Tank (WESTT) www.westt.eu,
www.westtworld.com. Women make up 51% of the global population, and for some
reason, governments and internationals institutions choose to refer to women as
“minorities.”
Women are equally as capable as men, if not more competent in most areas socially,
economically and environmentally. It’s a fact that women are more highly qualified than
men now. It’s statistically proven, from US data, that women created more business
following the 2008 financial crisis than men. They also employed more people than male
owned companies. The return on investment from women-owned companies is greater
than that of their male counterparts. When women sit on the board of companies, not
only is the return on investment higher, but the productivity and profitability also
increase, as does the corporate social responsibility (CSR). There is not a single argument
that could justify not having more women in the workplace, nor at the head of both
corporate and public sector institutions – and yet women still remain invisible or rare in
many aspects of society, especially politics.
In truth, there are only two things stopping women from achieving their true potential:
Men and themselves! Why themselves? Because women are failing to take what is
rightly theirs!
For example, something all corporate and public sector institutions should remember –
women have 80% of the purchasing power. That means 80% of decisions to buy
something, including cars and things you may consider “male products”, are decided on
by women. Women hand over the cash! Just think if women stopped buying from
companies who didn’t have 50% women on their boards – how quickly we could change
the dynamics of the business world? Or if women stopped voting for candidates, male or
female, who did not support equality, equity and parity legislation – how quickly could
be change the political landscape?

– And let’s please stop with the victimisation of women and the excuses.

Ladies, there is no glass ceiling, you can achieve the success you deserve, you just have
to know exactly what it is that you want and be willing to work to get it! (Don’t even
worry about the how, it will happen if you want it badly enough).
So, the second asset countries fail to value are its Entrepreneurs. Yes, Entrepreneurs
always get a capital E when I am talking about them because Entrepreneurs are the backbone of any economy. They are the ones who bring growth, jobs, innovation,
community development, and real CSR. Entrepreneurs work tireless to grow their
businesses and invest in their staff and their communities.
Simply put, if you take away all the Entrepreneurs and small businesses from any
country, the economy will collapse. Large companies do not have anywhere near the
collective asset value of small businesses, and yet disappointingly, governments choose
to ignore them. Why? Because there are millions of Entrepreneurs, millions of small
businesses; shops, factories, people working from home, internet businesses; in every
sector of the economy and so there is no ‘one-size-fits all’ model that governments can
use to deal with them. So, they don’t, they just ignore them, to the detriment of the
economy and sustainable growth.

Rajni Vohra: You have spoken about the importance of building bridges between businesses,
governments, and civil society to achieve social impact. Can you give us some examples
of successful partnerships that you have been a part of?
Madi Sharma : As a businesswoman, also as a private consultant, as an activist and as a woman, if we
want to see real change in any area then we cannot do it in isolation – We cannot do it
alone. You need a collective. You need a collective responsibility where every partner
will benefit, otherwise why would they come to the discussion, and where they have a
vested interest, but where each partner is accountable to make sure that action takes
place.
The best example I can give you is one which I initiated in the European Union. I say I
initiated, it was my idea, but I did not lead it because I did not have the ability. However,
the woman I talked to did have the title, competence, and resources to make it happen.
Here’s one of my quotes to consider: “Paying it forward, or making changes, is about
leaving behind the ego, to have an anonymous legacy”.
In other words, do you want to see the change, or do you just want the recognition?
The woman I took my idea to was someone I highly respected. She was the EU
Commissioner for Transport, a former Prime Minister of Slovenia and a woman of
action. She was Commissioner Violeta Bulc.
Ms Bulc and I were on the same flight once, I knew I had less than a few minutes to talk
to her. I took the opportunity and approached her with my idea, just a few key bullet
points. That was just enough for her to see my energy and my passion, and for her to
invite me to her office to explain more of the details.
(You have one opportunity – never waste it – you have nothing to lose, and everything
to gain!)
In the Commissioner’s office, I was able to share with her and her team an idea of how
we could attract more women into the transport sector. I never asked for anything for
myself, I just shared a model of how we could bring businesses, trade unions, academics, policy makers, media and NGOs around a table and ask them to make concrete
proposals to attract more women to the transport sector.

