Roma Balwani’s leadership journey immortalised in international academic journal

Sometimes, your story becomes part of someone else’s success — and that’s exactly what happened to Roma Balwani in a truly special way.

Her leadership journey has now been featured in an academic research paper, published by the International Journal of Critical Accounting (Inderscience), an ABDC-listed, category B journal. The case study is written by Dr. Lakshmi Murthy as a part of her PhD thesis titled “Breaking Barriers- Enablers and Challenges for Women to be on Corporate Boards as Independent Directors” from Symbiosis International University. The communications industry stalwart, Roma is the first of 30 women leaders featured in her research.

Balwani is a communications stalwart, trusted mentor, champion of women leaders, philanthropist, and a phenomenal leader who has devoted over four decades to building industries, people, and meaningful connections, all with her trademark grace and humility.

Dr. Murthy shared on LinkedIn the story behind the paper’s journey to publication, “I still remember the graceful and dignified Roma Balwani walking in to deliver her talk and share her journey. She mesmerised me. Her story was so simple, so poignant, that I wanted her to be my respondent. When I approached her, she welcomed me with warmth and enthusiasm.”

What makes this achievement even more special is the challenging journey behind it, “The paper was rejected by almost about a dozen academic journal, saying a single person case study cannot be written or published. Happy to share that, today, after almost 6 years, the case study on Roma Balwani got published. A lot has been written about her in media, print and internet but an academic research paper is a different story,” Dr. Murthy revealed.

Talking about this recognition, Roma expresses, “It is indeed an honour to be profiled as a case study for Dr. Lakshmi Murthy’s thesis which has secured her a Doctorate in Philosophy from a prestigious institution. My congratulation to her for pioneering such a study that celebrates careers of successful women. Personally my story is of not letting go of any opportunity even when I started my career at the bottom rung, those were learnings that helped me navigate my professional & personal journey which ultimately gave me a seat as an Independent Director on the board of a listed company, to which I am grateful for. I have strived to contribute effectively as a respected member.”

She added, “Institutions can train & leverage the potential of young leaders at an early stage of their careers to become future board members.”