Roopa Kudva, whose remarkable journey spans from the hills of Northeast India to the boardrooms of global corporations, offers profound insights into this question and much more.

From her formative years in Meghalaya’s matrilineal society, where she observed women in positions of power, to navigating career setbacks that taught her resilience, Roopa’s story reveals how leadership fundamentally rests on balancing diverse responsibilities while making thoughtful trade-offs. She draws an essential distinction between mentors and sponsors, highlighting how career advancement often depends more on those willing to give you opportunities than those offering advice.