Reinventing Yourself: Rita Advani Shares Journey in Business Leadership and Giving Back
“I lead by example. Listening to diverse voices including those at the bottom of the ladder because they often have the best and freshest ideas!” Today’s woman dreamer, Rita Advani, is a business leader and philanthropist to know. She started her journey pursuing her MBA in Calcutta, where she was one of the only women in the class, and has served in leadership roles and boards across multiple organizations in her career. In her Women Who Win interview, Rita shares the key moments of her journey, her leadership style, and her dedication to giving back. We are excited to share her story this Season of Giving. Enjoy!
You are a true business leader to know, with your extensive experience in leading teams and leading boards. Tell us more about your career journey and what made you who you are today?
I would not be where I am today without the active encouragement of my parents and my sister to get an MBA. In my class at the Indian Institute of Management in Calcutta we were only 11 women in a class of 110! When we applied for jobs, one of the questions that was asked of all women applicants was “What are you going to do when you get married?” The assumption was that we were going to quit working after we got married.
After I migrated to the US in 1980, I started working in the industrial economy of Rhode Island and Southeastern Massachusetts. Some years later the economic landscape changed. Mergers, acquisitions, and a strong dollar made exports too expensive and imports cheaper. This changed the industrial landscape and various industries and companies disappeared from the area. It was time for me to reinvent myself and to take my skills to different sectors of the economy. Years later, the 2008 financial crisis shook up the economy and millions of jobs disappeared. This time I made a radical change and chose to become an entrepreneur. I opted to work towards making kids better stewards of the environment through science education.
Along the way I had put down roots in suburbia and found myself putting up my hand up to work towards solving a variety of local problems. My role models were neighbors who volunteered to oversee municipal functions and finances. I delighted in learning about aspects of the economy that were so different from the sectors in which I worked. I found I couldutilize my business skills to make improvements in the community in which I lived. I served on a Commission for the Commonwealth on the formula used to fund local elementary and secondary education, the School Committee to work to improve the education provided and to increase funding for the schools, and chaired the Town Energy Committee to reduce energy consumption and bring a solar power project to the town.
When you volunteer, other organizations looking for board members find you! My husband Ramesh and I had been taking care of his mother in our home. This led to my engagement with health care delivery organizations. I served on the Board of Trustees of Atrius Health and am currently the Chair of the Board of Directors of VNA Care, one of the largest providers of home health and hospice care in the state. I also serve as a Trustee of the condo association in which I now live. I am engaged with the finances and operations of the association and in protecting the buildings from the impact of climate change.
2. How would you describe your leadership style? And what do you think is your biggest asset as a leader?
I lead by example. Treating others as you would have them treat you. Taking the time and putting in the effort to build consensus. Listening to diverse voices including those at the bottom of the ladder because they often have the best and freshest ideas! Speaking up instead of remaining one of the silent majority. Not being afraid to ask questions respectfully and in a constructive manner or raise concerns that others may not be willing to.
3. You mentioned that one big constant in your life is giving back to your community. Why is philanthropy and giving back important to you?
As Muhammad Ali had said, service to others is the rent you pay for your room here on earth. The inspiration for Seva also comes from our Sikh and ancient Hindu traditions. I need to give back to my community and the countries that gave me the skills and opportunities to succeed.
4. You are also interested in the art of reinventing oneself. This is something women in particular are becoming more focused on in their lives. Tell us more about this. Did you have a personal journey with reinvention?
My parents and extended family had to pick themselves up after the disruptions caused by the Partition of India and losing their homeland. They restarted their lives from scratch. By comparison, mine was a much easier journey. For me, the key to reinvention was the joy of learning about the economic landscape, the ability to find my footing in diverse sectors, and utilizing my skills to benefit municipalities and non-profit organizations. Along the way I realized that my strength was my ability to think differently and raise the kinds of issues that often only women seem to raise.
5. This is a fun one. What book and/or tv show/movie are you enjoying right now?
I’ve watched more TV since the start of the pandemic than I ever did in the 40+ years prior! (This calls for an eye roll emoji!) I finally caught up with Breaking Bad and am now binging my way through Better Call Saul. Love both shows and their brilliant character development. On occasion I have had to pull myself away from binging and read the books assigned by the book clubs I belong to! On the plus side I have been able to introduce books with Indian themes by authors like William Dalrymple, Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni, and Megha Majumdarto my book clubs.
6. You are a Boston resident, as are many of our readers. What is your favorite spot in Boston?
I love the many public spaces that Boston has repurposed from their industrial era uses to spaces that all can enjoy for free!
One that I walk on frequently is the Boston Harborwalk which connects 43 miles of Boston’s shoreline and waterfront to its neighborhoods of Dorchester, South Boston, the Seaport, the North End, Charlestown and East Boston.
The other is the Rose Kennedy Greenway which was built on top of the depressed Route 93 aka The Big Dig. The Greenway runs from Chinatown to the North End. It qualifies as a botanical garden because of the immense variety of perennial plant species planted in it. The artwork features local and international artists and changes frequently. There are fountains, a carousel, seasonal markets, food trucks, beer gardens, concerts, films and so much more programming throughout the year!
7. As the platform for women dreamers, what is your next big dream?
I love hiking in the national parks, photographing the wonders of nature and sharing the human stories of hope, innovation and joy I encounter. I hope to develop these skills further and share them on a wider platform. This truly is one world and we all can and should dream big!
Thank you Rita for sharing your story with us! We are excited to have you in our global women’s network!
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