Book Review : 'She Walks, She Leads' by Gunjan Jain

I am getting to read a lot of books, books I have thought that I thought I wouldn’t like too much. But some of them surprise me, no end. And one such book was ‘She Walks, She Leads’ by Gunjan Jain. It lists 24 different women of different fields.

Whether, it is business or corporate, law or entertainment, or they could be writers, players or even movie actors. Even fashion designers too, and sports, it is just raining women, all the way. This book attempts to give us, what we hadn’t seen or read about in the past. 

Starting off with Nita Ambani, it gives us a whole new side to her. Nita Ambani though, has always been known as the first lady of corporate India, this book tries to take us to discover her personality. She is at the forefront of Reliance’s philanthropic activities, and leads into the social causes. 

We then, move on to Sudha Murty. She had actually sent a postcard to TELCO, lecturing JRD Tata on gender equality! She was protesting against their disclaimer which said, ‘Lady Candidates need not Apply’. She became TELCO’s first female engineer. Can you beat that? :) Besides knowing about her, in general, we also find out, that she is the seed capital investor behind Infosys and the brilliant author that she is today.

Indra Nooyi, chairperson and CEO of PepsiCo, has changed the company’s approach to HR. She has enabled folks within the company to work towards an emotional goal rather than the intellectual one. Known across the globe, as a powerful business person, she has remained one of the best CEOs in the world, today.

We then move on to the women in finance, such as Arnavaz ‘Anu’ Aga and Naina Lal Kidwai. These names are so powerful that they just do not talk of the struggle to achieve but also, what they have won and what they are doing with it.

Take Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw, Chairman and MD of Biocon, a scientist and an innovator remains a philanthropist par excellence. She has pledged 75 per cent of her wealth, and already had given away $33 million to various causes in healthcare and education.

Moving on to so many others, Jain also draws us to Anamika Khanna and Ritu Kumar, the names of Indian fashion, today. Shabana Azmi, who’s an acclaimed actor-activist, also gives us something else to think of at 65! She remains that indefatigable actor of cinema and activist of India’s political scene, as well, carrying both on par with each other.

Mary Kom, a boxer and still so much more. She remains India’s fighter, a daughter who came from a labourer family, and is today a boxer, who won the country, medals and great honours. 

These might be only a few names, but this book has given us not just these names and their super human strength, but is such stimulus to every one of us. Providing acumen are 130 personalities, who are closer to these stars. These 24 women are easily the best at what they do because, not only are they where they are today, but they are the epitomes, and this book proves that to us.

Names, I’ve heard of, throughout my life and names, I’m inspired by and names, which are not just names, but an aspiration for all. Gunjan Jain looks like she brings it all to us, through her book. Inspiration, awe and wonder!

You can Buy the Book, right here.