An art curator and a mother of one, Isha Patodia already had her hands full. Add to that her new responsibility as the chairperson of YFLO Kolkata and Isha’s going to be a busy lady for the next one year. Passionate about seeking equal opportunities for women, she is setting out to “Include. Innovate. Integrate” — her chosen theme — to make the most of her tenure. t2 chatted with Isha about her new role.
How did your journey with YFLO begin?
I had heard about the organisation in 2010 and that’s when I got interested about it because they were doing good events and I thought it would be nice for me to be a part of a pan-India women’s networking organisation. That’s when I approached YFLO and became a member.
I was interested in meeting more women in leadership roles because I felt I would get to learn and grow as an individual. I am generally a very hands-on person and like being involved in everything I am part of. So I had offered to help out at the events and I was invited to become a part of the committee in 2011.
How has YFLO shaped you over the years?
YFLO is a very special forum for me because over the years, I have connected and grown a lot with it. It’s given me a clearer vision and goal for my life. It made me realise my role in society and towards the upliftment of women.
So the organisation has definitely made me more aware as an individual. It has honed my leadership skills by helping me think at a macro level.
How would you say YFLO helps its members to grow?
In YFLO, we don’t just look at work as our own work, we try to contribute to society at large. We think of ways to make a difference. YFLO has a number of initiatives for the underprivileged.
An organisation like this helps spread the message of equality and makes women aware of their rights. Even in terms of business, we want all members to be entrepreneurial, financially independent and equal in every aspect with men.
What are some of the events on your calendar?
We will have events across all genres — from politics and spirituality to fashion, business and food. The reason why we try to cover various genres is because we have members who are entrepreneurs, designers, culinary experts and so on.
We will be doing events with noted speakers and a series of workshops. We’ll have factory visits for practical learning and a retreat for members to bond with each other.
We have a book club already, and this year we are collaborating with Oxford Bookstore to organise discussions where authors can be a part of it.
My theme is “Include. Innovate. Integrate” — to be a more inclusive society, to be more innovative with our events and to help our members integrate well with each other and with others in society.
How do you plan to strike a work-life balance as the YFLO chairperson?
I think I’ll have to plan my day accordingly and devote equal hours to everything. My two-and-a-half-year-old daughter needs my attention, my art gallery (Genesis Art Gallery) has again been renovated and I will have to spend two-three hours a day there too.
YFLO is something that’s very important to me because I have taken on a huge responsibility. I am very lucky to havegot this leadership role and I will try to give it my best.
Where do you want to take YFLO under your leadership?
I would want to create more leaders in the organisation, help every woman to work on her self-image and urge them to make their contribution to society. I am looking to get as much involvement as possible from the members.
YFLO, right now, has four chapters — Hyderabad, Delhi, Ahmedabad and Calcutta — and I would love to see that expanding as well.
Text: AS
Picture: Rashbehari Das
