Shrilakshmi Desiraju
Triphase Pharma, India
Shrilakshmi is a scientist with a PHD in Chemistry. She has 22 years of research experience in both national and international laboratories. Her desire to be an entrepreneur motivated her to pursue an MBA in Technology Commercialisation from the University of Alberta, Canada. She later established Triphase Pharmaceuticals Pvt. Ltd, a research and development enterprise creating enzymes, temperature stable probiotics, prebiotics and nutraceuticals. Ms Shrilakshmi has successfully patented some of her products and has received several achievement awards.
“Mentally, women are a strong species blessed with multitasking capabilities. Let us accept and glorify the dual role of home making and being a professional or an entrepreneur.”
Shrilakshmi says she did not encounter any gender bias as a professional or as an entrepreneur in India. She believes that entrepreneurship is gender neutral. In her experience an entrepreneur needs to constantly up-skill in order to succeed. For example, while she was working, she completed her MBA in technology commercialization which gave her the edge to become an entrepreneur after being a researcher. She believes one has to take the opportunities when they come along or create them.
Shrilakshmi expressed that we need to ponder the question:
”Are women themselves ready to take on the position where decisions have to be made and accept the consequences?”
Women are good at multitasking but are they truly empowered? This may be a global challenge. The other challenge is financial prowess. Are women really doing any financial planning?
A way to support more diversity in making would be to identify role models and glorify their success, so they become visible, especially to younger people. Instill the idea in their minds to use every opportunity that comes their way and upskill themselves when needed. Encourage the next generation to accept the dual role of running a business and profession and running a home.
Create role models of such successes and publicise them in order to reach the society that has been biased towards this dual role.
While we are supporting women to be empowered, are we doing enough to make our sons ready for this empowered woman?
Finally, instilling the importance of financial planning whether in business, or in a profession or even if you are a housewife.
Message to her younger self:
“Believe in yourself and be persevering. That’s all that it takes to be successful. Mentally, women are a strong species blessed with multitasking capabilities. Let us accept and glorify the dual role of home making and being a professional or an entrepreneur.”
For further inspiration:
Critical Making 