Fortunately, she loved it. I stepped back and let Commissioner Bulc lead with her dynamic personality and passion. And yes, she got the job done! – The number of women in the transport sector has
begun to increase in Europe.
Why do I care about women in the transport sector? I could say I don’t, it doesn’t affect
my life, my business, nor my social impact. But oh yes it does, because I believe in the
right for women to have the same rights as men whatever they are doing. So, if Mrs Bulc
can help the women in transport, then that’s helping me in my cause.
What are you passionate about, and who do you know, or what ideas do you have that
can change a situation?
And I know you want to say, “well you got paid a nice consultancy fee for your work
Madi” – But guess what? I didn’t get paid anything!
You cannot put a value on seeing your idea turned into an action and having someone as
prestigious as Commissioner Bulc not only listen to your idea but adopt it and push it
forward. Priceless!

Rajni Vohra: Very true! Can you tell us about your experience as a member of the European Economic and
Social Committee? What were some of the most challenging issues you faced in this
role, and how did you address them?
Madi Sharma :I was a member of the European Economic & Social Committee (EESC) for 20 years. The
EESC is the EU institution mandated to represent civil society. I was representing
business, Entrepreneurs and women, but working on a wide range of topics that would
later become policy. The EESC is one of the first stages of policy development in the
European Union.
Strictly speaking, it’s an institution which represents business, trade unions and other
areas of civil society. I loved the work, but when you have 3 diverse groups trying to
develop policy from 3 different angels, it rarely works, and so the objective was to find a
consensus, but a consensus of diverse opinions has very little value – As a result, the
work of the Committee was never valued, nor had any value.
Let me share with you one document I wrote for the Committee on gender balance on
company boards – In short, how to get more women on corporate boards by creating
new legislation:
So, I was a member of the Employers Group. The Employers Group is made up of large
corporates, as I mentioned above, small companies and entrepreneurs are ignored, so I
was one of only a handful of small business representatives in the Committee. Of course,
the Employers Group was also less than 25% women. Writing a document to promote
more women on corporate boards was not something they wanted to support. I was
hated for writing that document, not just by the men and the corporates, but by women
who were manipulated by their male colleagues to speak against me. This, despite the
fact that all the evidence, and the business case, highlighted the benefits of having more
women on board, similar to those I mentioned above.

Luckily, I did have the trade unions and the NGOs on my side, even though, in normal
circumstances, they would have been against me just because I was from the Employers
Group. To cut a long story short, I managed to get the document I wrote to be accepted
(with almost all the Employers Group voting against me).
I received a letter of gratitude and praise from the responsible Commissioner, and to
this day I am very proud of myself for being able to stand strong against a torrent of
people trying to stop me. But just to put it into context – That was 12 years ago, and the
legislation has only just been adopted (2022) in the EU because the European Parliament
and the Member States of the European Union could not agree to accept it, due to the
heavy lobbying from industry!
I left the EESC under two very dark clouds, one Brexit – where the UK left the European
Union, and the second because I filed a complaint of harassment against a senior
member of the Committee. As I said when telling you about my own story, if you see an
injustice DO NOT turn away, otherwise you are complicit in the crime. In 2018, I
uncovered numerous cases of an individual morally harassing staff under his control. It
also happened to me and I was able to use what had happened to me to call for an
investigation. The investigation delivered a substantial report, concluding that the cases
I had raised were of concern. This report was passed to the Belgium Courts for criminal
prosecution. What shocked me most during this episode, is that almost all the members
of the EESC blamed me for highlighting the case and damaging the reputation of the
EESC, rather than protecting the victims or dealing with this issue. The crimes continued
because no one had dared to speak out. As the whistle-blower, when I did speak out, it
was me who was targeted, not only by the perpetrator but by other members who were
complicit in the cover up.
I didn’t become a member of the EESC to make friends. My purpose in life is not to make
friends. My mission in life is to drive change to make a better world for everyone.
However, I can admit, it’s lonely and it’s difficult sometimes (most of the time), fighting
for what is right!
So, let me ask you, how strong are you? Can you stand up for what’s right, for what you
believe in, or will you leave it for someone else to do? Rajni Vohra: Had you asked this question couple of years back, I would have definitely given you a different answer, but today my answer is ‘Yes ‘, I can stand for what I believe in; I have gained this strength from my experience and life skills over a period of time and of course, having met strong women like you .

