How to be a Strong Woman in Media | Vineeta Kumar | TEDxVIFT

TL;DR

Vineeta Kumar became a strong woman in media by setting ambitious goals, confronting workplace adversity, and persevering through a life-threatening tumor with support from family, friends, and colleagues. She entered sports journalism to speak with Irfan Pathan, achieved that goal within 10 days, then transitioned into entertainment journalism and interviewed Amitabh Bachchan in September 2016. Read on to see how each setback became a new challenge to overcome.

Transcript

so hi now how many times does it happen that you feel like your life has turned into a fool like you know there's emotions there's drama there's comedy and there are villains right so the story that you are going to hear today this story is the most familiar life story that you'll ever hear in your life okay my name is Vinita Kumar I'm journalist I... Read More

Key Insights

• 🛟 Vinita Kumar's journey reflects the resilience and determination needed to overcome challenges in both personal and professional life.
• 🥺 Pursuing dreams with passion can lead to unexpected opportunities, as seen in Vinita's encounters with celebrities like Irfan Pathan and Amitabh Bachchan.
• 🥺 Workplace adversity can test one's resolve, but standing up for oneself and seeking support can lead to positive changes.
• 😀 Facing a life-threatening illness like a tumor requires courage, support, and a positive mindset to navigate through difficult times.
• 💪 Vinita's story underscores the importance of perseverance, family support, and a strong work ethic in overcoming obstacles.
• 😤 Sharing personal struggles and triumphs can inspire others to face their challenges with courage and resilience.
• 🥺 Vinita's journey demonstrates that setbacks can be the catalyst for growth and transformation, leading to unexpected achievements.

Questions & Answers

Q: How did Vineeta Kumar become a strong woman in media?

Vineeta built resilience by repeatedly turning difficulties into challenges she could pursue. Her journey took her from Old Delhi into sports and entertainment journalism, through workplace adversity, and ultimately through a tumor diagnosis and operation with support from people around her.

Q: Why did Vineeta Kumar choose journalism as a career?

In sixth standard, Vineeta had a crush on cricketer Irfan Pathan and wanted to hear him say, “Hi, Vinita.” She decided that becoming a sports reporter would give her a chance to interview him, so she later studied journalism and joined a sports department as a trainee.

Q: How quickly did Vineeta Kumar achieve her goal of speaking with Irfan Pathan?

Within 10 days of joining the industry, Vineeta was asked to arrange Irfan Pathan for a TV show. She spoke with him by phone, and after he greeted and thanked her, she felt that her original goal had been completed.

Q: How did Vineeta transition from sports journalism to entertainment journalism?

After speaking with Irfan Pathan, Vineeta set herself a new challenge: interviewing Amitabh Bachchan. She switched companies, learned entertainment reporting, attended press conferences, covered media events, interviewed celebrities, and followed movies, television shows, and musicians.

Q: How did Vineeta Kumar get an interview with Amitabh Bachchan?

In September 2016, while she was between companies and serving her notice period, Vineeta received a call saying that an exclusive interview with Amitabh Bachchan had been scheduled for the next day in Bombay. The interview was connected to the upcoming release of the movie Pink.

Q: What happened during Vineeta Kumar’s Amitabh Bachchan interview?

Vineeta was given the last interview slot and warned that Amitabh Bachchan was not in his best mood, so she carefully planned her questions. He answered her questions and the fans’ questions and signed the mugs, but after he left, Vineeta fell from her chair and fainted.

Q: How did Vineeta Kumar respond to workplace harassment and adversity?

Vineeta confronted her bosses about what she considered unfair treatment and refused to quit. She demanded respect, persisted through the conflict, and eventually saw positive changes in her work environment.

Q: How did Vineeta Kumar cope with her tumor diagnosis and operation?

Vineeta faced fear about the surgery and its possible complications while relying on support from her family, friends, and colleagues. She underwent the operation successfully and did not experience the predicted side effects.

