Interview: Hopes for women in leadership roles

Rachna Ratra came to Japan from New Delhi, India, on the MEXT Scholarship to attend Osaka University of Foreign Studies. After graduating, she worked in Tokyo at an IT start-up before starting her career in recruitment. This year marks her 14th year at Robert Walters Japan. As Director of the Sales and Marketing Division and as a mother of a child attending nursery school, she expertly balances her role as a mother with the demands of being a leader. Her firm outlook on pursuing success without buckling under the weight of her responsibilities truly shows in her approach to her work and exhibits her characteristics as a leader.

As the public and private sectors work together to promote the participation of women in the workplace, Rachna focuses on changing people’s mindsets. She points out that without changing the mindsets of individuals in society, companies, management, colleagues, family members, partners, and women themselves, diversity in the workplace will not be achieved.

What is the best decision that you have made in your career?

First and foremost, my decision to come to Japan and get an international education. It really helped open my mind, giving me the opportunity to meet many people from various backgrounds with diverse values. Next was the decision to work at this company, where both men and women are provided equal opportunities, and where women play active roles. I don't think I have always made the best choices, but I have no regrets about my past decisions. I have learned many things through past experiences, including my mistakes.

What would you say was your greatest accomplishment in your career?

I would say that greatly expanding our client base is so far my proudest accomplishment. I joined the company in 2004 as the third member of the Sales & Marketing Division when it was just starting to come together. Hardly anyone knew that our company even had a sales and marketing recruitment team. As of 2018, the Sales and Marketing Division has grown to include about 40 people in seven teams, where we introduce highly-skilled, bilingual individuals to companies from a wide range of industries.

Tell us about a challenge you faced that left the biggest impression on you in your career.

Five years ago, I was appointed to a leadership position as director. The level of responsibility and ownership that was required of me was far greater than when managing one or two teams. It was a major step up for me at the time. I also became a mother in my second year as director, which challenged me to balance both my leadership role and my family life.

How do you succeed both in your role in upper management and as a mother? What is your approach to maintaining work-life balance?

I was able to achieve success thanks in part to the support of the management, my colleagues, and my husband. I have learned to succeed both at work and at home by always aiming to pursue productivity and efficiency. For full-time working mothers, it is crucial to have a working environment that evaluates employees' performance not based on working hours, but on results, achievements, and contributions to the company. I was fortunate to be able to work in this kind of environment.

After my child was born, I feel like my concentration has improved more than ever. I stay focused to complete each of my tasks, and set priorities for each job. Keeping in mind how much time a particular tasks requires and what time I need to leave the office every day, I aim to accomplish these tasks within business hours. I do my best to prevent my work from spilling over into my private life.

The management at Robert Walters showed a very flexible and understanding attitude towards my parenting responsibilities when I returned to work after maternity leave. There are now six working mothers in my division, all of whom are very successful. I make sure to show flexibility and understanding towards them in the same way the company and management have treated me.

What are some of the challenges that women in Japan face when taking on management roles?

To this day, there is still a large disparity around the world regarding the number of men and women holding senior management roles. In order to promote diversity and the participation of women in the workplace, what needs to happen first is for companies, individuals, and society in general to change their mindsets. It seems that most people in Japan, including women, believe that women should stay home after having a child instead of working. Unless this mentality changes, the environment for working women will remain full of obstacles. Their families, especially their partners, must gain a better understanding of how women can advance their careers and share the responsibilities of raising children and performing housework. This will hopefully lead to more women participating in the workplace, instilling in them the confidence that they, too, have the capacity to take on new challenges in their careers and assume responsibility as leaders.

What have you learned as a leader?

Leaders must take ownership of their successes and failures. Decisiveness is key. Even though you won't always come up with the best solution, it's important to be resolute in your decision-making when the situation calls for it. You must cultivate your leadership skills by learning from your successes and failures.

Do you have any advice for the next generation of female leaders?

I believe that leadership is something that can be learned. As with anything else, anyone can become a leader if they are willing to put in the effort and commitment. First, you must have faith in your own abilities. And when the opportunity to assume a management position arrives, do not hesitate to seize it.