Let me redirect the conversation to another area -Can you share some advice for aspiring entrepreneurs and social activists who want to make a positive impact on society?
Madi Sharma : Gandhi said, “You must be the change you want to see.” Madi says “You must be the
change you want to see, no excuses!” – This is my personal mantra.
Accept your responsibility. Stop making excuses for not doing the things you are
capable of doing. Start being the most impressive version of yourself. You have all the capabilities, competences and strength inside you to be successful, however you define
it. – Come on guys and girls, if I can do it, you can too – No Excuses!

Rajni Vohra: Thank you for opening up your heart and sharing your story with us. It takes a great deal of courage and vulnerability to be able to do so, and I am truly honored that you chose to trust us with your experiences.

Susana Metzger is a well known Film Festival Director & Media Producer for over a decade. She is the founder of the Portuguese Surf Film Festival, at Ericeira – Europe´s first world surfing reserve – and a co-founder of What If ?- Women in Film Festival in Zürich, Switzerland. She is also an Executive Director of ‘Mind Act’, specializing in telling stories and providing the right solutions for film making and branding .

WahWoman team got a chance to speak to her and listened to her perspective on film festivals and their impact on women Worldwide.

Rajni Vohra: What was the moment that sparked your passion for films? Do you remember that? Susana Metzger: Growing up, going to the movies was always an important part of our family outings. My passion for storytelling was sparked by that first film that triggered my imagination and that was “Dead Poets Society ”, on how curiosity and daring to break the conservative norms can lead you to new and important discoveries.

Rajni Vohra: Movies are considered to influence political discourse and public opinion on important issues. How have surf movies impacted society’s perception of gender roles and equality?
Susana Metzger: I am a strong believer that films are a form of activism. And documentaries are often a window to societal issues in parts of the world we know very little of. In the film niches I have been blessed to work with though the festivals I curate, I often see portrayed topics of gender. With surf films, in places like Palestine, or Bangladesh for instance, we feel for those little girls who want to pursue their passion for sports and surfing in particular, but are chained up by their communities who hold high expectations of them marrying way too young and leaving their dreams behind. These are important calls for all of us to take action and help out. The filmmakers are often courageous and key to bringing light to these problems. 

Rajni Vohra: Why have decided to focus on surf movies instead of mainstream commercial cinema?
 Susana Metzger: I grew up in Ericeira, Portugal. And since the early eighties, we were all influenced by the growth of surfing in this region. When in 2011 Ericeira became a World Surfing Reserve (the only one in Europe until 2022), it was clear that we needed an event bringing the best international surf cinema from all around the world. This was, and is, an industry on the rise and it all made sense. We started the Portuguese Surf Film Festival in 2012, running now for 12 consecutive years. At the very beginning, an award in Britain for best short surf film, provided me with the right tools and platform, to carry on with my vision.

Rajni Vohra: You have also been the founder of the ‘What if ‘women’s film festival in Zurich as well. What made you exclusively concentrate and design the festival for women only? 
Susana Metzger: I moved to Switzerland for a few years and I was confronted with a disparity I was not expecting, with regards to gender inequality at work. Although this is, unfortunately, a reality all over the world, a country like Switzerland which is a champion in innovation and prosperity, was for me at the time, an unlikely suspect. Nevertheless, it has been amazing to witness how women have come together in Switzerland to join forces, through their historical strikes and organizations such as WeCoCo, Lean In Switzerland, Advance, just to name a few. In my head, I started building that project of activism through film, which is core to my belief system. And that´s how the concept of “documentaries made by women about women” came about. Together with a dear friend and also an expat in Switzerland, Charlotte Gantenbein, we put together “What If? Women in Film Festival” in 4 months. Not only is it important to us to shine light through important issues that women face around the world, but also to bring on to the international stage seemingly unknown work of new filmmakers and their expressions of art, poetry, social concerns and overall let their voices be heard.

Rajni Vohra: Your biggest learning from Life
Susana Metzger: Everything can be done, with the right ingredients: a bit of salt and courage, pepper and determination, and then sprinkle it all up with loads of hope, love for your craft, and happiness. And just like that, your work leaves a legacy.