Summary

In this video, Vinita Kumar, a journalist and entertainment editor, shares her life story filled with challenges, setbacks, and triumphs. She talks about growing up in Old Delhi, her dream of becoming a sports reporter to meet her crush, Irfan Pathan, and how she eventually transitioned into an entertainment journalist. Vinita shares the experience of interviewing Amitabh Bachchan and fainting afterwards, the realization that she should stop giving herself challenges and go with the flow, getting married and facing workplace harassment, her battle with a tumor, and the importance of setbacks and coming back stronger.

Questions & Answers

Q: How did Vinita come up with her career in journalism?

Vinita had a crush on Irfan Pathan and thought that becoming a sports reporter would be the easiest way to meet and interview him. So she strategically pursued a career in journalism by doing a journalism course and eventually joining the sports department at an organization.

Q: What was Vinita's experience like when she got the opportunity to interview Amitabh Bachchan?

Vinita was asked to line up Irfan Pathan for a TV show within 10 days of joining the organization. She talked to him and arranged the interview. When Amitabh Bachchan's movie "Pink" was going to be released, she received a call saying that she had an exclusive interview lined up with him. She prepared for the interview, but she fainted after the interview when he left. It was a surreal and overwhelming experience for her.

Q: What was the realization that hit Vinita after the interview with Amitabh Bachchan?

After fainting and recovering from the overwhelming experience, Vinita had a realization that made her question her approach of constantly giving herself challenges. She decided to go with the flow and stop pushing herself too hard.

Q: How did Vinita handle workplace harassment and difficult bosses?

After getting married and taking a few months break, Vinita joined a new company but found herself in a toxic work environment. She was harassed, asked not to watch movies or go out, and was given odd shift hours. In a moment of empowerment, Vinita confronted her boss and declared that she wouldn't quit and asked them to fire her if they wanted her to leave. Eventually, things changed, leadership changed, and she regained her freedom at work.

Q: What were the challenges Vinita faced when she discovered she had a tumor?

Vinita experienced four consecutive days of headaches which led to the discovery of a tumor. She visited multiple doctors who recommended surgery. However, the doctors were surprised that she didn't have any visible symptoms besides the headaches. Vinita and her husband decided to get the tumor operated on despite the risks involved.

Q: How did Vinita's operation for the tumor go?

Vinita went through the surgery successfully, but doctors had initially warned her that she might have her jawline cut, resulting in a permanent mark on her face. However, the surgery went well, and she didn't experience any of the complications that were expected, such as hearing loss, voice alteration, or paralysis.

Q: What challenges did Vinita face after her recovery from the tumor surgery?

After recovering from the surgery and returning to work, Vinita discovered that the company had already considered replacing her since they didn't expect her to come back. She had to fight for her position during her recovery period and faced additional challenges at her workplace.

Q: How did Vinita decide to give a TED Talk?

One year after Vinita revealed her diagnosis and journey on Facebook, a friend commented that she would give a TED Talk one day. This inspired Vinita to make it her next mission and goal.

Q: What message does Vinita want to convey with her story?

Vinita wants to convey that setbacks are a fantastic way to come back stronger in life. She believes that experiencing setbacks and overcoming them makes a person stronger. She encourages people to ask themselves difficult questions because that is how they will find the answers they need.

Q: What is Vinita's overall message to the audience?

Vinita wants the audience to understand the importance of setbacks and not to fear them. She believes that setbacks can be opportunities for personal growth and should be embraced rather than avoided. She encourages everyone to ask themselves challenging questions and face setbacks head-on.

Takeaways

Vinita Kumar's story is one of resilience, determination, and embracing setbacks. She faced challenges throughout her life, but each setback became an opportunity for her to come back stronger. From her dream of meeting her crush to interviewing Amitabh Bachchan, surviving a tumor, and dealing with workplace harassment, Vinita never gave up. She emphasizes that setbacks should not be feared but rather seen as an integral part of personal growth. By asking ourselves difficult questions and facing challenges head-on, we can overcome obstacles and achieve greatness in our own lives.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Vinita Kumar shares a personal journey from Old Delhi to journalism through aspirations of meeting celebrities like Irfan Pathan and Amitabh Bachchan.

• After facing workplace harassment and a tumor diagnosis, she persevered with the support of family, friends, and colleagues.

• Through setbacks, Vinita's story highlights the power of resilience, determination, and seeking challenges.