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Written by Elizabeth Kim. According to the Harvard Business Review, around 75 percent of college students, at some point during their academic journey, have engaged in an internship (Coleman). For many new internees, who are dipping their feet into the adult-working world for the first time, the prospects of their internship may be a daunting […]
An Op-ed by Rita Kakati-Shah, read the full article here.
Shared from Forbes, written by Jennefer Witter. Original article here. As companies undertake DEI work, they must authentically fold in unity, empathy, and decency.
Shared from Take the Lead, written by Michele Weldon. Original article here. She has always liked moving fast. At seven years old, growing up in greater London, Rita Kakati-Shah told her physician father and zoologist mother (who was also a classically trained singer and dancer) that she intended to be a formula race car mechanic […]
Shared from IndieReader, original article here. Following find an interview with author Rita Kakati-Shah.
Shared from Prag News, original article here. Founder and CEO of Uma, Rita Kakati-Shah, has written a delineated story of her life in pursuit of how she has managed to stand into her identity throughout the most apparent ascending male-dominated career ladder.
Shared from Prag News. written by ByPritishri Bharadwaz. Original Assamese article here. ডিজিটেল ডেস্ক : নিউয়ৰ্কত ভাৰতৰ কনচুল জেনেৰেল ৰণধীৰ জয়ছোৱালে আন্তঃৰাষ্ট্ৰীয় নাৰী দিৱস উপলক্ষে বিশ্বব্যাপী সফলতা লাভ কৰিবলৈ সক্ষম হোৱা ভাৰতীয় নাৰীৰ সাফল্য উদযাপনৰ বাবে এক বিশেষ অনুষ্ঠানৰ আয়োজন কৰে। অনুষ্ঠানটোৰ আৰম্ভণিতে বিভিন্ন বঁটা বিজয়ী ৱেষ্টছেলাৰ লেখিকা, তথা লিংগ সমতা তথা কেৰিয়াৰ সম্পৰ্কীয় বিষয়ত […]
Shared from Romford Recorder, written by Chantelle Billson. Original article here. A pioneering mother-of-two from Hornchurch will launch a motivational book on International Women’s Day.
Shared from IndieReader, written by Amanda Ellison. Original review here. THE GODDESS OF GO-GETTING is a thought-provoking, useful and authentic handbook for all involved in the corporate world, covering themes that are highly topical and set to remain so for the foreseeable future.
Shared from Citybiz, original article here. Kakati-Shah, an award-winning bestselling author and entrepreneur, offers advice on building confidence, leadership, and success in the workplace and a path to building inclusive cultures.
Shared from Northeast Today, original article here. An award-winning, gender, diversity, inclusion and career strategist – Rita Kakati Shah has recently been conferred with the ‘Presidential Lifetime Achievement’ award by US President Joe Biden for her contribution along international mentoring & volunteering to support young people, women and minority communities of all ages.
Shared from Guwahati Plus, original article by Niharika Kalita here. Rita Kakati Shah, an Assam-origin social worker and New York resident, was recently awarded the prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award by US President Joe Biden.
Shared from King’s College London, original article here. King’s alumna and King’s Business School Advisory Council Member Rita Kakati-Shah has received the Lifetime Achievement award, the highest level of the President of the United States Volunteer Service Award.
Shared from The Assam Tribune, written by Ajit Patowary, in print and online. Digital copy available here.
Shared from Romford Recorder, written by Chantelle Billson, in print and online. Digital article here.
Shared from Formidable Woman Magazine, written by Jules Lavalee. Original cover story here. Rita Kakati-Shah is an award-winning, gender, diversity, inclusion and career strategist, speaker, author and advisor to Fortune 500 companies.
Shared from HBR, written by Liane Davey. Original article here.
Shared from Forbes, written by Amy Blaschka. Original article here.
Shared from HBR, written by Emma Seppälä and Kim Cameron. Original article here.
Shared from Influential People News, cover story by Jules Lavalee, read original article here. Rita Kakati-Shah is an award-winning, gender, diversity, inclusion, and career strategist, speaker, author, and advisor to Fortune 500 companies.
Shared from NY Times, written by Tony Schwartz. Original article here.
Shared from Shoutout LA, original article here. We had the good fortune of connecting with Rita Kakati-Shah and we’ve shared our conversation below.
Shared from Fortune, written by S. Mitra Kalita. Original article here. Excerpt quoting our founder and Uma, shared here: … And on what employers need to remember if they try the returnship, I asked Rita Kakati-Shah, founder of Uma, a platform for women and people of color to build their confidence and leadership. She reminds […]
Shared from Achievers’ World, original article here. Rita Kakati-Shah is an award winning, gender, diversity, inclusion and career strategist, speaker, author and advisor to Fortune 500 companies.
