Love for animals and all things engineering… a passion to improve the lives of girls and women around her… working her job rising above gender – well, we can try summing up Mayuri Dhavale… but a heart-to-heart with her tells Sarada Vishnubhatla that there are more layers to her. A happy person, Mayuri sees good in everything… where she sees it lacking, she simply fills the space with her own good vibes and intentions.
As a child, Mayuri struggled with Mathematics and Physics subjects. Yet, surprising even herself, she found an ‘engineering’ gene in her, early on in life. Today, she can be heard talking more in ‘engineering jargon’ than regular English.
Mayuri laughs: “I live axles, housings, wiring harnesses and steering wheels. I can talk about manufacturing processes – be it fabrication, friction, welding, forging, foundry, presses, machining, plastic moulding and assemblies even in my sleep.”
Recently, she was featured in ‘Rising to the Top’ (vol 3), a book on Indian Women STEM Leaders published by the International Federation of Engineering Education Societies; and, Global Engineering Deans Council. She feels humbled: “I am a part of this book on engineers being a non-engineer. I have spent close to 15 years in the manufacturing and engineering industry working with innumerable OEMs and tier-1 suppliers, so this gives me a sense of validation for all the work that I have done in this sector. This book sums up my journey into automotive and manufacturing industry that I love so deeply.”
A psychology graduate, Mayuri holds postgraduation degree in communications besides completing leadership certification from Michigan Ross University. Born in Pune to a fighter pilot father and an empathic mother with a scholarly bent of mind owing to the family genes – with her father a Padma Bhushan awardee for being a respected writer in Marathi and English languages – Mayuri spent her growing years all across India, though her basic education years saw her in Delhi.
Mayuri prides herself for being a tough nut yet is soft too. She inherits her empathetic nature from her mother. She is one who believes in never giving up in the face of challenges.
She reminisces: “My parents always ensured that we were free to make our choices and mistakes but that we would have to face the fallout if things went south. Gender never played a role for us. I received my first culture shock when I left Pune to join college in early 90s. Some boys took to bullying me regularly forcing me to think of taking a transfer. My father let me know that people will always make things tough for me. And that I will always have the choice to either run away or face and resolve it. I have stuck to my decision of remaining and resolving a challenge since then.”
The lady specializes in organization capability building for companies and her work stints have always been in leadership positions. Never saying ‘no’ to any opportunity, being open to doing new things and taking on responsibilities are some things that Mayuri adheres to in her career and life.
She adds: “I have worked in all departments including strategy, business development, key account management, marketing, production, and have been exposed to critical departments such as finance, quality, or costing. I have never have been treated differently in an otherwise male dominated industry. I feel inequality starts when one starts expecting a differential treatment based on gender. When you are operationally strong, committed to work and willing to walk the talk, people will respect you.”
Mayuri does not believe in a ‘boss-subordinate’ equation at work. Her superiors respect her need for ‘freedom to take hard steps, space to be able to disagree and express her opinions’. And her team appreciates her transparent communication. She feels blessed for having worked with visionaries and mentors in her career who were willing to see her capabilities beyond her gender.
She represents Maharashtra at the Women’s Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (WICCI) Corporate Social Responsibility Council and has co-founded a peoples’ movement in India raising awareness on menstrual health and hygiene.
For Mayuri, her journey has just begun… there are multiple and bigger goals to achieve. And, she is all set for it!