Beyond resilience: Building an antifragile edge for women

Research shows women’s jobs are more vulnerable to automation

Happy Women’s Day, My Dear Wonderful Women!

Let me ask you something: Does this Women’s Day feel a little heavy? Yes, you will be celebrated today, but the same old roadblocks and invisible ceilings will return next week, won’t they?

Data backs your unease. A new study by the All India Management Association and KPMG India shows that only 1% of board seats are currently held by women. Progress in women’s leadership has slowed in recent years. Nearly three-fourths of organisations say that less than 30% of their long-tenured women employees make it to leadership roles.

The Pressures Women Are Facing Today

Add to this the growing chatter — especially over the past year — questioning whether diversity truly adds value to an organisation.

Layered over that is the fear around AI. Research shows women’s jobs are more vulnerable to automation, with UN Women estimating that 28% of women’s jobs are at risk, compared with 21.1% for men. Some other reports suggest the impact could be even more severe.

And through it all, you are trying to be — and are expected to be — the superwoman, doing everything: family responsibilities and work, and doing it flawlessly.

Even the most resilient among us can feel overwhelmed right now because we are constantly adapting and coping.

Moving From Survival to Thriving

How do we move from survival to truly thriving in these uncertain times?

The answer lies in going beyond resilience and building what I call an antifragile edge.

With resilience, you cope.

With antifragility, you grow.

For instance, where you once thought, “I need to survive the layoff,” you begin to think, “This might be an opportunity to explore new paths.”

But this isn’t only about thinking differently. It is a conscious pivot, where you actively use moments of uncertainty to explore new paths for growth.

Understanding the Power of Antifragility

Introduced by Nassim Nicholas Taleb in his book Antifragile, the concept centres on the idea that some things become stronger when faced with stress.

Think of muscles that strengthen when exercised, or plants that grow deeper roots when the wind blows.

In our careers, uncertainty can work in the same way — opening up new paths, skills and opportunities.

But how do you build this antifragile power?

By strengthening both your inner foundation and your outer leverage through what I call the Inner–Outer Advantage Model.

1) Build Your Inner Architecture: Embrace the Heroine’s Journey

‘The Heroine’s Journey’ is a concept developed by Maureen Murdock, a psychotherapist, as a response to writer-professor Joseph Campbell’s Hero’s Journey.

While many versions exist today, the essence is simple: it helps women build clarity and wholeness.

This journey involves small but steady steps:

* Building self-awareness by defining your non-negotiables and core values

* Understanding what success means to you (what you want versus what is expected)

* Saying no when something feels misaligned\

* Moving from permission to ownership

* Delegating and asking for help

* Unlearning limiting rules (for example: “Women must not be ambitious”)

* Embracing vulnerability and authenticity

The Heroine’s Journey helps you develop emotional regulation, boundary-setting and healthy ambition.

2) Build External Leverage: The Three Capitals Model

Alongside inner work, focus on three powerful engines that strengthen your career: what you can do, who stands with you and what you are known for.

Build:

- Skill capital - Develop AI proficiency and consciously build scarcity value in your expertise.

- Social capital - Intentionally build a circle of mentors, sponsors and advocates who champion your growth.

- Reputation capital - Invest in authentic personal branding, thought leadership and visibility.

Why the Inner–Outer Combination Works

This combination works beautifully.

When you do the inner work through the Heroine’s Journey, you build calm and clarity. You panic less easily and are less likely to burn out.

This steadiness makes building external capital far more natural and powerful. It creates momentum, options, visibility and leverage.

Your Antifragile Edge

So, this Women’s Day, I invite each of you amazing women to experiment with this powerful combination.

Watch what happens.

Instead of merely surviving change, you will begin rising with change.

You will not simply bounce back, but bounce forward into your fullest, fiercest potential.

That is your exceptional antifragile edge.

Seize it today.

(Dr Saundarya Rajesh, Managing Director of Avtar Group.)

Views are personal and do not represent the stand of this publication.