“I’m an out (and outspoken) Indian businesswoman, which is quite rare where I’m from,” says Radhika Piramal GiveOut’s newest trustee. Radhika is Vice Chair and Executive Director of VIP Industries, India’s leading luggage company. She is one of few openly lesbian Indian business leaders and is a prominent speaker globally on LGBTQI inclusion. GiveOut caught up with Radhika about her personal story, work driving inclusion in business, and support for LGBTQI equality around the world.
Can you tell us a bit about yourself? Who are you and what do you do?!
I was born in Mumbai and moved to the UK as a teenager for higher education. I studied at Brasenose College Oxford for my undergraduate BA degree and Harvard Business School for my MBA. I was MD and CEO of India’s largest luggage company, VIP Industries Ltd., from 2009 – 2017 and I continue to serve on its board as Executive Director and Vice Chairperson since 2017. Outside of work, I am passionate about advocating for LGBTQI equality in societies and workplaces worldwide, especially in India.
“The response to D&I initiatives has been better since India overturned its archaic anti-LGBTQI laws in 2018. The change in law helped and corporations became more confident about adopting anti-discrimination policies and practices for their LGBTQI employees.”
What has your experience been like as one of the only openly lesbian business leaders in India? What has the response been?
I had a legal civil union with my spouse Amanda in 2011 in London. About 120 people attended our ceremony, and although we did not post any pictures or updates on social media, I was outed by the Indian tabloid media. They reported (accurately) that I was now legally married to a woman although back in 2011 homosexuality was still a criminal offence in India. Initially, I was concerned about negative publicity and backlash, but I now believe that being outed was a positive turning point in my life as I took charge of my own narrative. I gave several interviews to leading Indian newspapers advocating for LGBTQI equality in the Indian workplace and became a prominent speaker on D&I issues. The response to D&I initiatives has been better since India overturned its archaic anti-LGBTQI laws in 2018. The change in law helped and corporations became more confident about adopting anti-discrimination policies and practices for their LGBTQI employees.
Why are you passionate about supporting LGBTQI rights globally? Do you support and give to other causes?
I believe that being LGBTQI is a normal and natural part of society and we all deserve to be treated equally under the law, with respect and acceptance from our families. Unfortunately, not everyone shares this belief. India is a deeply patriarchal society in which members of the LGBTQI community still face a lot of stigma and shame. We need to advocate for our rights and fight for tolerance and inclusion. I support several leading LGBTQI causes in India, including the long-running Kashish Queer film festival in Mumbai, the Naz LGBTQI Community Centre in Delhi, and the Pink List, an NGO which tracks how Indian MPs vote on LGBTQI issues.
“India is a deeply patriarchal society in which members of the LGBTQI community still face a lot of stigma and shame. We need to advocate for our rights and fight for tolerance and inclusion.”
What does it mean to you to have joined GiveOut as a Trustee?
I am thrilled and excited to join GiveOut as a Trustee, a leading international community foundation which works towards LGBTQI equality in the Global South, East Asia and South Asia. Being part of GiveOut enables me to learn how other countries and groups are tackling discrimination, and best practices on changing minds and hearts to accept the LGBTQI community across the world. It’s inspiring to serve on a board which consists entirely of professional leaders from the LGBTQI community who share common goals and aspirations.
What are your hopes for the LGBTQI community globally? How are we going to get there?
I dream of the day when any LGBTQI person anywhere in the world can serve openly and proudly in the military, as a member of parliament, a judge or a teacher, without fear, and with dignity, respect and acceptance. We have a long way to go before we achieve this dream. We need to work unrelentingly as a community with unity, determination, perseverance and hope to achieve our dreams.
Radhika is supporting LGBTQI organisations around the world through the LGBTQI Solidarity Fund, an exciting initiative by GiveOut to mobilise the UK LGBTQI community and allies to come together to show our collective support for LGBTQI communities worldwide. With support from foundations and the UK government through the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), GiveOut is building a pool of match funding to double the impact of donations by individual and corporate donors.