[100 Emerging Women Leaders] Megha Desai wants to provide a holistic platform to support Indian sportswomen

After over two decades of working in the business strategy space, Megha Desai decided to start ENGN, a sports management company.

Desai’s aim, through ENGN, is to provide a platform for Indian sportswomen and thereby encourage young girls across India to view sports as a potential profession.

Taking sports as a career choice remains a contested subject, both in urban and rural areas, and Desai—who has always felt strongly about women’s causes—wanted to change this.

“The more research we started doing, we noticed a huge lack in the representation of female athletes,” she explains.

With her experience in talent management across organisations and fields, she decided to set up ENGN—a platform that would support women athletes.

At present, the Mumbai-based company offers holistic support to women athletes—ranging from financial backing and investment in coaching to nutrition and mental health support and other associated areas. It also provides a line of women’s performance wear.

ENGN exclusively represents sportspersons such as Maana Patel (Olympic swimmer), Anisha Aswal (all-India rank 1, world rank 65, taekwondo), Veda Krishnamurthy (cricketer; former vice captain of Team India and Karnataka team captain), Anoli Shah (international medallist in speed skating), Nithyashree Ananda (international athlete, 400-m track), and Shivani Soam (Delhi state record holder in long lump).

“ENGN is not a talent management agency. We’re not representing athletes and managing them, or getting them brands and endorsements, etc. We’re actually investing in the female athletes we sign, and that’s really our driving goal,” Desai emphasises.

Gender-based prejudice exists both in sports and the corporate world alike—something that Desai has witnessed during her career. While such biases continue to persist, there is a shift in how they are projected, says the entrepreneur.

“One classic thing that unfortunately most girls face is the kind of work that comes to them. It’s very subtle and exists even today, very prominently. Suddenly, you won’t get called into financial meetings, but you will get called into some shoots or advertising and creative stuff,” she points out.

Another thing Desai has noticed is the presumed lack of importance to women in certain situations.

“Again, this comes out in very subtle innuendos and sayings such as, ‘Are you sure you want to be part of this meeting?’ And this is something that we need to fight to be honest,” she says.

Over the years, the way Desai has dealt with gender bias has changed.

“Now I deal with it very differently,” she says and adds that, with experience, one learns to speak up and doesn’t shy away from situations.

“You don’t shy away from clearly stating what you bring to the table and what role you play in the organisation. And this is irrespective of what level you’re at. At any role, be clear about what you bring to the table,” she stresses.

Drawing on her experience, Desai urges young women leaders to develop a thick skin. “You can be a leader even when you’re an intern. It’s all about your mindset,” she says.

To women leaders in business, Desai advises, “If you’re in a senior role, know your numbers.”

(The story was updated to correct the designation of Megha Desai.)