"I remember early in my career, and I was dissuaded from taking on a front-line role because it involved working in the ‘rough and tough world of the (male) dealers’. "

Forgoing her initial dreams of being an airline Pilot, her degree in electrical engineering has assisted Shilpa Strong in taking on high-profile global roles with several first-tier global insurers and transforming companies - specifically in technology and automation. “Having been in different environments has enabled me to tell myself I can be anywhere and make it work,” she says.

That said, Shilpa also believes that change is very difficult for most people and the challenge is that businesses focus on people if they are to succeed in implementing lasting change.