——-On the eve of International Women’s day, WEI proudly presents the excerpts on the most successful woman in Indian Power Sector today.  We are thankful to Smt Seema Gupta, Director (Operations), POWERGRID, for sharing with us her thoughts, and her inspirational story, in spite of her busy schedule.———-

“Come out of your comfort zone and break the boundaries…..” that’s her success mantra, which she likes to share with all women professionals on International women’s day. As she stars the biggest blockbuster success story of the year, in the history of women in power sector of India, the mantra seemed to have really worked well for her.

Hard work and determination to overcome all hurdles are the essential ingredients in the life of Smt. Seema Gupta, and she does all women in the country, especially in power sector, extremely proud, as she becomes the first women functional director on board of Power Grid Corporation of India, India’s biggest central transmission company.

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Back in 80’s when she entered Delhi College of engineering to study electrical engineering, there were very few girls in the engineering classes. It was awkward in initial days, but then, as camaraderie grew with time, gender difference ceased to be an issue with young engineering students. In fact she credits her budding ground of DCE hundred percent, for preparing her well, for life’s rough ways.
“Being in a large class where majority were boys later put me at ease at work as a single female in room full of men, as often was the case! It worked well in shaping my personality, and in understanding my coworkers, most of whom were men. If I have worked successfully in a field, predominantly perceived as men’s domain, for so long, the platform was actually provided by my college’s grooming.”

After graduating from the college, in the year 1983, the first job she undertook was in NTPC, the premiere power generating company of the country. There she went through a rigorous training for a year. She had always opted to go out and took challenges in order to break the comfort barrier and shed the cocoon or the protective sheath that home borne secured placement offered.
Her career in NTPC was shaped well, helped her to gain technical knowledge and related exposure. After an eight long year stint with NTPC, she decided to traverse on a different path. Opting for challenges again, she joined the newly formed transmission company!

It was in August of 1991, when she started her next journey of professional enlightenment, and the path was not easy. In nineties, power sector of the country was going through a transformation, with various experiments being carried out on different levels, in policies and regulations, in market structure. The power demand had grown multifold as did generation. It was necessary to distribute power evenly, in terms of demand. Her new job offered a great challenge of reshaping the transmission sector and bring on a national grid to connect resource and demand in the power map of the country.

“One nation, one grid, one frequency…..” that was the government’s vision behind a national grid. Connecting the diverse landscape of the country through wires, and power each corner from far to further, was the objective behind a central transmission utility.

“Government wanted uniform distribution of resources, by taking power from areas of surplus to areas of deficit …”

Smt Seema Gupta was involved in the National Grid, from nascent stage of planning, and now when the dream has evolved into more than a reality, it gives her pleasant satisfaction as a professional and a pioneer in the field.

She has been a part of POWERGRID Management since its inception and takes pride in witnessing POWERGRID emerge as one of the largest and best managed transmission utilities in the world.

“Keep challenging yourself, if you take a short cut, growth doesn’t happen. I challenged myself all along in my career. My no quitting attitude has seen me through in all situations.” That’s her advice to all her junior colleagues, women or men, to accept challenges head on, as she has always done. It has paid off also, and she has risen to become one of the top leaders in Indian power scenario.

Her work area has been vast and diverse. She has worked and contributed in almost all the departments at the Corporate Center of Power Grid Corporation. She served in the coveted positions as Executive Director in Commercial, International Business, Corporate Planning, Corporate Monitoring Group and Central Transmission Utility(CTU). As a head of CTU, she ensured development of an efficient & economic inter-State power transmission system for smooth flow of electricity in the country.

She proudly talks of those initial days and how transmission in India evolved as a result of combined efforts of many likes her, taking the country to heights, to become a leader in terms of transmission voltages. – 

“Challenge was to transmit more electricity through a single pole, and thus voltage of transmission was increased to 765 KV in nineties.
Now, 765 KV is the operating voltage in India, but we have indigenously developed 1200 KV AC voltage of transmission, which is unique to the country. It helps to reduce wires and in turn, cost of transmission”

Thus, In her long and illustrious career, she has been involved in various technological advances in transmission sector.

She also played key role in arranging fund for POWERGRID projects, coordinating with multilateral funding agencies like World Bank and Asian Development Bank. During her stint as a head of International Business she worked towards establishing POWERGRID as a brand. Today POWERGRID is providing consultancy services to Domestic and International clients with Global footprints in 20 countries.

Number of girls have increased in SME, and Engineering nowadays. You have worked in a men’s domain. How was the challenge? Are things different now from your days?

Although her experience as a professional in power sector is very satisfying,  she does not hesitate to admit to the fact that power industry is still very much a men’s domain. But it is not exactly impenetrable anymore, after success of her and few other women like her, in this field. Number is though less, and visible change is infinitesimal, but  a change is nevertheless here on the card.

“The moment you feel that you are a lady and different, you will be treated like one, differently. Do not ask for concession for being a lady. Treat yourself equal to others as you are being paid equally. Right from the day one, adopt a professional attitude.” That’s her advice to the women professionals in her field and also of any field in general. In her opinion, women need to rise beyond the limitations that are set by themselves, or by others to take on the charge or control of their life, personal and professional both.

“Do not go for short cuts. Don’t let shortcomings overpower you. Challenges will be there. Equip yourself, face the challenges and you will come out more confident and empowered.”

She agrees that support system is required for women from family and from society. But then same is required for men as well, in fact for everyone in every endeavor. Being one of the four daughters of the family, she was always encouraged to follow her dreams and later in her career also, she has always received family support, which she attributes to be result of her own conviction and belief that earned her respect and understanding of all stakeholders.

“Women often make sacrifices on their own without discussing with their families. But in most of the cases, families are actually supportive. When the moment of decision comes, one needs to choose wisely such that repentance does not occur in future.”

Picture Courtesy: powergridindia

This inspiring lady in power, has come a long way and achieved many laurels. In April’2017, she was conferred with Special Commendation Award for Outstanding Women Manager in PSE by honorable President of India, Shri Pranab Mukherji, under SCOPE Excellence award to Central Public Sector Enterprises (CPSEs). And like all great persons, she does not forget her duties to the society.

“When I am doing my job, at the back of the mind, I feel that I can be inspiration to juniors, men or women, if I perform well. I try to interact with young people, inspire them and that way I try to give back to society.”

On the occasion of International women’s day, her final words would guide many women in energy sector as they progress in their career, and who look upon her as a role model. She would keep inspiring young girls who aspire to venture into less traveled career path of core engineering sectors, in future, in India.

“Don’t look for the short cut. It is very easy but the hard ways are always more rewarding. For women, fit in the different roles that comes your way. It might be a little hard on you, the individual, and would require you to change gears very fast but drive would be smooth and you will get a lot of satisfaction from it.”

On International Women’s day, one of the most outstanding women in India today shares her wisdom with all women out there, who aspire to curve a niche for themselves.

 

And as she fits in her new role, that of the highest leader in Operations in the largest transmission company of the country, expectation level is high, from the sector as well as from people who are in it. But everyone believes that she would continue to excel in this role too, as she had been doing so far, in all her roles!