In a moving and widely-shared LinkedIn post, Ajit Sivaram, co-founder of U&I, described how fatherhood transformed him, calling the act of raising daughters in India “a revolution disguised as parenting.”
Sivaram, who is raising two girls, said he’s learned more about leadership, courage, and power dynamics from his daughters than from any MBA program. “Every morning, I watch my girls step into a world that wasn’t built for them… and in that daily ritual, I’ve found the most profound leadership training,” he wrote.
His post tackled everyday sexism, family pressures, and the emotional labour of parenting girls in a society still riddled with gender bias. “Raising daughters means confronting bias before breakfast,” he said, sharing how even neighbors and relatives reinforce stereotypes about science being for boys and dance for girls.
- Dinner table conversations dismantling patriarchy
- The weight of ‘casual dismissal’ on the playground
- How being a father changed his corporate lens, making him more aware of how women are interrupted, sidelined, or uncredited at work
“Corporate India doesn’t need more women’s panels—it needs men who’ve seen the world through their daughters’ eyes,” he wrote, urging allies to act, not just listen.
He closed on a poignant note:
“Every night, I go home to two girls who ask me about my day. And in their eyes, I see the question they’re really asking: ‘Did you make the world a little better for us today?’”
The post struck an emotional chord online, especially with working parents. One comment read, “Respect! As a mother raising a son and daughter equally, this resonates deeply.” Another added, “This is not just a post—it’s a manifesto.”
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