Breaking The Access Barrier For Women Leaders

Breaking The Access Barrier For Women Leaders

In this episode, I sit down with Kanchana Gupta, from climbing the corporate ladder to founding a global mentorship platform for women, her journey is anything but linear. We get into how she found the courage to redefine success, why surviving breast cancer taught her the true meaning of resilience, and what it takes to break access barriers for women. She breaks down why female leaders struggle with executive sponsorship and brand building and why asking for help is the ultimate career superpower. This one goes beyond the highlight reel. Real insights on reinvention, mentorship, and navigating change. IN THIS EPISODE 00:00 | Breaking the Access Barrier for Women  00:35 | Introduction: Meet Kanchana Gupta  01:48 | Embracing a "Squiggly" Career Path  03:26 | Finding Common Ground Across Ecosystems  04:21 | Leaving the Corporate Rulebook Behind at 33  06:59 | Art School, Failure, and Finding Her Voice  09:09 | Redefining Success: Who Are You Without Your Title?  11:36 | True Resilience: Navigating a Cancer Diagnosis  13:52 | The Birth of vLookUp During Chemotherapy  19:19 | How vLookUp Democratizes Mentorship  21:46 | Why vLookUp Will Always be Free 24:31 | Sponsorship & Branding: What Women Leaders Need Now  29:12 | Unlearning the "Waiting for Permission" Trap  30:46 | The "Five Meters" Rule for Navigating Change  32:00 | Episode Wrap-Up & Takeaways  32:27 | Gift Segment Kanchana Gupta | Founder and CEO of vLookUp.ai Kanchana Gupta is the Founder and CEO of vLookUp.ai, a global mentoring platform built to break access barriers for women through technology. With over two decades of cross-functional corporate experience, she has led teams across geographies before intentionally stepping off a traditional career path to explore entrepreneurship, art, and new ways of working. A multidisciplinary visual artist, mentor, and investor, her journey spans corporate leadership, creative reinvention, and community building. Today, she brings these parallel experiences together to champion more inclusive career pathways – enabling women to navigate non-linear journeys with greater clarity, confidence, and access to the right guidance. https://www.linkedin.com/in/kanchana-gupta [https://www.linkedin.com/in/kanchana-gupta] Ritu Mehrish | Founder and Author | ReWrite The Rules Ritu Gupta Mehrish is a speaker, executive coach and author, with 20 years of corporate experience working in companies such as P&G, GE Capital and GE spin-off Genpact. In her last role, Ritu ran a multimillion-dollar business vertical with 1000 people across eight countries and five continents. Throughout her extensive career, Ritu has had the opportunity to work, coach and converse with leaders across the globe from diverse industries. Her business and leadership experience has enabled her to bring in a pragmatic approach to leadership development. Her client list of Google, PayPal, Swiss Re, JP Morgan, Applied Materials, Intel, Knight Frank, Johnson & Johnson, AIA, Medtronic, Wharton Executive Education highlights the level of expertise she brings to the leadership topic. https://www.letsrewritetherules.com/ [https://www.letsrewritetherules.com/]  https://www.linkedin.com/in/ritugmehrish/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/ritugmehrish/]  https://www.ritumehrish.com/ [https://www.ritumehrish.com/]