Rajni Vohra: Thank you for this conversation.

Lisa Russell, MPH is an Emmy-winning filmmaker, Nicholl Fellowship QF Screenwriter, UN/NGO Artist Curator, 2x TEDx Speaker, Fulbright Specialist and Founder of CREATE2030 whose work lies at the intersection of arts, social justice and global development. An avid proponent of narrative justice and responsible storytelling, Lisa has been a featured speaker and workshop facilitator at some of the leading global health gatherings including TEDxJNJ (Johnson & Johnson), Switchpoint, Envision, Unite for Sight, and others.She is a writer and director, known for A Revolutionary Act (2020), Bi-Racial Hair (2009) and Mother’s Cry (2015).

It was a stroke of luck that we were able to interview her. Read the full conversation:

Rajni Vohra: How art and culture can help mitigate various issues in the World?

Lisa Russell :Art and culture help mitigate issues around the world by transforming them into stories and narratives that have an emotional and personal element to them.  Art and culture help us not only to learn more about the world around us but to unlearn the inherent bias we are exposed to and systems of oppression we have accepted as “normal.”  Art and culture serves to question, disrupt, inspire, motivate, anger, love and appreciate the world around us.  Art and culture are the most powerful tools we have to truly create an equal and sustainable world for current and future generations.

Rajni Vohra: In your experience, what is the best way to empower artists in developing nations?

Lisa Russell :The best way to empower artists and creatives from low and middle income countries, is to create systems that value and support their livelihoods.  Many artists, through the challenges and resiliency they experienced in life, have empowered themselves and those around them.  But we need to ensure they are paid for their contributions and we value their livelihoods in the same we do other sectors.

Rajni Vohra: Where do you see your current role in helping society?

Lisa Russell :My role as both a creative practitioner and an advocate for artists in the UN/NGO sector is to challenge harmful norms of how artists are valued and engaged with their work.  I advocate for artist representation, believing that the best ones to shape policies and programmes for creatives are creatives themselves.  In my experience, UN/NGO entities and staff are creating the programs they believe help creatives but they live on the opposite spectrum when it comes to livelihoods, pay scales, health insurance and more.  Letting artists lead in the creation and implementation of UN/NGO creative campaigns, events, initiatives its a win-win for everyone.  In the same vein of us not having adults speak on behalf of young people or men speaking on behalf of women, we must let the creative practitioners speak for themselves and other sectors to offer a seat at the table.

Rajni Vohra:. What impact do you envisage and aim for through your work?

Lisa Russell :The impact I aim for in my work is to first and foremost, inspire through action.  In in my own personal life, the biggest moments I have experienced that have shaped or shifted my path has been meeting others who truly inspired me.  As an artist and creative working in two male -dominated industries – development and media – I have aimed to break glass ceilings in order for myself and the women who follow me to be able to create a more equitable space for women and girls – of all colors, educational backgrounds, etc – to thrive.  I want to continue to be at the forefront of the change around the engagement and amplification of the creative economy in helping to share a more just, inclusive and sustainable future for all.

Rajni Vohra: Thank you for talking to us

India and Slovenia established diplomatic relations in 1992, soon after Slovenia declared independence from Yugoslavia. Since then, bilateral relations between the two countries have grown steadily, with cooperation in various fields.

Political relations: India and Slovenia share common values and interests such as democracy, human rights, and sustainable development. Both countries have been cooperating in international forums, such as the United Nations, where Slovenia has supported India’s bid for permanent membership in the UN Security Council.

Trade and Economic Relations: Bilateral trade between India and Slovenia has been growing steadily over the years. India’s major exports to Slovenia include pharmaceuticals, textiles, and engineering goods, while Slovenia exports mainly pharmaceuticals, machinery, and paper products to India. India and Slovenia have signed an agreement on trade and economic cooperation to further enhance their economic relations.

Cultural Relations: India and Slovenia have been promoting cultural exchanges through various events and activities. The Embassy of India in Ljubljana organizes events such as Indian Film Festivals, Yoga Day celebrations, and cultural performances to promote cultural ties between the two countries.

