Lewatle: HEREFORHER

THIRASHA

Being in a leadership role does come with its challenges, particularly for women, who are often deemed incapable and unworthy of those roles based on their gender and are perceived as inferior, in part by their male counterparts and by society at large.She describes her experience at MultiChoice as different, having been with the organisation for nearly nine years, she speaks of only great experiences and relationships built on a foundation of mutual respect. ‘I am given the respect and platforms to hold and manage my meetings in ways that I see fit and without fear of being undermined or challenged based on my gender, whatever objections are raised, they are relevant to the work that I do, and so I’ve been lucky in that aspect.’

Using one’s position to inspire and impact change is central to leadership, transitioning from an Engineering role that is traditionally a male- dominated space to a leadership role has been a source of inspiration and admiration to some of Thirasha’s former female colleagues who’ve witnessed her walk this path. ‘I’ve had different conversations with other women who would also like to transition from one role to the other. I’ve been a part of these informal coaching and mentoring programmes where we empower each other about how to make it work.’ In 2020, she joined MultiChoice’s HOD Associate Programme in the Technology division, an opportunity that enabled her to inspire others by showing them that it’s possible to be from a particular professional background and thrive in other environments as well. After finishing the HOD Associate Programme, she joined the Women in Tech Academy in 2021, where she was part of a committee that put together Webinars and talks aimed at uplifting women in Technology.

As Women’s Month comes to an end, Thirasha notes the great initiatives undertaken by MultiChoice to create an environment where women are seen, heard and supported. The Executive Associate Programmeis one of the initiatives. Having come from the HOD Associate Programme, this initiative provides an opportunity for women to be mentored and shadowed by the Chief Technology Officer for another year. It offers a great opportunity for high-performing female individuals to learn from their Senior Executive Leadership teams.

LEWATLE