AI Is Not the Threat — Your Mindset Is

She was building AI before the world even knew what it was. In this episode, I sit down with Ayesha Khanna—from coding complex financial models on Wall Street to founding a leading AI company in Asia, her journey is anything but typical. We get into how she spotted the artificial intelligence wave early, why most companies still struggle with AI adoption, and what it really takes to build AI-powered businesses today. She breaks down how leaders can use generative AI, automation, and machine learning to drive productivity—and why AI won’t replace leadership, but will redefine it. This one goes beyond the hype—real insights on AI tools, future of work, and building a career in AI. IN THIS EPISODE 00:00 | Will AI replace your job—or make you more powerful? 02:44 | Simple ways to use AI in your daily work 05:48 | How she built a career in AI before it was a trend 07:18 | What AI companies actually do (and why it matters) 08:18 | Biggest AI myths that are holding you back 09:31 | Why people resist AI—and how to get ahead anyway 11:19 | How AI can unlock your creativity and time 14:44 | AI tools that can 2x your productivity 16:58 | How women leaders can win in the AI era 19:39 | Where to find AI tools that actually help you 21:57 | The human skills AI still can’t replace 24:30 | Should you use AI for content or not? 27:35 | Should your kids be using AI already? 29:34 | The real risks of AI nobody talks about 34:32 | The skills you need to stay relevant in AI 37:01 | The AI question that actually matters for your career 39:28 | Mid-career? How to stay relevant (and get ahead) with AI 40:29 | Final takeaway: what to do next with AI today Ayesha Khanna  Dr. Ayesha Khanna is a globally recognized AI expert, entrepreneur, and CEO of Addo, helping businesses leverage AI for growth. With 20+ years in digital transformation, she advises Fortune 500 CEOs and serves on global boards, including Johnson Controls and NEOM Tonomus. A graduate of Harvard, Columbia, and the London School of Economics, she spent a decade on Wall Street advising on information analytics. A thought leader in AI, Dr. Khanna has been recognized as a groundbreaking entrepreneur by Forbes, named to Edelman’s Top 50 AI Creators (2025), featured in Salesforce’s 16 AI Influencers to Know (2024), recognized by Reuters as one of the Trailblazing Women in Enterprise AI (2026), and named among LinkedIn’s Top 10 Female Founders in Singapore. Committed to diversity in tech, she founded the charity 21C Girls, which taught thousands of students the basics of AI and coding in Singapore, and currently provides scholarships for mid-career women through her education company Amplify. Ritu Mehrish | Founder and Author | ReWrite The Rules Ritu Gupta Mehrish is a speaker, executive coach and author, with 20 years of corporate experience working in companies such as P&G, GE Capital and GE spin-off Genpact. In her last role, Ritu ran a multimillion-dollar business vertical with 1000 people across eight countries and five continents. Throughout her extensive career, Ritu has had the opportunity to work, coach and converse with leaders across the globe from diverse industries. Her business and leadership experience has enabled her to bring in a pragmatic approach to leadership development. Her client list of Google, PayPal, Swiss Re, JP Morgan, Applied Materials, Intel, Knight Frank, Johnson & Johnson, AIA, Medtronic, Wharton Executive Education highlights the level of expertise she brings to the leadership topic. https://www.letsrewritetherules.com/ [https://www.letsrewritetherules.com/]  https://www.linkedin.com/in/ritugmehrish/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/ritugmehrish/]  https://www.ritumehrish.com/ [https://www.ritumehrish.com/]

