Also read: 'There is a glass ceiling for women at the top'

With Women's Day coming up on March 8, rediff.com decided to speak to career women at the top of their game -- corporate hotshots in positions of professional power.

In the first part of this series we present Chitra Sood, staffing director at the Microsoft India Development Center. Here are her thoughts on Women's Day, the secrets to her success and her advice to young girls just starting out on their careers.

What makes you a successful career woman? What is your advice to young women poised to start their careers?

I believe that success is just not defined by promotions or by achieving targets, but by the sense of fulfillment that you feel when a job is accomplished well. Success is also about being passionate about the work you do and being committed to it.

I would advise every woman to work in an area that excites her and where there is a strong desire to excel. The guiding principle should be the commitment to give her very best in any profession she may choose. The path to achieving true success is to make sure you are always on track with your work and constantly updating your skills and knowledge level.

How are working women in India, across all sectors, faring compared to women in other countries? Are they getting the right kind of jobs, salaries, promotions and status?

Women in India have made their mark in multiple fields -- technology, literature, art, etc. There is hardly an industry/sector where you wouldn't find women -- and the women: men ratios are improving in all sectors in India. Several Indian women, like their counterparts in other countries, have made their mark in international business and politics, too. The success of our women is no longer limited to our country.

I do not think there is any discrepancy. Companies like ours have always offered the same opportunities and facilities to all its employees. This is evident from the fact that we have several women leaders in our organisation. AT MSIDC, job offers, salaries, promotions are all decided by merit and experience, and is never influenced by a person's gender. Our performance appraisal system is based on meritocracy.

Is the men-women ratio skewed in favour of men in corporate India? Will it continue to be skewed and why? What can be done to augment the women workforce?

If we look at the women-men ratio industry-wise, banking, insurance and pharmaceutical sectors usually have a pretty high ratio. In the IT services sector too, there has been a rapid increase in the number of women over the last few years. Product development is a niche segment which has recently emerged as a lucrative career prospect in India. Women will continue entering into such niche segments.

In order to encourage women to take up new age jobs like product development, it is important to create awareness about the available opportunities and a comfortable environment where employees can strike a healthy work-life balance. In fact, I would like to emphasise that striking the desired work-life balance is important for everyone -- it is no longer a gender issue.

At Microsoft India Development Center, our HR and people policies are designed keeping the employees' best interests in mind and to help them achieve their desired work-life balance. MSIDC is an equal opportunity employer.

We believe that diverse talent forms the core of our success. We are committed to hiring women who bring a diverse perspective and play a crucial role in delivering to organisational needs.

As a thought-leader in the IT industry, MSIDC is committed to the ongoing development of women IT professionals and to increase the number of women in the industry. We conduct events and workshops where our women employees network with each other as well as senior women leaders in the industry. Networking allows them to share experiences and learn from each other. The recently concluded Women's Conference in Hyderabad was one such initiative.

For many potential career women striking a balance between home and work is often too challenging and they are lost to the workforce. What is your advice to women planning to attempt the balancing act?

This is not specifically a women's issue in today's world, it is important for everyone. The question is not of choosing between a career and the family -- the issue is to make sure we strike the balance we desire.

Once we define our priorities it is no longer difficult to achieve the desired balance. Needless to say, companies also need to come up with policies and benefits which help employees be productive without being tied down to their workplaces. All our policies are designed keeping the employees' and their families' best interests in mind.

Your 2020 vision for India and how can women help shape that vision?

I dream of a better India for an even brighter tomorrow -- a country which is free from petty squabbles over caste, creed and religion, treats all its citizens with the same dignity and offers them equal opportunities at education and work. A country rid of poverty and illiteracy.

I believe women would play an extremely important role in shaping this vision. History proves that societies where men and women have played equal roles have been more balanced and prospered faster than those which have either been patriarchal or matriarchal. I think women more than ever before will play a significant role in development of society. Hence the role of women in shaping the future of India can never be underscored.

Also read: 'There is a glass ceiling for women at the top'