Dr. Praveena Dorathi

My mother, Jeba Ranjit, a former teacher, philanthropist, and cancer survivor, is my biggest inspiration in life.

She always extends a helping hand to those in need and supports people living with AIDS and leprosy. I’ve learnt equality in the true sense from her.

For me, her grit, strength, confidence, and compassion are synonyms to femininity. I imbibed her qualities and followed my passion for being an HSE specialist at a time when it was unheard of.

As the first woman to head the West Asia HSSE portfolio in JLL, I aspire to be an archetype for ambitious women who look forward to a fulfilling career in JLL.

I don’t want to restrict myself to being an experienced subject matter expert only, but also aim to excel as a meaningful leader. Therefore, I constantly educate myself through various leadership programmes that are designed specifically for women executives. For example, the Transitioning into Leadership: A Programme for Women Executive (TLPWE) course I completed from IIM Calcutta. Similarly, JLL WiAM is an excellent platform for women.

The new generation of women are aspirational and prefer real-life solutions rather than societal advice. I try to be an example by being approachable, by deliberating on real issues, and by addressing risks at hand rather than advising.

According to Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, a sense of belonging is one of the prime needs of an individual.

Whether it’s in our workplace, neighbourhood, or any other community we are a part of, inclusion is a step towards bringing forth that sense of belonging in us. 

When I feel included, my genuine self comes forth for the service of my people. If everyone can be their original self, it will be an ideal community that flourishes in positivity.