Mars Wrigley India is known for its iconic brands like Snickers, Bounty, Twix, Mars, Galaxy, and many others. On the occasion of Women’s Day, Adgully spoke to Sunita Patnaik, Director - Corporate Affairs, Mars Wrigley India, where she candidly shared her views about what Women’s Day means to her as a woman leader, bringing equality and inclusivity in the work place, the challenges and biases that she has faced in her professional journey, and much more.What does Women’s Day mean to you personally, and how do you believe it impacts the global conversation on gender equality?While there are a lot of causes that deserve equal attention, having a dedicated day to double click on matters directly relating to women enables wider global attention. Personally, it serves as a moment of reflection to check-in with where I started from and where I am, and how I can strive towards excellence on a daily basis. It also serves as a day where I, along with my female tribe, get to recognise, celebrate and commit to lift each other so that we can have more of us out there as equal stakeholders with our male counterparts.How do you view the significant role that women have played in shaping the field of public relations?Women have played a significant role in shaping the evolution of public relations over the years, as is evident from the fact that women make up 75% of the public relations industry globally. This is also reflected in the Indian PR industry, which comprises almost 70% women, as per various reports. I feel so proud of how this fraternity has transformed over time to elevate the profession, connect and engage with a changing audience, in shaping narratives and breaking many stereotypes.Please share your personal insights from your journey as a woman leader in corporate affairs.My journey as a Corporate Affairs professional over the past two decades has been empowering. I have witnessed the evolution of many things, especially the “positioning” of Corporate Affairs and the thought processes. From being brand reputation drivers to being curators of narratives in service of the eco-system, from working to serve a cause for short term to a larger purpose for long term impact, to making and shaping conversations where they matter, the journey has been long and transformational. From being a journalist to a Corporate Communications professional and now heading Corporate Affairs where I contribute to policy advocacy, my professional journey has been marked by several milestones. I owe a lot of this to my mentors and exemplary CEOs of brands, that I have been part, for being allies and constantly pushing to raise the bar.Today, I have a seat at the table, and am a member of a gender balanced leadership team at Mars Wrigley India. While I feel proud of how women are leading the PR industry from the front, I would like to see more and more women breaking the traditional moulds to find their voice in public affairs and policy dialogues.How have you navigated biases and gender stereotypes?Navigating and challenging gender biases and stereotypes has been an ongoing journey filled with trials and triumphs. From the early days of my career as a journalist, facing denials of prime beats and night shifts solely based on my gender, to being pigeonholed as merely an English content writer in my role in Corporate Communications and later facing the notion that Public Affairs or Government relations belong predominantly to the male domain within Corporate Affairs – I have encountered these biases at every turn. The softer aspects of a woman’s personality, her vulnerability, are often misconstrued as lack of strength, capability and confidence to take on higher responsibilities. Overcoming these external stereotypes and simultaneously battling my internal barriers, including the infamous imposter syndrome, have been formidable challenges. I try my best to find my voice amidst the noise, using it not only to counter prevailing perceptions but also to raise awareness levels, educating and enlightening those around me. The journey hasn’t been easy, but every obstacle has only fueled my determination to break down barriers and pave the way for future women leaders.What role do you see men playing in advancing gender equality, and how can they be allies in this cause?A culture of equality and inclusiveness can only become a reality when everyone in a room is willing to understand, listen and be empathetic. Though there has been improvement in recent past on increasing women in the workforce, there is still a lot to be done. I think the responsibility of inclusiveness lies on both men and women with individual accountability and intent to envision and realise this. This isn’t just a woman’s problem, this is everyone’s problem.Mars Wrigley has been dominating the markets all over with its many brands like M&M, Snickers, Bounty, etc. How does the success of Mars Wrigley feel, being the Director - Corporate Affairs?When I am part of an organisation that makes iconic brands Snickers, Galaxy, Boomer, that inspire moments of everyday happiness, I feel a sense of pride. We’re not just committed to our consumers, we’re focused on positively impacting the planet and the communities.How does Mars balance consumer demands for innovative products with sustainability goals and ethical sourcing practices?We are a global business of people and brands with a clear purpose. We believe the world we want tomorrow starts with how we do business today. We are transforming the way we work – from how we source raw materials like cocoa, to how we fish the oceans for our pet food ingredients – to ensure every part of our operations and extended supply chains help people and the planet. From the cocoa in our chocolate treats to sourcing fish for our feline friends, we’re ensuring we source through responsible, sustainable, and transparent programs.From the factories that make our iconic chocolate and GMFC, food and pet nutrition products, to the veterinary hospitals and clinics that care for animals, our global Net Zero Roadmap outlines how it’s possible to cut emissions by 50% by 2030. As Poul Weihrauch, CEO, Mars, says, “As I have said before, profit and purpose are not enemies. Investment in climate is not a trade-off between planet and productivity, or between environment and employment. Consumers and our Associates clearly want both – and so do we. Investing in emissions reductions is sound business policy, it is achievable, affordable, and it is absolutely necessary.”