In celebration of Women’s History Month, we are highlighting unique perspectives from Q2 team members on what Women’s History means to them.
Celebrating Womanhood Every Day
Hiral Mehta
Accessibility Program Manager
Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas, USA
Who is an influential woman you admire?
I am fortunate to have been surrounded by family members since childhood who raised me as a strong woman. First, my grandmother, whom I was very close to as a kid. She was raised in a very affluent family and went to university in the 1940s, which was not common in India at that time. Because of circumstances after her marriage, she had to raise six children singlehandedly in a difficult financial situation. She has always been a great example of strong willpower and fighting spirit.
Secondly, my mother, who earned a double degree in science and education in the 1970s and has been a science teacher for her entire life. She raised my brother and me equally, teaching us logical thinking and modeling the scientific approach to address all of life’s problems well before we earned our engineering degrees. I am also very inspired by her because she immigrated to the USA in her late fifties and successfully established a career as a substitute teacher in elementary schools, breaking the barriers of language, culture and age.
And finally, I admire my mother-in-law, who has always inspired me to celebrate womanhood every day. More than anything, I am very grateful to her for teaching her son to respect and admire women.
What does women’s history mean to you?
Women’s history is about remembering and celebrating the tremendous progress women have made over the centuries. Today, there are hardly any professions that women have not entered. Women have educated themselves, fought against gender bias and paved their ways further and further. It also reminds me of a great quote from my native language, ‘Naari tu Narayani’, which means, ‘Woman is a form of Goddess.’
What is the best career advice you have received?
My career path has been very diverse, but it has consistently been attached to my favorite causes of protecting human rights and raising a voice for those who cannot speak for themselves. An early mentor recognized this and told me, “No matter what you do for rest of your life, do not forget your core cause, and I know you will shine!”
Words of Wisdom for Strength and Self-Assurance
Monica Sahani
Lead Executive Assistant
Bangalore, India
Who is an influential woman you admire?
The notion that ‘every woman who uplifts other women is my inspiration’ encapsulates the powerful idea of women supporting and encouraging one another.
I have always admired my mother for her unwavering confidence and the valuable lessons she instilled in me. Growing up, she taught me the importance of being independent, self-sufficient and never losing hope, no matter how challenging a situation might seem. Her words of wisdom have always given me a sense of strength and self-assurance, which has helped me overcome obstacles and achieve my goals. Her teachings have also helped me realize that success is the result of hard work, perseverance and a willingness to take charge of one’s life.
Do you have any advice for younger generations that are joining the workforce?
My advice to emerging generations entering the workforce is to prioritize continuous learning and adaptability, cultivate robust relationships, set clear objectives, maintain focus and proactively assist colleagues. Additionally, it is critical to seek out constructive feedback and mentorship opportunities.
What do you teach your children about women’s history?
As a mother, I want my daughter to be aware of the challenges that women have faced and continue to face, such as discrimination and violence.
However, I understand the importance of instilling in my daughter a sense of empowerment while inspiring her to pursue her dreams. One of the ways I do this is by teaching her about the remarkable accomplishments of women throughout history, from trailblazers who have shattered glass ceilings to unsung heroes who have made significant contributions to society.
Knowledge is Power
Sandra Mokey
Vice President of Finance
Austin, TX, USA
Who is an influential woman you admire?
My mother is my personal hero. She is an immigrant, from Flores, Portugal (one of the Azores islands), and grew up very poor. Her family couldn’t afford school after the elementary grades, so at 12 years old she worked full time at a little store, giving all her earnings to her family. At 18 years old, she came to the United States with her parents in search of a better life for all of them. She worked at Raytheon for 30 years, learned English along the way (Sesame Street and Days of Our Lives helped!), and has now devoted her life to serving her family, neighbors, community and God. She has experienced incredible hardships throughout her life, and yet maintains a positivity like no other that I have ever seen. She has taught me to be humble, to find the joy and hope in everything around me, to serve others, how to feel gratitude deeply and that forgiveness is the greatest gift you can give yourself and others.
What does women’s history mean to you?
For me, women’s history month is a moment in time to actively celebrate the women in our lives, both past and present, who throughout history have helped pave the path for me and my daughters. While there is still work to do, minds and policies to change, it’s a month of gratitude for the dedication, determination, fearlessness and resiliency of all women.
What do you teach your children about women’s history?
Having two daughters, it’s important to me that I teach them about the past. Although we are currently afforded freedoms – not necessarily to the extent all women continue to fight for – that’s not the case for all women around the world. I also strive to help them understand that here in the United States, it wasn’t always like this. Moreover, for women of color, the journey has been even more arduous. I want them to understand that knowledge is power and remember that, in the words of Beyonce, “Who run the world? Girls!”
