With 17+ years of experience in delivering language instruction and developing courseware in English and Mandarin, Poonam Dadlani (EMBA 2014), is an MBA graduate, a qualified English language trainer, and an entrepreneur in the education sector. She is also an active investor and loves to indulge in volunteering activities. Currently, she works as a corporate coach and trainer-team leader at a German MNC.
Poonam is presently the President of the Singapore Alumni Chapter at SP Jain Global where she previously held other prestigious roles such as Head of Communications and Vice-President. She enjoys collaboration, bringing people together over fulfilling activities and is fascinated by how each one learns in unique ways. Poonam likes to help people identify how they learn best so that they achieve their goals.
To learn more about Poonam’s incredible entrepreneurial and leadership journey, we caught up with her over a quick interview.
Q. You have 17+ years of experience and are currently a coach and team leader. Did you face any gender bias as you went up the hierarchy in the workplace? If yes, how did you fight the bias and come up on top?
Poonam: Biases are inherent and something that we are all constantly fighting against. Indeed, even you and I have it -- we all have it! It’s the nature of human beings to be tribal and seek out safety in groups. The problem is when the group becomes powerful and seeks to keep a monopoly on power and privilege to the extent that it becomes detrimental to the growth, development and evolution of society at large.
Of course, as a woman and a woman from a minority community, it is a struggle, and sometimes it is a struggle to even stand in one place. Bias is something that cuts across race, gender, and -- let's go beyond heteronorms here -- economic class.
There is no point fighting the bias because this is a constant work in progress, and my approach is to connect with people and groups from whom I can find allies. Sometimes I am the one at the receiving end of someone standing in solidarity with me, and sometimes it is the other way around, with me standing for someone less privileged than me.
Q. What are some of the unique takeaways from these experiences?
Poonam: Life is a constant hustle, and the sooner we get used to change and the fact that nothing and no situation - no matter how good or bad - is permanent, the more comfortable reality is.
Q. What leadership style do you adopt when working with your team?
Poonam: I start by getting to know my team. I believe in ‘no agenda’ agenda meetings, for us to come together as human beings (good food often helps here). We relax and are at ease by just ‘being’ in each other's presence, crack a few jokes and laugh together, and also listen to each other. There isn't a term to describe this, but I believe that this is essential.
Next comes the step of defining our collective values, and finally, the activities that fulfil these collective values.
Q. According to you, what quality is essential for an impactful leader?
Poonam: To be an impactful leader, one must be nurturing and supportive. Create an environment free of fear so that people can be their creative selves and thrive. Create alignment and cohesion within the team and a dynamic engagement with the team members. I'm also a fan of the 'feed forward' model. It does away with the need for 'criticism' while delivering the message of the corrections needed.
Q. What advice do you have for women looking to grow either their own business or within the company they work for?
Poonam: Seek out a mentor for knowledge and skills. Sponsors will be willing to put your name forward when suitable opportunities arise. Pay it forward by lifting others with you too. Keep learning constantly, but at the same time, also hone your gut instincts which will become more accurate over time.
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