Written by Sammy D’Ambrosio. According to the American Psychological Association, “Women are more likely to be diagnosed with anxiety or depression, while men tend toward substance abuse or antisocial disorders”. Women “are more likely to internalize emotions, which typically results in withdrawal, loneliness and depression.”
Shared from Voyage LA, original article here. Today we’d like to introduce you to Rita Kakati-Shah.
Shared from HBR, written by Thomas J. DeLong, John J. Gabarro, and Robert J. Lees. Original article here.
Shared from HBR, written by Avivah Wittenborg-Cox. Original article here.
Shared from Entrepreneur, written by Parveen Panwar. Original article here. These industry leaders outline how best to foster diversity and inclusion in company settings.
Shared from HBR, written by Gianpiero Petriglieri. Original article here.
Shared from All Places, written by Jessie Gabriel. Original article here. Admittedly this title is a little ridiculous. Wouldn’t the world be different if there were only one thing organizations got wrong when it came to diversity, equity and inclusion? But following our event on creating diverse and vibrant teams, it struck me that this one […]
Shared from Forbes, written by Nancy Wang. Original article here.
Shared from Himalayan Express, source Rita Kakati-Shah, original article here. In September 2021, India has been selected as the location for the second United Nations Parliamentary Assembly Model. Mirroring the structure of the first UNPA Model in Argentina, the forthcoming second UNPA Model in Delhi will be held virtually in response to the global pandemic, […]
Shared from City of Sacramento, original article here. Rita Kakati-Shah didn’t have a mentor in her formative years, when she started working in finance, as one of the few women on the trading floor. It wasn’t until years later that she understood what she’d been missing.
Shared from Greater Good Berkeley, written by Christine Carter. Original article here.
Shared from HBR, written by Susan David. Original article here.
Shared from HBR, written by Serena Chen. Original article here.
Shared from Forbes, written by Kathy Caprino. Original article here.
Shared from BBC, original article here.
Shared from Harvard Business Review, written by Amanda Weinstein. Read the original article here.
Shared from Forbes, written by Noma Nazish. Original article here.
Shared from Starter Story, written by Pat Walls, Founder of Starter Story. Original article here.
Shared from McKinsey & Company, By Anu Madgavkar, Olivia White, Mekala Krishnan, Deepa Mahajan, and Xavier Azcue. Read the original report here.
By Anne Welsh McNulty for Harvard Business Review. Read original article here.
The current pandemic has brought about massive transformation around the globe. Statistics show that 92% of small businesses are suffering from the effects brought about by the pandemic, while 5% haven’t yet felt the effects. If the affected business owners recover from the effects, company owners should adopt an effective business technology innovation to steer […]
Uma founder Rita Kakati Shah helps re-ignite careers of moms who took time off to be with children
Taking the plunge into the world of business is big. As a new female entrepreneur, there is mounting pressure to succeed and to prove all those naysayers wrong.
MEET RITA KAKATI-SHAH, AN AWARD-WINNING, GENDER, DIVERSITY, INCLUSION AND CAREER STRATEGIST, SPEAKER, AND ADVISOR TO FORTUNE 500 COMPANIES.
Over 860,000 women left the workforce in September of this year — a number four times the rate of men who left the workforce. As the COVID-19 pandemic rages on, women continue to be disproportionately impacted by the current circumstances.
After more than eight months during which COVID-19 has cut a deadly swath through the U.S., South Asian parents are warily considering sending their children back to the classroom.
Foster inclusive leadership and establish organizational accountability metrics: Rita Kakati-Shah, Founder and CEO of Uma, notes that while many companies conduct trainings related to diversity and inclusion, the real question is what happens afterwards, “How are they being held accountable?
No matter where in the world we are, from an early age we have been conditioned to “fit in”. And if we don’t, it is our fault. We have been trained to keep our personal lives completely separate from our professional lives, our views to ourselves, speak only when spoken to, and it goes on.
Pledge a solution. Whilst advocating for diversity and inclusion publicly is a start, just posting a black post on Instagram one day and going back to business-as-usual the next day won’t change anything.
“You need to be laser focused and have superior organization skills”
One of our members had recently moved to New York City and spent several months looking for a job, but she just wasn’t getting any offers. After a friend’s referral she got in touch with Uma.
5 Steps to Create a Genuinely Inclusive, Representative and Equitable Society
Focus on your people. If you demonstrate that you truly understand them, care for their wellbeing, then you keep them happy, which eventually results in increased retention at your firm. Just getting to know your team is a good first start. An example is celebrating team members’ birthdays and hobbies.
The American workplace is suddenly a very different place. New college graduates must adapt if they hope to start careers on the right foot.
Have you ever started your day with a confidence mantra? What about a power pose?
