Aarya Sathyanarayana, the Director at Venson Electricals, has become the talk of the town in the manufacturing industry. Despite coming from a commerce background, her passion for machining and production management has not only transformed her own life but has also opened doors for women across India, inspiring them to chase their dreams and strive for success. Her upbringing, personality, and environment played a significant role in shaping her passion for the manufacturing sector and her ability to excel in a male-dominating field. Apart from this, she is also the founder of JVS Electronics, one of the leading relay manufacturers, supplying products in India and abroad
After completing her post-graduation in Marketing Management from Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, Aarya Sathyanarayana joined Venson Electric Pvt. Ltd, a company founded by her father, Srikanth Kashyap Satyanarayana, in the late 1970s. Despite lacking prior experience in the manufacturing sector or any relevant field, Aarya took on the challenge head-on. Her previous internship at a Tata Dealers showroom provided her with a valuable foundation. But as she always aspired to become an entrepreneur, Aarya quickly switched to the manufacturing sector where she believed her forte was.
Even in the early days of her career, Aarya realized the need to adapt and learn from scratch, as she had no practical experience in the manufacturing industry. Aarya was determined to learn new things and she dedicated a significant amount of time to learn the basics of production and understand the challenges associated with it. All her learnings came directly from the shop floor, gaining valuable insights and expertise along the way. Even during her summer holidays, she spent most of her time in the factory unit, working alongside other employees and thus she was able to gain a lot of firsthand experiences and a deep understanding of the inner workings of manufacturing.
Aarya’s early days in the industry were marked by various challenges. Not only did she lack expertise in the manufacturing sector, but she also encountered resistance from some of her colleagues who struggled to accept her as a senior due to her familial ties to the founder. Unfortunately in those times, the manufacturing sector, especially in India, was male-dominated, making it less common for women to be accepted and recognized in senior positions. But Aarya’s own drive and passion made her establish an inclusive and empowering work environment for all on the shop floor. Her vision to create a space that fosters equity and empowers women is a very praiseworthy attempt that makes her story even more inspiring.
Celebrating the difference between genders, very crucial for any organization
Aarya acknowledges the male dominance that has traditionally been there in the manufacturing industry but she also believes that the tides are shifting, particularly in recent years. She is a staunch advocate for equity and inclusivity on the shopfloor. As someone who has experienced firsthand, she emphasizes that celebrating the differences between men and women and creating an equal workspace for both genders is very crucial. At Venson Electricals, Aarya proudly shares that they have successfully initiated this transformation, thanks to the collective efforts of herself and her colleagues who made necessary changes within their organization.
According to Aarya, when it comes to the manufacturing sector, the difficulties for women are very common all around the world. While sharing such an instance, Aarya shares, “Generally even today there are so many challenges that we can remove. Whenever I take a flight, I realize that women are usually given middle seats where there is hardly any space. There’s a man sitting on your left and right who is almost sleeping and falling over you. Then there aren’t people helping you with your luggage. Small things like this, I feel you have to make travel women friendly. If you went to a hotel or stayed there on business, you have to see that there are separate places for women that make you feel safe. That is when more people, probably parents of young women, will not have problems sending their kids outside for travel, for business, and then even workplaces”.
Aarya also believes that even though women are willing to work on the shop floor, there are a few obstacles that we can tackle with the help of technology and just sheer willingness, “Most of the tools or gadgets we use are often designed with men in mind. However, I’ve seen that making small design changes can greatly enhance their usability for women. As technology continues to evolve, we are constantly bringing new advancements to the table and incorporating them into various fields.”
Making Fruitful Use of Every Obstacle
While there are challenges for women in almost every sector, Aarya believes that women should make fruitful use of these obstacles. “We have to see that there are biological differences between men and women and some biological differences that we have are in fact a blessing to you. There is a lot of time to say, for example, maternity leave. Maternity leave gives you a lot of time for strategizing. We need not have to be working all the time. There has to be some gap also in career just to sit back and see where our career graph is going, where our companies are moving towards. So these are opportunities that we are gifted with”.
Over the years, there have been a lot of changes in the working of Venson Electricals. The organization is successful in making the workspace safer and more inclusive for women. Aarya shares,“When it comes to any job here, there is no specific thing that a woman will do this job or a man will do. Our organization is open towards employing for any job, a man or a woman, be it traveling or be that you know, in the manufacturing lines. So we have tried having only a woman-only manufacturing line. But then it may not have to be women only lines always. It can be a mix of men and women. We have to make our workplaces safe for women to come. Our places have to be like no questions asked. We have to say that places are inclusive and such facilities are given to women employees.”
“Women should have equal access to opportunities for learning and growth in their careers, without any biases or barriers. I also feel the need to establish safe channels for women to communicate their issues and concerns without fear of retribution. This will enable women to feel heard, valued, and empowered in the workplace, allowing them to contribute fully to their companies”, concludes Aarya.
Aarya’s message is very clear that women are capable of facing any challenge that comes their way. She reminds us of the strength and resilience that women possess, encouraging them to fearlessly tackle every situation. Her empowering words serve as a reminder for women to embrace opportunities, break stereotypes, and unleash their full potential in all areas of life. Her message is a call to action, inspiring women to step forward, embrace challenges, and leave their mark in whatever they choose to pursue.
