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W@Y to RISE has officially launched in India with its first fireside chat at the Pune office and the energy in the room said it all. With 43% of Yardi’s Pune workforce being women (over 1,300 colleagues), India was always a natural home for this initiative. Women gathered in person and online to connect, reflect and hear candid conversations from three of Yardi’s most experienced leaders.
For those unfamiliar, W@Y to RISE (Women at Yardi – Recognise, Inspire, Showcase, Empower) is a global initiative that brings together and unifies the work of two previously individual networks. Originally established as RISE in the UK in 2022 and W@Y in the US in 2023, the two came together in 2025 to form one global initiative, expanding its reach and creating a more connected approach across regions.
Amber Crighton, senior event planner at Yardi, joined from the UK to walk attendees through the initiative’s journey. She reflected on some of the initiative’s earliest sessions in London and Milton Keynes and how these have developed into a growing global network, supported by regional hub leads and events around the world.
The fireside chat itself was moderated by Rachna Sirohi, associate director of human resources at the Pune office and featured three panellists whose careers at Yardi collectively span over four decades.
Meet the Panellists
- Aarty Sonambekar: Director of global solutions, with over 22 years at Yardi – Aarty has seen firsthand how continuous learning and grabbing small opportunities shape a long, fulfilling career.
- Swapna Pantoji: Director with over 20 years at Yardi – Swapna leads a team of 300+ colleagues across North America and Asia Pacific. She made a career-defining leap from teaching into tech and hasn’t looked back since.
- Manjusha Shah: Director of programming, based in the UK and visiting Pune for the event, built the yCRM product early in her career, as a vendor of Yardi and is currently leading Student IQ – a new product for Yardi.
Leadership Has No Gender
One of the session’s most resonant themes came early, when Manjusha was asked “what assumption about women in leadership, she’s tired of correcting?” Her answer was straightforward – “the word leadership should simply be gender neutral. We don’t say man leader, so why do we still say, woman leader?”
She also pushed back on the myth that women in leadership need to be likeable, superhuman and endlessly competent, as “expectations are rarely placed on men with the same intensity.”
Additionally, on the topic of emotion at work, Manjusha was refreshingly direct – “crying when you’re angry is not weakness, empathy is a superpower, so don’t drop it.”
Grab the Small Opportunities
Asked what advice Aarty would give to her 26-year-old self, her answer was clear – “don’t be scared of learning and don’t wait for the big moment.” Read the meeting notes and volunteer for the presentation you’re nervous about. Set learning goals (not just technical ones, but communication skills too) and give them a timeline.
Small opportunities, Aarty noted, are often how the biggest careers are quietly built.
Stop Apologising – For All of It
Perhaps the most energising part of the fireside chat was Manjusha’s response to “what women should stop apologising for?” – in short, almost everything. A few highlights that landed particularly well with the audience:
- “Stop apologising for taking up space. Physically and professionally, women often make themselves smaller” – consciously start doing the opposite.”
- “Stop waiting to be 100% sure before speaking. If you’re 60% confident in a great idea, say it. Men speak at 40% confidence and receive the credit – you deserve the same.”
- “Stop apologising for saying no. Not every opportunity is the right one for you and it’s okay to recognise that.”
- “Stop apologising for your emotions. They are not a weakness – they are what make great leaders.”
- “Stop apologising to your partner for asking them to do their share. There is no 50-50 marriage – some days it’s 80-20 and that’s normal.”
Don’t Lose Yourself Along the Way
As the conversation drew to a close, Manjusha offered a reflection that struck a chord – after 31 years in the industry, she realised that she no longer had a hobby. She’d given so much to her career, her family and the many roles that she’d set aside the parts of herself that were just hers.
Her advice to the room – protect those things. Don’t wait until retirement to wonder what you enjoy. “Keep the friendships, the hobbies, the parts of you that exist beyond your job title and your family role.” Aarty echoed this – her daily rangoli practice keeps her creative, grounded and as she pointed out, better at work too.
The afternoon closed with warmth, laughter and a genuine sense of community – exactly what W@Y to RISE was designed to create.
Want to learn more about Yardi RISE? Check out our previous posts or follow the hashtag #RiseWithYardi on socials.