Rita Kakati Shah founded UMA to bring talented women back to the workforce after a career break
Returnship programs and open-minded companies spell a positive trend for people who’ve taken a career break
Thanks to technology, you can run your business literally anywhere — in an office, at the house while watching over the kids, or even in coffee shops.
Social Impact Heroes: “How Rita Kakati-Shah and Uma are empowering women returning to the workforce”
“If you take the time to listen, you are patient, approachable and focused, you can shape somebody’s future for the better.”
Rita Kakati-Shah (Mathematics & Management, 2001) is helping to get women back to work. Now based in New York, she set up Uma, an international platform dedicated to empowering women returning to work after a career break, transition or relocation. Rita is pioneering in business, an active commentator on diversity and inclusion, a Distinguished Alumni […]
The start of a new year is when many are taking stock of how their career is progressing and setting professional goals for the coming year.
20 Female Entrepreneurs Share Sentiments On How To Feel Empowered In Business and Life
We often hear the phrase “actions speak louder than words.” These words are especially true of the work we do at Uma. We talk about empowering women and minorities and using our knowledge, experience and impact to change corporate culture.
“Creativity, resilience and perseverance are key skills for bringing a new idea to fruition. As an entrepreneur it can be easy to have multiple ideas on the go at once, so self-prioritization of those ideas is essential,” said Uma’s founder in an interview with Idea Mensch.
It was indeed an honour to give the keynote talk at the annual Assam Day UK function in Nottingham, on the importance for gender parity across cultures, societies and the global economy.
Published on Business News Daily, and originally written by Heather Larson. The updated article is here. Using eye-tracking technology, a 2018 survey revealed hiring managers spent an average of 7.4 seconds scanning a résumé. Résumés are designed to get you an interview, not the job. Don’t hide or lie about taking a career pause to […]
Workplace flexibility is on the minds of both employers and employees these days. In the past, flexibility was an afterthought at best in most HR departments. But today, corporations are embracing flexibility policies that accommodate the needs of employees who say their loyalty to a firm often depends on whether a policy is in place.
It’s not easy being a parent and as we gear up to celebrate all the fathers in our lives this weekend, let’s also remember the challenges they face… One in particular which starts right after a baby is born: living in a country that does not guarantee paid family leave — a stark contrast to […]
NEW YORK: A global survey of 3,000 organizations that studied women’s advancement produced gloomier-than-expected results.
Employers could not get past the gap on my résumé, and it was almost like everything I had done professionally in the past was irrelevant.
She couldn’t get back to work after having kids, despite 10 years with Goldman Sachs. So she started her own company helping moms transition back to work.
It’s Mother’s Day, so here is a special blog not only honoring mothers but their contributions to their families and communities… Traditions for commemorating the holiday may vary from country-to-country. But whether in May or March, October or December, the day is marked on Islamic, Hindu, Hebrew and Gregorian calendars, and shares a universal thread […]
We are all influenced in some way by what we watch on television, whether in a movie or advertisement. Starting from childhood, watching Disney movies and cartoons with “princess” décor and a level of frailness for girls, or “super hero” macho images for boys, has a great impact.
We are all influenced in some way by what we watch on television, whether in a movie or advertisement. Starting from childhood, watching Disney movies and cartoons with “princess” décor and a level of frailness for girls, or “super hero” macho images for boys, has a great impact.
I recently had the honor and privilege of representing both the United States and the United Kingdom in front of an audience of international dignitaries and global thought leaders, in Paris, France… My first invitation was to speak at UNESCO about the importance of women’s influence and National Women Symbols. The second was delivering a […]
You may have been hearing conversation about a healthy job market in recent times. Maybe a family member told you that you should have no problem finding a job in today’s market—or that it will be easier for you when you graduate than it was for them.
Kakati Shah was experiencing the “mommy tax.” Eventually, she turned her frustrations into starting Uma–a business that helps mothers transition back into the workforce.
This story is part of Fast Company‘s Gender Pay Gap package “Short Changed.”
A finance professional turned entrepreneur reflects on the motherhood bias and stereotypes she faced during her return to work.
The gender pay gap is more complicated than many people believe. We spoke to women across industries about their experiences, and whether we’ll really have to wait another lifetime for change.
UmaFounder, Rita Kakati Shah, advises companies to “switch it up.”
My mantra both personally and professionally has always been “less is more”.
On Friday 8th March, Global Arts Kingston – which aims to create, develop and deliver inter-generation and multicultural events within the local communities of Kingston-Upon-Thames – celebrated International Women’s Day by acknowledging women heroes.
My mantra both personally and professionally has always been “less is more”.
My mantra both personally and professionally has always been “less is more”.
We’re excited to share the success of an Umaship at a technology company’s New York City office and how it turned into a rewarding career for an Uma Fellow…. Doran Jones Inc. is a women-owned Digital and Information Technology Consulting & Services firm specializing in Risk and Regulatory Compliance comprising a diverse team of professionals […]
Here’s what the communications and marketing industry can do to bring more women back to work.
