Systems Integration Asia - April-May 2018

Ÿ 2016- India 100 SME, Ministry of Commerce, Government of India
(ranking 7th amongst 49,023 companies)

Ÿ 2016- Inaugural Systems Integraon India (best Corporate AV
install under Premium Category)

Ÿ 2016 - The AV Awards in London (out of 430 Global Entries for AV
Projects and the only Systems Integrator in Asia to have ever won
the AVAwards)

Ÿ 2017 - The InAVaon Awards for InfoComm Standards (the first
and only Systems Integrator globally to have done so)

Ÿ 2017 – InfoComm Woman in AV

Even as this piece was being scripted, we are informed that the AVID
family's first lady has been a prideful recipient of Women SME
Entrepreneur Leader of the Year 2018 Award.

So, in essence, it's like geng three honours every year. While it
looks absolutely commendable in terms of success parameters – if
one were to judge success in terms of shelf-adorning trophies and
shields – it also indicates the amount effort that went into shaping
and steering the company to that level, and
the extremely commied and spirited
approach to the business.

“I don't think we really did anything extra or
special,” says Mahua, the person of equal
humility as she seems she is with
determinaon when it comes to goal seng
and achieving. “I just go about the job task the
way it should be,” she asserts. “In the process,
create value that stands the company, and the
brand among the best on market.”
Mahua is a Cerfied Internal Auditor and has a
Quality Cerficaon in ISO. She is also the CSR
Lead for AVID India's Corporate Social
Responsibility. Understandably, all this
experse blends with the diligence with she
goes about task, and no wonder it reflects in
scorning one laurel aer the other.

Apparently, she is one woman in AV industry with so much making up
the person, which is why she has been leading Women in InfoComm
(WIN)* - this has recently been renamed as AVIXA Women's Council
(AWC), following the rebranding of InfoComm as AVIXA – since its
incepon in 2016. As part of the task, she has been a presenter and
guest speaker at various AWC events.

The AWC iniave aims at providing a community with connecons,
resources, educaon; recognizing excellence; promong leadership
and idenfying opportunies for the advancement of Indian female
execuves in AV/ICT industry.

“It's not just about gathering at tradeshows,” says Mahua. “We
conduct many smaller Happy
Hour events regionally and
regularly towards taking the
cause further,” she explains. “It's
about connecng a global
community of AVIXA members
and other professionals (both
men and women) supporng
the empowerment of women

working in AV and

technology industries.”

According to her, the

formaon of AWC was

simply because 'it was

needed.' While the

erstwhile InfoComm, even

as it had been honouring

women with outstanding

contribuon in AV every

year since the instuon of

the Award 10 years ago, it did not have any programme specifically

aimed at women in the industry.

“Aendance at the annual AV congregaons was only about 10

percent women,” Mahua recounts. “There was a desire among the

AVIXA Board of Directors to culvate more women in leadership; but

they did not have a volunteer relaonship with a good number to

support,” she explains. “Frankly, and finally, the industry needed to

grow its workforce. It needed to show students and young

professionals that AV is an excing, viable career for

women, who earn more than 55 percent of college

degrees.” So were they, going about organizing

programmes of diverse nature to get the message

across the community.

So, is it a journey like from 'holding half the

Collegiate degrees to holding up half the sky' of

opportunies? “It can as well be,” feels a resolute

Mahua.

Given the dynamism and acvism displayed by

Mahua, and her supporters, it did not take long for

the WIN-turned-AWC to a truly winning formula.

Even as they began to taste the early fruits of

success, the representave body went on

organizing large-scale events at Integrated Systems

Europe, Tecnomulmedia Brazil, Tecnomulmedia

Mexico, Integrate in Sydney, Australia, and

InfoComm India etc.

Says Mahua, charged up with the cause: “It's a great iniave for

current and future women professionals. What we have learned is

that women will parcipate in industry events with zest and zeal, if

they are made to feel welcome. Women hosng an educaon

session, acng as a webinar panelist or serving as an industry leader,

or sharing ideas and experse in design, and seeing them

implemented on field- all will happen if they are made to feel

included.”

Mahua is happy that the dominant part of society appears to have

realized this to a large extent. She hoped the realizaon spreads

faster and allows more and more young women to seek careers in AV.

“One best way to address the

challenge of shortage of skilled AV

talent, across the geographies, is to

encourage young girls to seek careers

in AV. There are aplenty.”

So, a movement began to hold up

half the sky?

“Women will parcipate in industry events

with zest and zeal, if they are made to feel

welcome. Sharing ideas and experse in

design, and seeing them implemented on

field- all will happen if they are made to

feel included.”

HIGHLIGHT