Science and Technology: India and Slovenia have been collaborating in the field of science and technology, particularly in the areas of information technology, biotechnology, and renewable energy. The two countries have signed a cooperation agreement in science and technology to promote joint research and development projects. Overall, the bilateral relations between India and Slovenia have been cordial and cooperative, and both countries are committed to strengthening their ties in various fields.

It has been a pleasure to have the opportunity to interview the Slovenian Ambassador in India Mateja Vodeb Ghosh. Her valuable knowledge and experiences have enlightened us on the bilateral relations between Slovenia and India, and the way forward for the future. We appreciate the efforts of the Slovenian Embassy in India in strengthening the bonds between our two nations and promoting cultural, economic, and political ties.

We tried to dive into various zones briefly to understand the current state and latest happenings between the two nations through the following questions:

Q1.You have been in India now for quite sometime. Having lived in a country for so many years which is very diverse in its language, culture, traditions and various other elements, what impact do you feel it has left on you.

Q2. India and Slovenia have collaborated in so many areas such as science and technology, education, and culture in past. What are some of the recent developments in this regard?

Q3.Slovenia is known for its beautiful landscapes and tourism potential. How is Slovenia promoting itself as a tourist destination in India?

Q4.Slovenia has a strong focus on sustainable development and environmental protection. How is Slovenia working with India to promote these values?

Q5. What message would you like to convey to Indian businesses and tourists who are considering Slovenia as a destination for investment or travel?

Watch the full episode.

Meet Ms. Slavica Grkovska, the Deputy Prime Minister in the Government of the Republic of North Macedonia. She has previously served as the chief systemic analyst in the Sector for Information Technology, department of informatics and telecommunications in the Ministry of the Interior.
During her term as an MP, she was president of the Commission on Education, Science and Sports, member of the Foreign Affairs Co mmittee and deputy member of the Committee on European Affairs. Furthermore, she was deputy president of the Joint Parliamentary Committee in the EU-Republic of Macedonia.

We got an opportunity to interview Ms. Slavica Grkovska, for the ‘Women & The World’ section of WahWoman.

Ms. Slavica Grkovska

Rajni Vohra: The Republic of North Macedonia has an exceptionally rich art & musical heritage which is reflected through its well-preserved customs, epic poetry, legends, colourful costumes, and wonderful folklore. How good governance is instrumental in promoting and preserving the culture for a better society?

Slavica Grkovska: Good governance is an instrument that contributes towards preserving and promoting all social values, including the cultural ones. Good governance in multi-cultural  and multi-ethnic societies, such as the Macedonian, means that we need to use differences as an advantage, as potential in preservation and promotion of culture. The good governance principles that I am striving for mean overcoming the differences and isolating divisions that may be imposed by the multi-ethnicity of the society. This means that, on one hand, good governance is a continuation of traditions and customs from our rich treasury of all people in North Macedonia, while on the other, we must follow the modern trends of cultural accomplishment and to create a different world of values, a world that will reflect the real image for our country. To conclude, the fulfillment of the principles and values of good governance will inevitably result in greater and wider promotion of the Macedonian culture, in relation to creating a better society and in our case, society for all.

Rajni Vohra: Gender equality and good governance are part of a virtuous cycle. A necessary condition linking gender equality and good governance is female political leadership. In your opinion to what extent is good governance linked to gender equality?

Slavica Grkovska: Good governance is always connected to human rights, through their promotion and protection, and thus through the promotion of equality in the society.  It is undoubtedly that women’s rights are human rights, and we must not forget or ignore this; on the contrary, my efforts in the line of good governance continuously articulate the importance of women’s rights as an essential element in the functioning of the society. Greater inclusion of women in the social processes and in the decision making system brings more quality decisions, but also a clearer vision for a country. It is well known that social progress is more rational and more essential if part of it is assigned to women. That is why we cannot exclude good governance as a method of protecting and promoting gender equality. If good governance includes moral and ethical values, then this is in correlation with gender equality, because the world examples and practice have shown that women are greater leaders in the promotion of these values. Gender equality respects human dimensions, creates constructiveness and cooperation, and it also brings progress for the overall community.

Rajni Vohra: The Republic of North Macedonia has made significant commitments to advance gender equality. However, it is believed that there are still some roadblocks getting in the way of achieving women’s equal representation and participation in decision-making processes – the lack of an electoral quota is often deemed as one of the key reasons in the process. How do you see the role of good governance in solving the issue?

