Empowering women at Freshworks
Freshworks’ Women 360 employee resource group holds its first symposium in Chennai
On February 10, nearly 150 women from Freshworks India gathered in Chennai for the first Women 360 Symposium, an event hosted by the employee resource group dedicated to inspiring, empowering, and nurturing women across the organization. The atmosphere inside the banquet hall buzzed with anticipation as women connected, shared stories, and learned from each other.
The event showcased Freshworks leaders who have navigated challenges to achieve success, including Radha Shreeniwas, VP of human resources; Aditi Puri Batra, SVP of SMB and commercial sales; Jayashree Sundaresan, senior director of engineering; and Blythe Yee, VP of employee communications. Their stories highlighted how growth often stems from overcoming obstacles.
“Nothing can take away your confidence if you draw courage from your own story,” said Chief People Officer Johanna Jackman, who focused on self-forgiveness and resilience.
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Chief Technology Officer Murali Swaminathan also spoke, sharing the inspiration he’s drawn from women in his life, particularly his mother and wife. “Their resilience taught me that strength isn’t about loudness, it’s about quiet courage,” he said.
The day featured workshops and discussions, including:
Ranjini Manian from ChampionWoman led sessions on whole-brain leadership and influencing with tact and assertiveness, pushing us to rethink how we show up in our careers.
A panel of Freshworks leaders—Radha Shreeniwas, Aditi Puri Batra, Jayashree Sundaresan, and Blythe Yee—shared their personal career journeys, struggles, and wins. The biggest takeaway? Setbacks aren’t failures—they are stepping stones to growth.
A session called “Tact, Diplomacy, Assertiveness” provided practical strategies for participants to find their voice and make confident decisions.
The day concluded with a vision-boarding session, where creativity met ambition. Goals were mapped out, dreams were shared, and a collective spirit of empowerment filled the room.
Jayashree Sundaresan, chair of Women 360 in India, said the work would continue across forums. “We saw something powerful,” she says. “Women encouraged each other, shared their aspirations, and committed to growth. This wasn’t just an event. It was a movement, a space where we came together, lifted each other up, and left feeling a little stronger than when we walked in.”
