Tanu Das
Watch Me: A Daughter’s Defiance to Redefine the Table
I was the second daughter born into a family where my arrival was met with hushed disappointment-a patriarchal society that measured worth through sons. But my mother, fierce and unyielding, declared, ‘She’ll be no less than a son!’ That became my anthem. ‘Watch Me,’ I whispered to the world, throwing myself into every sport, every competition, determined to outshine expectations.
By 8, I had fallen in love with computers, chasing that passion to become an engineer-only to land in SAP testing after graduation. My coding dreams felt hijacked, but I refused to let someone else script my story. On day one, I marched to my manager and demanded a change.
His question-‘Where do you see yourself in five years?’-pushed me to aim higher: ‘On the other side of the table.’ MBA at IIM Bangalore became my north star, earned through sleepless nights juggling work and studies. Sales found me unexpectedly-a dare I took during placements that revealed my true calling. When asked if I would thrive in a high-risk international role-‘too challenging for women’-I said yes before the doubt could settle. ‘Watch Me,’ I repeated, stepping into uncharted territory. Today, as Director of Client Growth, I lead teams and mentor others to embrace fearless ambition. My mother’s defiance taught me to turn ‘you can’t’ into ‘watch me’-a lesson I carry into every boardroom and beyond, proving that the table isn’t just for heirs; it’s for those who dare to redefine it.
This is my story.
And I am proud to be a face of Agivant.