Slavica Grkovska: If we say that good governance is in correlation to the gender equality, then this means greater participation of women in politics, especially in the decision making institutions. I agree that North Macedonia has achieved significant results in the advancement of gender equality, especially through the policies of the party where I come from, SDSM, which in this moment continues with activities for greater presence of women in politics. I can agree with the fact that we need to constantly overcome the obstacles in the accomplishment of overall inclusion of women. I have never given up the fight for women to be leaders, to be on equal footing with men, all for the benefit of the country and the citizens. In that regard, I would like to point out that SDSM, in its current representation in the Assembly, has a proportional ration of women and men, and now, my associates and I will insist on having the same situation in other decision making fields, on both central and local level. That is why in the following period we will accede to legal amendments that will introduce at least 40% of women in executive power, a quota of 30% for election of mayors in municipalities, and practically, we will promote the quotas that you asking about. In my opinion, we as a democratic country must define the quotas for respect of female participation, although I represent the thesis that on certain level of democratic development, the high percentage of women’s participation must reflect the political, culture, and not quotas and numbers. That is why I believe that the political parties must, within their structure, make some in-depth changes regarding the staff and to leave greater space for women; only then this shall reflect in the institutions. Only in this way can we use the potential of women who become more educated, more talented and more appropriate for the important roles in the society.

Rajni Vohra: As a female leader, what has been the most significant barrier in your career? Have you been confronted with gender-related obstacles in your career?

Slavica Grkovska: All of us, women involved in politics, more or less, have felt certain barrier in our careers. But I believe that now it is more important to do everything in our power to overcome these barriers, and to exclude them in future. We, as a Government, have adopted the Law on Equal Opportunities that defines the equality. That is why we have the Law on Employment that prescribes equal salary for women and men. The Law on Minimum Salary unified the salary for workers in textile, tanning and shoe-making industry. If I expand the answer to this question, then we have adopted a set of laws for protection of women from any kind of violence, including the domestic violence. Some of us, who were more persistent, succeeded in imposing this in the decision making processes and the social political processes, and we have achieved this with our education, knowledge and experience. These are, in fact, the important elements, if a woman wished to become a leader. I am aware that sometimes these values do not help when men’s domination wants to exclude certain woman, but this does not mean that our fight for greater rights and equality should stop. On the contrary, we are in a phase where we impose our social position and when, using examples, we show that our place is here, in the world where decisions are made and policies are created for better life.

Rajni Vohra: Your message to the World…

Slavica Grkovska: My message to the world is: the world remains for the youth and women. Exactly the young people and the female population make bold decisions for better shared future. Although it is still considered that politics is a men’s profession, I believe that women with their subtlety, character, capability, are a dignified integral part of the world developments. The whole world knows that it depends on us what society shall we create and in what country we want to live, but this can only be possible if we trust women and if we use their potential in creating the big policies of which the life of the last person depends.

Rajni Vohra: Thank you for taking your time to talk with us.

 Helene Galek is a supremely accomplished actor, casting director, and author based in NYC, U.S. She has also been an associate producer of the web series, “That Reminds Me” and Won “Best Supporting Actor” at the Rome Web Festival. Her projects include short films, trailers, web series, documentary voice over, legit theater and musicals. Helene began her casting at Manhattantheatersource (a theater company) and consulted on some of their main-stage productions as well. Some of her most recent projects include: “The Wrong Box” part of the Dream Up Festival in NYC, “Tech Bettys”, a web series, the short films, “Out to Dry” and “Out of the Ash” and feature film, “Chasing Banksy”.

We got a chance to have a conversation with her. Read the full interview:

RajniVohra: What are some of the biggest challenges faced to become a film casting director/producer?What strategies can women employ to break into the highly competitive field of film directing?

Helene Galek: With casting, there are slightly more women in this profession than men- 58.8% according to reports.With film directors, it is a different story- only 28.2% of all directors are female. Big studios and CEO’s are still mainly men and old habits die hard. But it is encouraging to see more female directors with major films and documentaries. I know several female directors in the independent film level and it is a matter of not taking NO for an answer and pushing forward and upward. And the more and more it happens, than the “trust” that Hollywood has that is geared towards white men will begin to shift as we see with more Black and Asian directors as well.

