Our real life ‘Heroes’: Khushboo and Sheetal

The Heroes Women Role Model Lists, supported by YouTube , showcase leaders who are championing women in business and driving change for gender diversity in the workplace. This year, two of our colleagues, Khushhboo Pandey and Sheetal Acharya , have been included in the lists.

Here they share what being recognised means to them, and a bit about themselves.

Khushboo Pandey

Khushboo is a Lead Digital Strategist and is based in our UK head office in Warwick.

What does being recognised in the Heroes List mean to you?

Being recognised on such forums helps you grow both personally and professionally.

Personally, it gives me a sense of fulfilment. It validates my skills, expertise and potential, boosting the confidence and sense of purpose of my being. I think it will give me more exposure; leading to me contributing to the direction of projects and initiatives that I believe in. It also gives me hope of a better equitable working future for coming generations.

At a professional level, I have been in a situation where I’m the only woman in the room; it’s intimidating at times to put your points across and share your views/opinions in a meeting. I believe recognition like this will give me a chance to make a more meaningful impact within the organization and be the voice of many sharing the same sentiments.

What is your day-to-day role?

I’m a Lead Digital Strategist: Products, which requires a balance of strategic thinking, data analysis, communication skills and the ability to adapt to changing market conditions. It’s a dynamic role that plays a crucial part in driving the success of a product and, ultimately, the company.

My day-to-day role varies depending on the specific goals and priorities of the product teams, but my key responsibilities and activities include: strategic planning; developing and maintaining a product roadmap; customer research and feedback; data analysis; product release planning and management; risk assessment and mitigation; and, lead and mentor a team of product managers and strategists.

Why do you feel it’s important that women are empowered to thrive in large organisations?

Empowering women in large organisations is not only a matter of social justice and ethics, but also a strategic imperative that can lead to improved performance, innovation and reputation. It requires a sustained commitment from leadership and a comprehensive approach that addresses policies, culture and opportunities for women at all levels. To ensure a more inclusive future, market leaders need to be the torchbearers to drive the change.

There are a myriad of reasons to support women's empowerment and some of the compelling reasons for organisations include diversity of perspectives, talent pool expansion, improved performance and enhanced reputation.

How have you felt supported to reach your potential in your current role?

National Grid assists me in multiple ways to ensure that I’m fully supported to achieve individual excellence, for example through: various diversity and inclusion initiatives and programs; offering equal pay and benefits; leadership development programs; flexible work policies; and, a number of support networks.

I’m glad to work at National Grid. In my 10+ years of experience, National Grid is the only company that practices what it preaches in terms of diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) and safety (both physical and mental) initiatives.

Sheetal Acharya

Sheetal is Director of Operations in the Global Transformation Office, based in our Waltham office in Massachusetts, US.

What does being recognised in the Heroes List mean to you?

It’s such an honor to be selected for the Heroes Executive Role Model List and be in the same company of so many amazing women. I’m also grateful to work alongside encouraging and supportive women at National Grid. We have an incredible tribe of National Grid women who build up each other and I’m proud to be a part of it.

What is your day-to-day role?

I’m Director of Operations in the Global Transformation Office and currently lead the program management office for the Group Customer Committee, whose members are tasked with developing a company-wide customer ethos and fostering a more customer-centric culture. I also collaborate with leaders to bring their strategic visions to life through employee engagement strategies.

I help drive new organizational behaviors and support people to feel comfortable with and manage change; creating strategies to empower and build confidence in people to adopt new ways of working and coach managers on leading through change.

Why do you feel it’s important that women are empowered to thrive in large organisations?

Women are often viewed as more collaborative, empathetic and relationship-oriented, and more willing to embrace ambiguity – skills that are critical to any organization driving transformational changes. We must strive to empower women at all levels of any organization to support their professional growth and cultivate these high-demand skills.

How have you felt supported to reach your potential in your current role?

I feel supported at National Grid every day. My managers have been strong advocates for me and have continually provided me with opportunities to challenge myself. They also encourage me to test ideas and concepts, which gives me the space to safely take risks.