Why Women Risk Missing the AI Revolution | Rewrite The Rules by Ritu G. Mehrish

I met two women who turned a friendship that started in a Hong Kong maternity ward into a global mission.  Christine Fellowes, former media CEO and board leader, and April Swando Hu, a Yale engineer turned EdTech entrepreneur, are now co-founders of NINEby9, a nonprofit tackling gender equality, AI, and the future of work in Asia. In this episode of Rewrite the Rules, they share how decades of leadership across Asia led them to research AI and women in the workplace, revealing a surprising gender gap in AI skills and opportunities. We talk about AI careers, leadership, gender equality, and the future of work, and why women could shape the next wave of AI innovation and workplace transformation. Trust me, you’ll want to hear the full story behind NINEby9 and their bold mission to close the gender gap before AI widens it. IN THIS EPISODE 00:00 | Meet the Founders Changing Women’s Futures01:26 | Why “Nine by Nine” Matters Now 02:36 | The Unexpected Way They Met 04:35 | The AI Report Everyone Should Read05:12 | April’s Journey from Engineer to Changemaker 06:59 | Christine’s Path to Global Leadership 09:06 | The Surprising Truth About Women at Work 15:04 | The AI Skills Gap Women Can’t Ignore 18:57 | Speed vs Ethics in the AI Workplace 19:52 | Asia’s Biggest AI Opportunity 22:04 | Why HR Must Become Human Again 23:04 | Career Advice for Women 25–35 24:40 | Why Your Skills and Network Matter 26:05 | Get Sponsors, Not Just Mentors 26:43 | Staying Grounded in a Changing World 28:32 | The Rule They Chose to Rewrite 30:06 | Redefining Success on Your Terms 31:18 | What’s Next for Nine by Nine 33:16 | Where to Find the AI Report Christine Fellowes | Founder | NINEby9 Christine is an accomplished global business leader and public company board director with three decades of experience driving growth for Fortune 500 multinationals in media, technology and consumer services. Christine is the Co-founder and Chair of NINEby9, and currently serves as a Non-Executive Board Director of National Australia Bank (ASX:NAB) and leading property investment and development company, Guocoland Group (SGX:F17), listed on the Singapore Exchange. She previously served on the Board of Directors of technology company VIQ Solutions Inc (TSX:VQS), listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange. Christine also serves on the Board of Directors of the University of Western Australia Business School. April Swando Hu | Founder | NINEby9 April Swando Hu is an impact entrepreneur and community builder with 30 years of experience in Asia. Merging a family legacy of education with a background in science and leadership, she works to democratize access to impact education and sustainable energy. She founded Youth Leaders Davos, a global youth forum held during the World Economic Forum and drives the adoption of Chinese hydrogen fuel cell technology globally. In 1992, April established the Zigen Fund, providing 200,000 scholarships to girls in rural China. She also co-founded NINEby9, researching gender equality and the impact of AI on the Asian workplace. Ritu Mehrish | Founder and Author | ReWrite The Rules Ritu Gupta Mehrish is a speaker, executive coach and author, with 20 years of corporate experience working in companies such as P&G, GE Capital and GE spin-off Genpact. In her last role, Ritu ran a multimillion-dollar business vertical with 1000 people across eight countries and five continents. Throughout her extensive career, Ritu has had the opportunity to work, coach and converse with leaders across the globe from diverse industries. Her business and leadership experience has enabled her to bring in a pragmatic approach to leadership development. Her client list of Google, PayPal, Swiss Re, JP Morgan, Applied Materials, Intel, Knight Frank, Johnson & Johnson, AIA, Medtronic, Wharton Executive Education highlights the level of expertise she brings to the leadership topic.

“Be Shameless”: Georgette Tan on Confidence, Culture & Speaking Up

She once asked women to be shameless… and that’s exactly where this conversation begins. In this episode, I sit down with a woman who’s moved seamlessly from public service to corporate leadership at Mastercard, and then into shaping women’s leadership across Asia. We talk about confidence without apology, speaking up without shouting, and why power skills—not “soft skills”—are what really shape leaders today. She shares what she’s learned working across sectors, building women leaders, and bringing men in as true allies—not by theory, but by practice. If you care about women in leadership, board diversity, career transitions, or building real influence at work and at home, this one will stay with you. IN THIS EPISODE 00:30 | Why Women Should be “Shameless” at Work 06:18 | Speaking Up Without Being Labeled Difficult 07:55 | How She Moved Across Sectors Without Losing Momentum 11:01 | The Skills She Had to Learn—and Unlearn—to Grow 15:39 | Why Male Allies Matter More Than We Admit 20:20 | Board Diversity: Why Targets Beat Quotas 25:25 | Raising Daughters Who Aren’t Afraid to Fail 30:13 | The Gender Expectations We Still Don’t Talk About 36:27 | The One Rule She’s Truly Rewritten Georgette Tan Adamopoulos | Board Member | United Women Singapore Experienced Board Member at a number of NGOs focused on women’s empowerment, gender equality and education.  Experienced Senior Vice President Communications with a demonstrated history of working in the technology and services industry and non-profit sector. Strong media and communication professional skilled in Marketing Strategy, Corporate Reputation, Organisational Communications and Management. A strong advocate for diversity and inclusion, and women’s empowerment.  Ritu Mehrish | Founder and Author | ReWrite The Rules Ritu Gupta Mehrish is a speaker, executive coach and author, with 20 years of corporate experience working in companies such as P&G, GE Capital and GE spin-off Genpact. In her last role, Ritu ran a multimillion-dollar business vertical with 1000 people across eight countries and five continents. Throughout her extensive career, Ritu has had the opportunity to work, coach and converse with leaders across the globe from diverse industries. Her business and leadership experience has enabled her to bring in a pragmatic approach to leadership development. Her client list of Google, PayPal, Swiss Re, JP Morgan, Applied Materials, Intel, Knight Frank, Johnson & Johnson, AIA, Medtronic, Wharton Executive Education highlights the level of expertise she brings to the leadership topic. https://www.letsrewritetherules.com/ [https://www.letsrewritetherules.com/]  https://www.linkedin.com/in/ritugmehrish/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/ritugmehrish/]  https://www.ritumehrish.com/ [https://www.ritumehrish.com/]

