“The biggest lesson I learned was to have trust in your team. You go through a lot of challenges working in a high-stress environment, sometimes with limited resources and you need to trust in your team’s ability to get the job done.” Today’s woman dreamer, Venus Senjam is a Senior Customer Project Manager with Sneider Electric. She is a returnee, starting her career again after retiring from the Indian Army as a Major. Paying it forward from her own experiences, she is also a strong advocate of supporting women joining the corporate world after a career break, and an active community service volunteer in the Franklin/Norfolk county area. We are honored to share her story!

1. Tell us your story. You served in the Indian army and are currently an engineer in the Boston area. Where did you grow up, and what inspired your journey in army service and eventually technology? 

I was born in Imphal, the capital of one of the eight northeastern states in India. I grew up with my 3 siblings, enjoying the beautiful and simple life like most kids in those days. My father was in civil services which provided me with the opportunity to travel across the region, see various cultures, and meet people from varied backgrounds. It also exposed me to some of the problems faced by the youth in my state and played a role in my career choice later in life.

I pursued my bachelor’s in electrical engineering but I could not resist the draw of uniform and service. I decided to join the Indian Army as a Lieutenant.

I chose to join the Corps of Engineers as it was the only division offering a combat role to women officers. I served for 8 years in various civil and field postings before retiring as a Major. Then, I moved to the US along with my family due to my husband’s job and restarted my career as a Project Manager with Schneider Electric 2 years ago.

2. You served as a Major in the Indian army for 8 years in the Corps of Engineers. What was the biggest lesson you learned in your time in the army? What was one of the big challenges you faced? 

The biggest lesson I learned was to have trust in your team. You go through a lot of challenges working in a high-stress environment, sometimes with limited resources and you need to trust in your team’s ability to get the job done. You need to acknowledge that you are working with some of the finest people with great commitment and build an environment where everyone in the team can trust each other.

I also had a few challenges along the way. Women in the army were still new when I joined and not everyone was expecting a woman to perform. I feel I had to work harder than men to prove myself initially. It does get much easier once you get past the initial hurdle. I had some of the best times working in my regiment.

3. You are actively involved in the greater Boston community, particularly in the Franklin/Norfolk area. How do you aspire to help empower women in your community? 

I believe that you need to be a part of the community wherever you are. In my experience,  human beings are curious by nature and we need to interact to understand each other better. I was part of the Franklin Cultural Council before I moved to Norfolk, and worked closely with the community to organize multiple events. 

I am also a returner and try to help women who have taken a career break and are trying to restart their careers.

4. Is there an empowered woman in your life that you admire? 

In Manipur, even though it follows a patriarchal system, women are more actively involved in economic and social activities as an equal participant as their men. Whether it’s nupi-lan movements of 1904 and 1934 or Meira Paibi (Women torch bearers), there were numerous examples of women empowerment which I learned about growing up. Ima Market (Mother’s Market) in Imphal is the only market in the world entirely run by women. While I don’t want to pick a particular person, there are many women in my family and society whom I admire for their courage and values.

5. As the platform for women dreamers, what is your next big dream? 

I would like to start my own NGO focusing on sustainability to help preserve the environment for future generations someday.

Thank you Venus for sharing your inspiring story with us! We are excited to have you in our global women’s network!

Bio: Venus Senjam is a Senior Customer Project Manager with Sneider Electric. She is a returnee, starting her career again after retiring from the Indian Army, and a big advocate of supporting women joining the industry after a break. She lives in Norfolk, Massachusetts with her husband and two lovely daughters. She is very active in her community and was part of the town Cultural Council helping organize cultural events with focus on diversity and inclusivity. She is also a fashion designer and was featured in Marilyn Riseman's "Steeped in Style" Fashion Show 2019 and Boston Fashion Week 2020. She loves quilting and runs a volunteer program in 5 town libraries with her daughters to teach basic sewing to kids.