#Shepreneurs: These 3 Key Parameters Are Bridging the Gender Gap in Board Room Women are competing men in all spheres of life. Here's how competence and self-belief can bridge the gender gap in decision-making

As the dialogues on equality grow louder, top companies are taking strides to adopt fair and transparent policies in terms of pay practices and decision-making. The onus to lead by example sits heavy on the shoulders of world leaders as female professionals seek to bridge the gender imbalance that still exists in the corporate culture.

With more and more women entrepreneurs creating radically successful businesses, participating in decision making and undertaking leadership roles, workplaces are becoming more inclusive. Despite the evident change, statistics still indicate a gender gap at the c-suite level and below. Archana Khosla, the Founder Partner of Vertices Partners shares 3 key parameters to bridge these gaps:

#1 Self-belief

For whichever profession an individual is involved in, the self-belief in his/her abilities determines how far they might go in their respective career. Being a woman leader, individuals often lack a sense of confidence due to the cultural annotations or family preachings, which ultimately end up dragging them down.

"Due to cultural ethos, you may have grown up hearing what a woman can or cannot do, the differences between a man and a woman. That is exactly what we need to unlearn and start afresh. Once you start believing in your abilities, you'll realize the opportunities that are available for you," Khosla emphasized.

#2 Creating an Ecosystem

More often than not it is the kind of people and environment one is surrounded with that determines his/her success. "Be it at your personal or professional front, it is important to be surrounded by smart people, even the ones who are smarter than you," Khosla recommended.

Having smart individuals around you develops a sagacity to further push your limits and step up your game. Having a sincere set of individuals around you helps women leaders move to the next level promptly before eventually helping them scale their business venture.

#3 Keep Learning

Be it a man or a woman, it is very important to bring your competence level to the highest. Khosla believes that Women empowerment is not about demanding equal rights with men but to be able to command the same.

"When you enter a room for negotiations filled with men or go for a male-dominated investor pitch, your questions shouldn't be why you are the only woman in the room but whether you know your data, your job and your business better than anyone else in the room." As long as the answer to all of those questions is yes, gender doesn't make a difference.