From a young age, Meena has always had a vision of who she wants to be and what to do with her life, personally and professionally. She recalls her mother saying, “Make sure you dream because if you don’t, you’ll never accomplish anything.” So Meena always looked to the future and considered what she must do to get there. She likes to have one-year and 3 to 5-year plans but is never too rigid, thinking what a person wants as a destination may change; simply adjust one’s plans. She wants to be adaptable, low-stress, and never be afraid of change.
“I have changed business functions several times in my career, and I have also changed industries, which has served me well,” Meena says. “I’ve worked in marketing, sales, customer success, product development, fintech, events, education, and health tech.”
When Meena looks back at her career, she recognizes how vital volunteer work and networking were in the early stages of her career. They remain vital today, but she only got to where she is because she committed to volunteering and building her network.
“One mistake I’ve seen people make in the early stages of their careers is not having a voice,” she states. “People think that if they don’t have experience, they can’t speak up and share ideas, which is untrue. Everyone has a voice and valuable insights; hence, we must all express and share that voice with others.”
The biggest inspirations in Meena’s life were the women in her family. She was surrounded by strong women who were never afraid of anything, always eager to learn and up for a challenge. Her mother and grandmother gave her confidence, determination, and work ethic.
When someone asks her about any lessons and experiences in life as a woman leader or a visible minority, she consistently says, “At no point did I stop and see myself as a woman leader; at no point did I see myself as a minority. I strive to be the best leader and lead by example.”
Meena often hears about people feeling imposter syndrome, feeling that they don’t belong or aren’t worthy of being in their roles, a feeling that she has never had. Her attitude has always been, “Why should I feel like an imposter? I am just as worthy and capable as the next person.”
Diversity and inclusivity in her teams and workplace are the most practical reality that Meena treasures. It’s essential to her to extend a hand and give people equal chances and opportunities. And it leads her to a question about vulnerability.
“At one point in my career, I didn’t think I would ever feel vulnerable, and then I got pregnant with my first child. Motherhood and career are challenging balancing acts. I’m not going to lie; it’s not easy. There was a time that I could put in whatever extra time I wanted to in my work, but now I have to balance work and family. I’m fortunate to work in an organization that is highly supportive of women and families. Dr. Greenhill is our CEO at Caretem and a mother of three. I am incredibly fortunate to be with an organization like the Careteam. I encourage every woman entering motherhood to look at their team and company and know whether they will be supportive. Sadly, however, even today, not every company supports maternity leave and motherhood. Take control and get yourself into an organization that will be supportive. When surrounded by supportive people in a supportive workplace, it can give you a more inspiring, livable life.”
And when it comes to balancing work and family, a wise nurse once told Meena, “You don’t win any awards for doing it on your own.” It takes a village to raise a family more than ever, and Meena lives close to family. Everybody supports each other in raising their children and caring for their elders.
“For future generations of women, if we know that courage, risk-taking, resilience, and managing ambiguity are the four traits and competencies emerging as key to the success of women as leaders in an organization—then that’s what you must embrace, no ifs and buts. And I would say these four traits aren’t limited to career; they also determine the quality of your life and bring you more success and happiness overall. And remember that you are never too experienced to have mentors and advisors. I always have and will have a trusted circle of mentors and advisors to learn from. You’ll never be too accomplished or experienced to continue learning. As poet, Ralph Waldo Emerson once said: ‘knowledge is the antidote to fear.’ Happy Mother’s Day, and thank you to my mother and grandmothers for shaping me into who I am today.”
