Ekta’s story: defying tradition to chase my dream career

Working at Sodexo, I’m so happy to be surrounded by other female chefs in the kitchen. I’m passionate about cooking but equally important to me is encouraging other women into the industry. Since joining Sodexo two years ago as an executive sous chef I’ve been working at a global tech headquarters in India, and the female talent is visible and strong.

It wasn’t always the case in the earlier part of my life and career. I grew up in Bihar in northern India where it was unheard of for girls to leave their hometown. I wanted to go and study and my mother, and others in the community, were worried, wondering if I could cope alone. Thankfully my father believed I had potential and took a stand for me. I was the first girl from our town to go to college.

I traveled a long way from home to the SRM Institute of Hotel Management in Chennai in the southernmost part of India where the regional language is different, Tamil rather than Hindi. Although my lectures were in English, I taught myself Tamil through shopping, movies and music to navigate daily life.

After I had completed the program, I was offered a supervisor role at a hotel in Goa that I’d spent part of my training at. That was difficult: leading colleagues that had trained alongside me. Again, I was the only female, and at the start some resented me, but I earned their respect by showcasing their strengths to management; they realized I was going to fight their corner and promote their talents.

In 2023, I got headhunted by Sodexo and invited for a trial at prestigious new contract. I was sold immediately as I’d never seen so many female chefs! I joined Sodexo as an executive sous chef and helped mobilize the team. The client also has a site in Bangalore and I wanted to be closer to my sister who lived there, so moved across after a year.

Being surrounded by so many female chefs really inspires me and I now lead a support network. We discuss everything from financial management to work-life balance. Many women have felt overwhelmed, questioning if they could continue in this demanding industry. We talk, share experiences and give each other professional advice. I also mentor others and create teambuilding activities such as live cook-offs.