Our CEO on Three Generations of Progress

Author: Neela Montgomery

As we think about the continued fight for gender equality today, I often reflect on the journey within my own family. My grandmother, my namesake, was married at 12 years old and gave birth to 13 children. She didn’t attend a single day of school or work and yet was widely known to be of exceptional intelligence.

My grandmother’s life was entirely limited by poverty and gender. My mother had a different story. She was one of the first women to attend Medical School in Calcutta, India. She married a man she met and fell in love with, my father, despite the reigning convention at the time that your father chose your partner. She never considered herself a trailblazer and yet, she continuously broke barriers in her life and career.

My mother has always believed that her role is to partner with men, not to defer, and she taught me (perhaps too well) not to apologize for having an opinion and to prioritize dignity and support for other women. My mother’s values have guided me in my career journey and pushed me to make brave choices.

She forged a different path to my grandmother’s, as I to hers. I hope that with each generation the world of choice and opportunities continues to expand so more women can achieve their potential as equals and inspire future generations. Let the progress continue…

– Neela Montgomery