RajniVohra: How can women who have experienced trauma or abuse find healing and support through sisterhood?

Helene Galek: Some women tend to judge other women who have gone through trauma quite harshly or at best, act in a non-supportive way. That is because of fear that the same thing could happen to them so “blaming the victim” is their way of protecting themselves and their fear. For example, when it comes to rape or incest, it’s hard for some to conceive of this happening and there must be a “reason” so that the victim and their behavior tends to be the focus and not the perpetrator. Women need to start looking at the women who have suffered abuse not solely as victims but as whole human beings who were not responsible for the perpetrators’ behavior. Not believing women or needing proof from say, 20 of them, to prosecute one man is what adds further trauma. Women sticking together, supporting those who are afraid to speak up, going forward with them as they speak the truth and get the courage to leave their situation and assisting them to erase any feelings of guilt and responsibility and obtaining professional help and guidance to heal.

RajniVohra:The concept of sisterhood varies across different cultures and communities. What are some strategies for building and strengthening bonds among women, especially in diverse and multicultural settings?

Helene Galek:I find that my talking and expressing thoughts out loud and finding common ground can unite women from different cultures and backgrounds. One always thinks they are the only going through this and no one could possibly understand. Whether it’s cramps or children or friendships or men or even the shared love of a book or film or family history- that is a first step. Women can share affirmations. philosophies, meditations as well so that individual women can become self-actualized even before bonding with other women and joining groups.

RajniVohra: How can women challenge ageist stereotypes and cultural expectations around aging and beauty, how can they celebrate their unique qualities and strengths as they age, and can cultivate a sense of gratitude and appreciation for the blessings and opportunities that come with each new year of life? 

Helene Galek: The challenge of the aging and value credit has to start from the inside as well. I tell women to be aware of the self-deprecating statements they say about themselves, the mental photo of themselves to be a certain way because of a number. I believe by not giving in to stereotypes, much like breaking into a male dominated business, and sticking with what makes you feel good and powerful and expressing that in all ways, fights the aging and sex bias. There will always be haters and that usually means your power and self pride and happiness is pushing their buttons. I just read a meme which said, “As to the people who talk behind your back, they are behind you for a reason.”  Concentrate on the confidence and wisdom and freedom you obtain as you get older. Rejoice on the choices you get to make now. And don’t isolate yourself from other age groups. We can all teach each other something. Stop glamorizing youth to yourself and others- it wasn’t all that great then, either, if you remember correctly! And if you actually made a list of what you accomplished or some of the things that your friends acknowledged you for, you will feel grateful for so much of your life and that each day is a blessing!

RajniVohra: What is your biggest learning in life?

Helene Galek: My biggest learning is that each day, there is something to learn and something to teach!

RajniVohra: Thank you for sharing your perspective and time

Women & the World

Virginija Langbakk dons many hats -the First Director of the European Institute for Gender Equality, Former Deputy- director at Swedish Ministry for Foreign Affairs, Former Gender expert, programme director at Swedish Institute for Public Administration & Former Project manager, gender expert at The Swedish Association of Local Authorities and Regions. Virginija Langbakk has been mentoring and advising managers and politicians, in particular, young women. She loves structure, but also, out of the box thinking. She enjoys communicating and public speaking and would always find a visual link to the audience.

Read an excerpt of Talk with Virginija Langbakk

Rajni Vohra: According to EIGE, Gender Equality Index shows signs of a worsening situation for women in many areas of work and home life. Despite so many efforts on the ground level by government and private agencies to solve gender related issues, what possible reasons do you think can be attributed to such state of affairs ?

