Shreya Krishnan, who once described herself as the 'plainest contestant', used sheer confidence to clinch the Mrs India World 2017 title. Today, her achievements extend far beyond the pageant world. A corporate social responsibility expert, environmental advocate, author, dancer, and actor, Krishnan now holds a pivotal role as the Managing Director for India at AnitaB.org. This Chicago-headquartered non-profit is dedicated to fostering greater inclusion within the global technology sector.
Navigating Co-Parenting: Challenges and Solutions
In a candid conversation, the 40-year-old multi-hyphenate professional discussed the complexities of raising a child post-separation. She identified the absence of a unified parental unit as a primary challenge, leaving one without immediate support during stressful moments. Krishnan emphasized that differing parenting ideologies can create significant hurdles.
"To make it work, one has to remember constantly that the child is our most important project," she stated. The key is operating as a team focused on the child's well-being, values, and environment. For her, this philosophy translates into a practical, flexible arrangement. Her daughter Anika's father lives merely two blocks away, allowing for a seamless routine where Anika walks to his place and shuttles between homes based on a coordinated schedule.
Empathy, Language, and Juggling Multiple Roles
Krishnan, who recently co-authored the book 'Words Matter: The Language That Girls Need to Speak', highlighted the inherent gender bias in language. She pointed out how words like 'ambition', 'guilt', and 'confidence' carry different connotations for men and women. Neutralizing this linguistic bias is crucial for equitable communication.
Connecting this to parenting, she stressed that empathy in children must be cultivated from the ground up. "What they grow up watching is what they will present to the outer world," she explained, noting that bullying is common. Her approach involves teaching her daughter to stand up for herself while ensuring she does not harm others.
When asked about the toughest role she juggles, Krishnan unequivocally named motherhood. "Parenting is something that doesn't forgive very easily if you fail," she remarked. However, she consciously rejects 'mom-guilt'. She has communicated to her 12-year-old daughter that her work is driven by a passion to create a better world for her.
Driving Systemic Change for Women in the Workforce
Addressing the high dropout rate of women from the workforce after motherhood, Krishnan argued that corporate solutions like office creches are insufficient. A deeper 'psyche reset' is needed, not just a policy change. The traditional 24-hour work cycle, she contends, is not designed for the rhythms of a woman's life. True change requires women being equitably represented in all decision-making and leadership spaces, which would subsequently transform societal approaches to childcare and community.
On encouraging girls to enter the male-dominated tech field, Krishnan dismissed stereotypes linking gender to academic aptitude. "STEM education has no connection with gender," she asserted. The focus should be on individual capacity, capability, and choice.
Her final advice to women embarking on parenthood is to view it as a lifelong commitment. "What you commit to when you bring a child into this world is a very long-term, long-drawn-out process, and that is a good reminder to have," she concluded, echoing her mother's joke that parenting never truly ends.
