Why She Must Lead: Bridging the Gap Between Women of Color and Opportunities

Why She Must Lead shares Vasudha Sharma’s personal story and her interviews with many women who played a crucial part in raising questions and forming solutions regarding the leadership gap.

Vasudha immigrated to the United States fifteen years ago looking for better opportunities and a closer look at what the glass ceiling looks like in one of the world’s most advanced nations. Today, that ceiling shows some cracks from the recent trend of more women in C suites and for the first time, a woman of color as the Vice President of the United States. But how long will it take for a big impact to shatter it?

Inspired by people she has met around the world, Vasudha sketches out a dream in Why She Must Lead where issues like the pay gap, broken rungs, and lack of mentorship can be filtered out systematically, and workplaces can act to lift the most underrepresented group of women. Vasudha presents sentiments, fears, pain, and challenges with compassion and humility. She kindles the call for women of color to challenge the status quo and lead with purpose. The vision in Why She Must Lead allows women to:

Analyze reports related to the leadership gap for minority women

Develop understanding regarding the causes for a leaky talent pipeline

Act to create personalized approaches toward eliminating barriers and bias

Deepen their insight about how to minimize the leadership gap

Rise as a leader to champion equity goals for themselves or their organization

Vasudha Sharma is an author, keynote speaker, storyteller, coach, Diversity Equity and Inclusion advocate, wellness expert, and a Doctor of Physical Therapy. She has been an avid blog writer and contributor to many columns published in newspapers serving the Asian and Indian population. She is also the founder of the non-profit Voice of Planet, with a mission to promote inclusion through cultural activities and community outreach. Vasudha is originally from New Delhi, India, and currently resides in the suburbs of Seattle with her husband Puneet and their two boys Krish and Vansh.