How Identity Has Influenced a Senior Vice President of Intellectual Property and Rights Management at Qvest.US's Career
Kavita's career journey in male-dominated fields—technology, media, and consulting—taught them that excelling in their work is paramount ("you first have to be really good at what you do"). Later, they learned to actively address situations where their contributions weren't fully recognized, demonstrating "assertiveness" and advocating for their value.
Overcoming Challenges, Executive/Leadership, Motivational Stories, Real-World Examples, Actionable Tips
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Kavita Anand
Sr. VP, IP & Rights Management
Qvest.US
Delhi University 1993
UCLA EMBA, MBA
Computer Science
Consulting & Related Professional Services
Business Strategy
None Applicable
Video Highlights
1. Developing strong skills is crucial for career advancement, regardless of gender.
2. Recognizing and addressing situations where your value isn't acknowledged is important for career progression.
3. Being assertive and demonstrating your value can help overcome challenges in male-dominated fields.
Transcript
And someone who identifies as female, how is that impacted? How does that impact your career navigation?
When I started my career, both in technology and in media, entertainment, and consulting, these were traditionally male-dominated fields. I think what it has taught me, and this wasn't until mid-career, is that you first have to be really good at what you do.
Honestly, the reason I say that is because I was able to grow in my career without focusing on the male-dominated aspect. I never even thought about that; I was just being myself and the best I could be. So, the first thing is you have to be really good at what you do.
The second thing is you have to be aware of the situation around you. If you're not being recognized for your work, then you need to take action. This could mean being assertive, demonstrating your value, or sometimes changing the situation.
Sometimes you're not in a position where people recognize who you are or the value you bring. For me, the second half of my career has helped me recognize these situations and do something about them, whatever that ended up being.