Exclusive Trusted Magazine Q&A with Ramita Anand, Founder @Elevate.RA
How could you describe your career path in few words?
I trained as a middle years teacher in Vancouver, Canada and was recruited to teach in London, where I worked in primary education and then moved onto working with pupils with learning differences. I took some time to do a master’s between teaching and before having a family of my own as I have always been interested in science and healthcare. I moved to New York, where I began teaching but then was offered a career in pharma communications. I did this for a short while before having my own kids and once my youngest was in school, I began teaching part time again. I did this until 2019 and then began my own venture in 2020 as part of our family move to Singapore. I have been growing and running Elevate.RA since then, the platform now includes seven series of podcast episodes, several published articles, my own book, and a school’s programme alongside the one to one and small group mentorship programme. Each phase, job, school, and city I have lived and worked in have been an instrumental steppingstone in shaping the career path I have had. It’s been incredibly rewarding with important learning experiences.
What was your most challenging experience, and it has changed your mindset?
My experiences in my tween and adolescent years were instrumental in shaping the adult I have become. When I was 13 years old, I lost my mother to cancer. This was undoubtedly the darkest episode of my life. My teenage years were spent without my mother, who had been my role model, best friend, and teacher. I was also charged with caring for my two younger siblings while my father worked, which was not always an easy task, to say the least.
I firmly believe that it was the confidence and self-belief instilled in me by my mother that helped me pursue my own passion for education. Because of my own experience, I truly understand how tricky the teen years can be and how it feels to be the odd one out. I was often the only girl who did not have her mother at matches or recitals, and that loneliness is still familiar to me. I have a great deal of empathy for young girls who face challenges and must grow up along a path that may look different from their peers. No girl should feel alone on this journey.
Working in education and pursuing a career to help others in their most vulnerable times has been my way of addressing these personal challenges.
Based on your experience, what’s the key success factor for a female leader / manager?
In my opinion those with intrinsic motivation and a thirst for knowledge based on curiosity make great leaders. Developing an open, growth-oriented mindset will serve effectively and allow those we lead to be feel seen and heard. Taking on board as many diverse perspectives will broaden and strengthen team building and collaboration for best outcomes in any industry.
Removing self-limiting beliefs will bring joy and passion into the journeys of those we lead. Displaying empathy, listening with compassion, and treating everyone with respect and kindness is what I believe will bring any organisation true success.
Emphasizing the importance of both learning positive skills and unlearning negative habits and beliefs will encourage us to become more thoughtful and well-rounded adults.
My current role provides a platform to teach young folks how we can thrive by harnessing the key attributes of Confidence, Resilience, Empathy, Emotional Intelligence, and Kindness. I do believe role modelling and keeping these traits at the forefront of our minds when working will be the basis effective and sound leadership. The more we take time to share and acknowledge each other on a human level the more productivity, respect and mutual understanding we will gain.
