Negotiating Biases: How Ayushi is Claiming Her Space in the World
With a strong sense of style, Ayushi seems to navigate the world with complete confidence and surety. But Ayushi shares a different perspective of herself: “I used to be quite shy and rarely spoke up.”
Slowly, Ayushi took up modelling assignments as a way of improving her confidence, especially in public. She also worked with an NGO dedicated to girls’ education as she felt passionately about the cause. As the sole employee, she donned multiple hats: a recruiter, a programme specialist, resource manager and even a teacher.
But Ayushi felt she lacked management skills, was hesitant in her communication and didn’t assert her voice as a young woman. Her sister, a Vedica alum, encouraged her to apply.
At Vedica, Ayushi began introspecting through assignments and learnt ways to make sense of her experiences. “I realised how dressing up was a way of claiming my identity and space in the world.” She also started noticing a marked difference in her communication skills. “Because of classroom presentations, and exercises in debating and storytelling, you’re forced to speak up.”
With a better understanding of herself, Ayushi was able to have more honest conversations with her parents. “I now understand that they weren’t stopping my dreams, but were trying to protect me from issues of nepotism and inconsistencies in industries like modelling.”
Ayushi has also found a new passion: Marketing. “Because of my experience in marketing myself and understanding audiences from a user’s point of view, I think I’ll be able to bring a unique perspective.” While she wishes to work in companies like Netflix and TVF in the short-term, she eventually wants to open her own NGO that will prioritise women’s well being. “I want women to have better and more fulfilling lives.”