Why Most Leaders Misread the Boardroom | Rewrite The Rules by Ritu G. Mehrish

If someone told you they dropped out of kindergarten, went on to sit on global boards, and now runs half marathons in Greenland… would you believe it? In this episode of Rewrite the Rules, I speak with Su-Yen Wong, global board director, former Chair of the Singapore Institute of Directors, and a leader who has quietly rewritten every rule around leadership and careers. We unpack her journey into corporate governance, what really makes an effective board director, and why portfolio careers are becoming the next chapter for senior leaders. Su-Yen shares how curiosity and courage have shaped her leadership path… and why success doesn’t have to follow a single title or linear climb. If board roles, leadership reinvention, career pivots, or women in leadership resonate with you, this conversation will challenge how you think about the long game! IN THIS EPISODE (00:00) Why Board Careers Aren’t Accidental (01:10) How a Real Board Journey Actually Begins (02:19) The Two Traits Every Board Director Is Tested On (05:31) What It Took to Become SID’s First Woman Chair (08:55) Where to Start If You Want a Board Seat (10:33) Why Portfolio Careers Are Replacing Linear Success (13:59) The Hidden Upside (and Risk) of Portfolio Careers (14:42) Why Most Portfolio Careers Stall After Six Months (16:47) Is a Portfolio Career Too Early—or Just Right? (18:20) Do Women Have an Edge in Portfolio Careers? (20:36) Why She Ran a Half Marathon in Greenland (21:47) What Art, Leadership, and Legacy Have in Common (23:11) The One Rule She Chose to Break—and Why Su-Yen Wong | Board Member, Speaker and Educator Su-Yen Wong is passionate about helping audiences around the world navigate the intersection of technology, strategy and people. As a professional speaker, she challenges audiences to think differently about the future of work, reinvention, diversity, and governance.  Su-Yen serves on the Boards of several public, private, and not-for-profit organisations in Australia, Asia, and the United States, across a range of industries including telecommunications, media, professional services, agriculture, real estate, education, and FinTech / HRTech. She is Chairman of a listed company and of the Singapore Institute of Directors.  She is also an adjunct professor of global leadership and a highly-rated guest lecturer who has spoken at universities across Asia, Europe, Latin America, and the United States. Ritu Mehrish | Founder and Author | ReWrite The Rules Ritu Gupta Mehrish is a speaker, executive coach and author, with 20 years of corporate experience working in companies such as P&G, GE Capital and GE spin-off Genpact. In her last role, Ritu ran a multimillion-dollar business vertical with 1000 people across eight countries and five continents. Throughout her extensive career, Ritu has had the opportunity to work, coach and converse with leaders across the globe from diverse industries. Her business and leadership experience has enabled her to bring in a pragmatic approach to leadership development. Her client list of Google, PayPal, Swiss Re, JP Morgan, Applied Materials, Intel, Knight Frank, Johnson & Johnson, AIA, Medtronic, Wharton Executive Education highlights the level of expertise she brings to the leadership topic. https://www.letsrewritetherules.com/ [https://www.letsrewritetherules.com/] https://www.linkedin.com/in/ritugmehrish/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/ritugmehrish/] https://www.ritumehrish.com/ [https://www.ritumehrish.com/]