Global Law and Business Podcast – Sonu Ratra (International Impact of Women)

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The large-scale shift to telework brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic is prompting businesses around the world to explore new avenues to engage with clients and friends. Harris Bricken is no exception, and we are happy to provide this podcast series: Global Law and Business, hosted by international attorneys Fred Rocafort and Jonathan Bench.

In Episode #28, we are joined by Sonu Ratra, Co-founder of Akraya and Founder of Women Back to Work. We discuss:

• Sonu’s career path from India to the U.S. and working in a male-dominated technology environment.
• How a difficult business meeting after the birth of her daughter led to her founding Akraya and its Women Back to Work initiative that works to educate companies regarding the significant contributions of women who have taken a career break to care for children or other family members.
• The success story of one “returner” who is now a project manager at Cisco after a 19 year career gap.
• Barriers in the workplace for women of color, especially during and post-Covid.
• Sonu’s involvement in an international “Peace through Business” program with The Institute for Economic Empowerment of Women, including her mentoring women entrepreneurs from Rwanda and Afghanistan.
• The worldwide contributions of women to society and women’s rights as universal human rights.
• Advice for girls and women who want to have full participation and contribute to their work and world environments in meaningful ways.
• Reading, listening, and watching recommendations from:
  • Sonu
    • Just Mercy: A Story of Justice and Redemption by Brian Stevenson
    • No Shortcuts to the Top: Climbing the World’s 14 Highest Peaks by Ed Viesturs, David Roberts, and Stephen Hoye
    • Hidden Brain podcast on NPR
  • Jonathan – World’s Toughest Race: Eco-Challenge Fiji on Amazon Prime Video
  • Fred – Blind Spot: The Road to 9/11 podcast by NPR (hosted by Jim O’Grady)

We’ll see you next week when we sit down with Alberto Predieri to discuss business and life in Italy.

We will be discussing the practical aspects of Chinese law and how it impacts business there. We will be telling you what works and what does not and what you as a businessperson can do to use the law to your advantage. Our aim is to assist businesses already in China or planning to go into China, not to break new ground in legal theory or policy.