When I walk into a room (a corporate meeting that has majority of male colleagues), I really walk in as an equal," says Anita Dewan, the 38-year-old vice president of marketing at Bharti AXA Life Insurance Limited where she handles the advertising, marketing, branding and corporate communication.

It is perhaps this feralessness -- drilled into her by her parents -- that helped her sail through "tough field jobs" at consumer companies like Vadilal's, L'Oreal (where she was the main force behind the brand launches of their colour cosmetics and skin care products), Shaw Wallace [Get Quote] Distilleries and Johnson and Johnson.

It is also perhaps this trait that did not make her feel inadequate to compete with other graduates from pedigreed management institutes like the Indian Institutes of Management. For Anita did her masters in management studies from the Welingkar Institute of Management -- looked down upon by many companies when compared with an IIM -- in suburban Mumbai [Images].

Despite facing subtle discrimination (at her workplace from senior male colleagues) for being a woman and for not passing out from a reputed management school (from companies who prefer IIM grads), Anita rose through the ranks by roughing it out on the field.

In fact, Anita is an inspiration for women who want to achieve success and fame in life irrespective of their educational background.

On the eve of Women's Day, she spoke with Prasanna D Zore on issues ranging from why she reads at least a page of Bhagvad Gita everyday to her success mantras, to how to tackle gender discrimination at workplace to how to strike a balance between work and family.

What is your educational background?

I am a commerce graduate from Poddar College, Mumbai, and I did my MMS from Welingkar's with specialisation in marketing. I studied commerce by default because I didn't want to study science. I was very scared of dissection and frogs.

You are, in a way, an inspiration to many in that you have achieved success despite an IIM tag attached to your resume. In this light how difficult was it for you to reach your current position?

I don't have that so-called pedigree. It does happen that non-IIM management graduates face discrimination while getting a plum job. I would be lying if I say that there is no discrimination.

While doing MMS it didn't register that not having an IIM degree would be an impediment, but as I went through the corporate life I realised that there are actions and individuals who tend to favour IIM passouts.

How did you fighting the not-having-an-IIM-degree odds?

The seriousness with which you are doing your projects when you study management and the hard work you put in to achieve results when you work for companies after that, kind of demonstrates to your bosses, to your colleagues and to people who have an IIM bias that students who pass out from second rung institutes can do much better.

I think putting the results on the table helps dilute these biases and stereotypes in a very big way. Yes, it requires that much more effort from a non-IIM graduate because there will be people who would walk in through the door and show off their IIM pedigree. And then there are people like me whose work speaks for them irrespective of which institute they come from.

What about your first job, lessons learnt?

It was at Vadilal Icecream -- first eight months in sales and then marketing -- and I couldn't have got a better opportunity than that. As a marketer it taught me the importance of sales. It gave me good exposure in terms of understanding consumer behaviour, sales orientation, a complete understanding of what happens at grassroots level with distributors, with retailers and wholesalers. That was a great learning.

These were two of my biggest professional lessons. At a personal level it was a very humbling experience. Typically when leave your management institute your feet hardly remain on the ground. You feel you have a right as a gift to the corporate world. I really thank that organisation even today.

Being a woman did you ever come across a glass ceiling in the corporate world?

Not really (repeats these words a number of times). Fortunately, I got several opportunities where I got a chance to prove myself and people did recognise my contribution in the right spirit. I was lucky enough to come across male colleagues who did not discriminate against women co-workers.

To be very honest, I was brought up in a way that I really never felt inadequate as a woman. So when I walk into a room, I really walk in as an equal. The way you conduct yourself also plays a very important role. But even if somebody attempts to discriminate, I am easily able to ignore it without bothering too much about it. It kind of just goes over my head.

How did Bharti AXA happen?

It actually was a typical headhunter kind of operation. I was very much impressed with the kind of progress, dynamism that the Bharti Group has demonstrated in India in the last couple of years. And when this assignment came my way I realised that AXA was one of the best financial protection companies in the world and I felt that Bharti AXA life was an ideal combination for me.

I was proud to become a part of a company that was a homegrown successful entrepreneurial organisation which encouraged employees to take ownership, responsibility and leadership positions.

What about your successful career growth, and what does it take in India for women to achieve success?

I think a certain element of planning to achieve success is a must. If you don't plan it, then by the end of 10 to 15 years you don't reach anywhere. But if you plan it and know this is the kind of work I want to do, these are the kind of learnings I want to build, then it maps out far better. And it's more aligned to your expectations and the kind of life you want to lead.

What challenges did you face at various organisations, and how did you overcome them?

When I did my sales stint at L'Oreal there were a few people on the field, my seniors, who felt that as a woman I would fail miserably in sales. But over a period of time you slowly pull your way through such opinions. At the end of my stint at L'Oreal that same person raised a toast to my work on the field.

Having said that, there will always be male colleagues (like my senior at L'Oreal) who will initially always feel that women are difficult to work with, they overreact or show extreme reactions and women will always have to cope and overcome such stereotypes. Men will always feel that a lady driver is no good or female bosses are always bitchy. But it's important you break this typecasting.

And how do you manage family and work?

I'm a very good time manager so I manage to multi-task really well and I think that is something all women specialise in, it just comes very naturally to them. Also, I am very fast and my speed has helped me a great deal in managing both family and work.

Do you have any success mantras?

I encourage myself to have intelligent people around me; people who work hard and are smart, who are good thinkers, who have a holistic approach towards solving problems. I had the fortune to be always surrounded by colleagues and seniors who have been smart and intelligent.

At the same time, I ensure that I conduct myself as an equal and not superior to my teammates. This creates a very conducive environment for ideating, brainstorming, expressing views. This obviously brings out the best in people and helps achieve desired goals.

What are the inspirations in your life?

I am not inspired by an individual but by a book which is the Bhagvad Gita. Apart from encouraging simplicity, reading the Gita helps you achieve clarity of thought. GIta is about a way of life. I open the Gita every night and read it till I fall asleep. The beauty of this book is that whichever page you open there is always some useful lesson to learn.

As individuals who firmly believed or believe in their values, I find Mahatma Gandhi [Images] and Ratan Tata [Images] very awe-inspiring personalities.

What is your advice to young educated Indians now that job opportunities are drying up?

Wherever you are, just don't lose faith in yourself and life. Keep learning new things, work hard and the bad times will pass. A time will come when there will be plentiful of opportunities and if you are equipped at that point of time, nothing can stop you.