Ultimately, without exposing viewers of all ages, especially the young and adolescent, to diverse programming, we are stunting the growth of our society.
Women constantly face a number of issues at the work place… One of the most prominent issues is having to choose between their career and if they choose to start a family one day, then childcare. An ambitious, successful woman returns from her maternity leave feeling underutilized and unappreciated because of having to work under […]
Rita Kakati Shah hails from London, UK and now lives in New York with her husband and two young kids.
Over the past month, I’ve had the honor and privilege to speak at two prominent Russian conferences… The prestigious Woman Who Matters Forum in Moscow, as well as the Women’s Entrepreneurship Conference in Sochi. It was a truly inspirational experience rubbing shoulders with and sitting alongside leaders of international companies and experts across various sectors […]
Try. We pride ourselves on running a disruptive company, and that means constantly trying new things – not just once or twice, but continually, each and every day.
Calls for more female participation in the economy are at high pitch… …often based on political or cultural arguments founded on fairness. But a persuasive argument for diversity and equality can also be anchored to the bottom line. In part one we discussed that in 2014, Sallie Krawcheck, the former Bank of American and Citigroup […]
Investing in gender diversity in the workplace is good for companies and investors….Calls for more female participation in the economy are at high pitch, often based on political or cultural arguments founded on fairness. But a persuasive argument for diversity and equality can also be anchored to the bottom line. In part 1 of our […]
Success isn’t just handed to you on a plate, it comes after much perseverance and dedication.
Recharge. When you run a company across multiple time zones, you are traveling and in meetings around the clock. So be smart and carve out time to relax and unwind. I believe in the golden rule: work hard and play hard.
I believe in the golden rule: work hard and play hard. I love dancing, oil painting and spending time with my family and friends.
Uma talks with an ex-commodities trader and career break mother who has found a renewed sense of empowerment through Uma… During a recent Coffee and Conversation morning in NYC, we asked our Uma Fellow (name removed to preserve confidence) to share some of her experiences as a member of our Uma network. Uma: As a mom […]
Statistics about diversity—a 50-50 male/female split, X percentage employees of color, LGBTQ-friendly policies—often serve as points of pride on boardroom presentations about company culture.
Mothers continue to leave workforce – what it costs companies and the way forward … Most companies looking to identify and analyze the major cost drivers in their labor force encounter the usual culprits – rising health care costs, competition for talent and wider benefit offerings. However, a trend that often gets overlooked, but should […]
Taking big swings and trying new things are what keep companies moving forward.
It’s almost June 17th day and we at Uma want to wish all dads around the world a very happy Father’s Day…
When you take a break from work, how daunting is it to re-enter the workforce?
With Mother’s Day approaching, it seems fitting that we not only honor mothers but also reflect on the contributions they make to their families and communities…
Rita Kakati Shah (Mathematics & Management, 2001) set up her own company, Uma, to help people – mainly women – back into work after a career break.
April 10 was Equal Pay Day and at Uma, we certainly think it warranted a special celebration…
In June 2016, I was attending a professional networking event when I realized that the acronym on my name tag was literally repelling people. It simply read SAHM (Stay-at-Home Mom).
Rita Kakati Shah is the CEO and Founder of Uma, a New York based recruitment organisation empowering mums who desire to re-enter the workforce after a career break.
Compelling new research shows that parents looking to reenter the work force after taking a break to raise children…
In stark contrast to many developed nations, we live in a country that does not guarantee paid family leave…
It’s exciting for Uma to share the success of one of our first Umaships…
5 Quick Tips to Prepare for Transitioning Back to Work
It was while growing up in East London in the 1980s, that Rita Kakati Shah—whose parents hailed from Assam, India—got her first glimpse of what it means to be treated unfairly because of one’s gender.
Your NYC Neighbor – is a way of introducing New Yorkers to a rich community of savvy parents.
Mommybites Chit-Chat: Conversations with luminaries, entrepreneurs and influencers in the parenting world
Success means… believing in yourself. Three adjectives that deserve me are… ambitious, bold, persistent.
For organizations concerned about losing top talent, the key driver of workplace loyalty is…. management’s understanding of the demands of family life
June 2016, Rita Kakati Shah, a former fast track finance and healthcare professional, experienced a rude awakening…
Working mothers, take heart. You are actually more productive than your childless peers…
With Father’s Day around the corner, it was perfect to have dads join our moms and Uma corporate partners…
Our May “Stay-at-Home” vs. “Working Parents” get together was on the verge of Mother’s Day weekend,…
There are only three countries in the entire world without mandatory paid maternity leave policies…
What an amazing and rewarding time we had at our April Stay-at-Home vs. Working Parent Discussion Group …