Swathi Umrani is working relentlessly for inclusiveness, be it financial inclusiveness across the country or inclusiveness in the workforce of her own company. A mainstay of Vision India Software Exports Ltd, Swati is a dexterous women leader and visionary of innovation.
A desire to be known for her professional achievement beyond the four walls of her room brought Swati Umrani back into the working space after four years. She appeared on the scene with renewed energy and ideas that are taking her company Vision India Software Exports Ltd to new heights. Being a world-class software solutions provider, the company has now entered into manufacturing by acquiring a major stake in Agami Lighting Systems Pvt Ltd, which specializes design and manufacturing of Street Lights, High-mast Lights, Bay Lights, and Customized lights.
“I didn’t want to shrink into the four corners of the house. I always dreamt and aspired to utilize my talent to add value to both, the family and the organization,” she remarks. An inspiration for all women, Swati shares that Vision India has recently received orders from the Jio University, Reliance’s Mumbai headquarters, Pune Municipal Corporation, and Atlas Copco, a Swedish-based leader in Compressed Air and Gas equipment.
Eager to contribute to the family
Born and raised in Kolkata, Swati has done her Diploma in Information System Audit and graduated in Chartered Accountant, Accounting and related services from the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India. She has worked with many reputed companies but it was the demise of her Mother-in-Law and the responsibility of her child that she took a break from for almost four years. But, she came back with more grit and passion to contribute to the family business.
She converses that she has witnessed some of her friends’ hustle for financial stability which gave her dream of self-dependency and supporting the family a new momentum. Admitting that the job is challenging, she took her role as a great learning experience. “I believed that I could contribute more to my husband’s business as I had much more freedom to implement my ideas,” Swati adds.
Becoming an Emerging Force of the Company
Vision India Software Exports Ltd. majorly focuses on the field of financial inclusion by providing banking services in rural areas where there is a lack of banking facilities. Even though the company was successful in getting tenders from banks, the challenge was to convince and educate rural people about financial inclusion. Swati adds, “To inform and educate people about this service, to join and to teach them how it works, training the FBCs, such tasks took a lot of effort and patience.”
As the company was developing rapidly it was crucial to have somebody in-house to help with the operations. Swati was a person capable of multitasking in between all these responsibilities and still coming out successful. Being a Chartered Accountant, she manages the financial aspects, Accounting part of financial inclusion, pan India travel to train the new FBCs on banking terminology, operation, customer management, etc.
“Throughout the journey, I never took myself back from learning. I started with the basics of tender documentation and mastered Excel skills. I had a team of brilliant women who have developed an application called HRMS which has made HR-related work much easier and paperless as well.
The team also handles the account and finance of the other subsidiaries of the group,” shares the chief women of Vision India Software Exports. Starting from the basics and leading a team of women for the significant operational roles has made Swati a rising strength of the company which plays a crucial role in the company’s success.
Invigorating Gender-inclusion with Work-life balance
Despite many responsibilities, Swati still finds time for her family and herself to unwind from the stress. “It all depends on how one plans. With proper planning, anything is possible,” Swati adds. Swati believes gender should not become a barrier in choosing one’s path in life. Swati adds that “If there is education, there is a sense of equality.
So, it is essential that proper education is ensured and the concept of gender equality is properly established in a person from a very young age.”
Swati also helps every staff member under her, especially the female who constitute 40% of the total staff. Swati and her team strictly believe in valuing a person according to their potential and skill rather than judging them on their gender. In the case of field business correspondents, the women working in the role are empowered by the job. Women are given all the support and required training to set up their establishment.
Passing on what she learned to the next generation, she is looking forward to taking her daughter also to come ahead and set a new benchmark for women’s leadership in her company. “Curbing all the atrophy and stopping to demean themselves, women must have trust in their own. Even if they require more time for work, they should stop and endeavor continuously as one day, all the hard work will pay off as good things take time.”
Swati concludes. Her daughter is currently pursuing MBA in HR from Symbiosis and has the complete support and encouragement of her parents. Swati is looking forward to her daughter joining the company in the future. “Women, many a time, tend to degrade themselves. One should have a strong belief in oneself. Even if a woman had a career break, she should resume her work. Even if it is taking more time than before, they should never lose hope and should keep working. Because one day all the hard work will pay off as good things take time,” Swati believes.