Virginija Langbakk: I cannot miss highlighting a few unique for EIGE’s Gender Equality Index, elements. Before its existence none of composite indicators of a similar nature enabled the analysis and aggregation of such a broad scale of indicators into one general score. The report of the first edition of the Index (2013) gives an extensive picture of similarities and differences between EIGE’s Index and other regularly used indices (e.g., World Economic Forum or United Nations).
EIGE has an advantage of regularly updated and fully comparable data for all EU-27 (and to some extent, the Candidate countries) and the common political framework of the European union that makes a unified monitoring of the progress (or negative development) possible and comparable.
Since 2013, when the first scores were published, it proved to be the trend in each policy area that makes the most exciting aspect to follow. As noted, the indicators, indeed, demonstrate a negative or a stalled development in several policy areas. The reasons are numerous, but stereotypes and slowly changing attitudes about the gender roles in the society are the main culprits of such a backlash. The domain of Work shows visible signs of indirect, and sometimes, even direct, discrimination of women in regards to career opportunities; you will also notice that gender-segregation hampers a more gender-equal pay, and you will be shocked by the largest pay gap of all, which is found in the overall earnings gap (domain of Money). The domain of Education signals that stereotypes sustain gendered choices of professions, which results in large pension gaps, etc. And finally, violence faced by women and girls also has its roots in stereotypes, where the society not only tolerates it, but also, blames the victim for the act of crime they were subjected to.
Unfortunately, stereotypes and society beliefs are difficult to measure, combating them needs long-term commitment and comprehensive measures, therefore, as long as gender mainstreaming is just a word called for in an isolated context, we will see a progress taking a snail’s pace forward.

Rajni Vohra: You have been very instrumental in helping and supporting refugees coming from Ukraine to settle down in European region- finding livelihood and accommodation in EU for their families, women and men. How challenging has it been so far?

Virginija Langbakk: The Russian aggression proved one thing- that not only geographically, but also, historically and culturally Ukraine is belongs with Europe, and this might be one of the reasons that the
refugees did not face the same attitudes, as the ones from other regions of the World did. One of explanations could be that majority of Ukrainian refugees were and still are women and children, in contrast to the start of the refugee crisis, when most of refugees were young men. It suggests that the European society feels more at ease to open their homes to mothers with children, help soothe their traumatic experience and share the toys with the children. High level of education in a similar academic system is another aspect that is typical for this group of refugees, and there is no doubt, that having the right education does help Ukrainian women getting a faster employment. A third very important factor is the common culture, which is grounded on the values that are similar to those we cherish in the EU. Beyond any doubt, the process met many challenges, in particular, in the functioning of formalised support and aid structures. If such centres and shelters did their share of giving the first relief, they are hardly the same efficient in ensuring a social integration. Having access to schooling helps the children to re-start a sort of ‘usual’ rhythm of everyday life and mixing the refugee and local children boosts their chances to learn the language and the culture. In a similar vein, some Member states employed Ukrainian women to the public sector and the private sector made necessary adjustments to their internal work cultures to accommodate
the new colleagues.
The establishment of a social or emotional tie between the refugees and the local community is the most subtle but most desired element; it needs to be valued and fuelled by the society itself, it needs the hearts and souls ready to embrace the ‘stranger’ and introduce her or him to their world and their network. It facilitates the understanding and agreeing on common values and opening one’s home to a person who flees from a conflict area or war.

Rajni Vohra: War and conflicts have far deeper scar & worse impact on women than men. Ukraine conflict compounds the vulnerability of women and girl child. What plan EU has to protect them from any sort of violence and bring them into the mainstream?
Virginija Langbakk: Vulnerability of women and girls in conflict zones has a defined and repeated pattern.
However, in case of Ukrainian families the pattern is a bit different. First, they did not have to travel for months following the smugglers and expecting sexual or other type of violence at every corner. Secondly, refugee centres, established at the EU borders, did not have to detain them at the first point of registration, and they were moving freely within the EU. It would be wrong to believe that the risk of violence or sexual violence was completely absent, and some groups, such as unaccompanied children and young women were more exposed to the danger of being trafficked. It is important to note, that despite the existence of a common policy, it is the government of each Member State, that decided how they deal with the practical implementation of the refugee support, and it seems, the approach differs quite much. Now when the topic of violence against women and girls has gained political momentum in Brussels, the chances that refugee or migrant women will be covered by legislative framework are much stronger than a year ago.

Rajni Vohra: As a woman leader, what is your message to other women?
Virginija Langbakk: First of all, build on your strong sides and let the world know what you can do! Make friends with women and people with different interests and skills than you have and tap on their knowledge. Find friends you can trust and get their advice and never give you your goal!

Rajni Vohra:Thank you for taking the time to talk to WahWoman.