Celebrating Women at Chargebee

International Women’s Day, an annual global event held on March 8, celebrates the numerous social, economic, cultural, and political contributions made by women worldwide. A unique theme characterizes each year’s observance. For the year 2024, the theme is “Inspire Inclusion.” At Chargebee, we take pride in our ongoing efforts to foster equity in all regards, not just on International Women’s Day but every day of the year. With a keen focus on the nature of our work and our culture, we strive to create a growth-friendly environment where everyone can bring their best self to work.  

In an ideal world, diversity would be celebrated, and inclusivity would be the norm. This world would be devoid of bias, discrimination, and harmful stereotypes. At Chargebee, we are steadfast in our commitment to contributing to creating such a world. Our daily actions and initiatives are geared towards empowering women economically, promoting women into leadership roles, and equipping them with the necessary information to make informed decisions regarding their health. These steps are integral in creating a more balanced and inclusive society.

Inclusion at Chargebee

At Chargebee, we give utmost priority to our people. It becomes critical that everyone continues to remain connected, understand the ‘why’ behind what we do, work with a sense of belonging, and more importantly, bring their best self to work. Krish, CEO & Co-founder of Chargebee, calls it “tap-dancing to work.”

Building an inclusive workplace has been an ongoing effort and to that end, we are continuously working towards driving conversations around what inclusion looks like — both equally and equitably. We have also been working on driving systemic changes through policies that represent these efforts, including competitive compensation, inclusive global parental leave policy, no-meeting/focus Fridays, mandatory two-week block leave, an adaptive workplace that allows a flexible hybrid model, affinity groups for women, EAP programs, manager training, etc. We have also been hosting a summit for women in tech to continuously drive dialogues and seeding ideas into action at Chargebee. 

But we all know numbers tell a story. At Chargebee, there are some great stories, and there are some that are not so great. Nearly 30% of the total workforce at Chargebee are women and are distributed across eight countries, with 28% in India, 30% in the US, and 47% in the Netherlands. The marketing team is one of the most balanced, with women making up 51%. The People Success function has the most female representation, with women holding 65% of positions. The Legal and Customer Support functions also have a significant female presence, with women accounting for 45% of these teams. We also have an uptick in the number of women holding leadership positions over the last year.

Yet, we know we can do better on the Product and Engineering front with respect to representation, both in terms of numbers as well as in leadership positions. The same thing holds true for the percentage of women in VP & Exec levels across the board. We are committed to improving these numbers, leveraging this moment of vulnerability to fuel our efforts toward achieving a more balanced and inclusive workplace.

Now, let’s meet some of the extraordinary Women of Chargebee. 

Women of Chargebee – leading the future of subscriptions and revenue growth management 

Sharmili S E, Assistant Manager – Solutions 

What skills or qualities do you believe are essential for women to thrive in your industry, and how do you cultivate them?

Voicing your thoughts in public is essential, but fear of criticism or error often prevents us from doing so. Regardless of this fear, sharing our views is crucial to gain new insights. We might possess a revolutionary idea or learn something valuable, so there’s nothing to lose.

What is the most valuable advice you have received during your career that you would like to pass on to aspiring women in tech?

“What could be the worst outcome?” This question became a transformative tool for me. Whenever uncertainty arises, I prompt myself, “What could be the worst outcome?” This question provides me with perspective and bolsters my confidence.

What is a source of joy in your life that has nothing to do with work? 

My son. It’s amazing how these tinies can have us wrapped around their fingers. Reading the same story at least ten times before bed, listening to 1000 ammas a day, and dramatic stories are my constant sources of joy. 

Lauren Gilbert, Executive Assistant 

What Chargebee value most resonates with you and why?

The Chargebee value that most resonates with me is customer-centricity. I have the unique honor and privilege to partner with and learn from the company’s go-to-market leaders. These executives and their teams exemplify the customer-centricity value in everything they do, and in turn, I strive to match their energy! We are hyper-focused on solving challenging problems for our customers to fuel their revenue growth. This commitment to our customer’s success is threaded into every decision we make, big and small. Delivering consistent results for our customers has yielded extraordinary Chargebee partnerships with some of the fastest-growing and biggest brands in the world!

Looking back at your career, what is one thing you wish you knew when you started?

The journey isn’t linear. Valuable learnings can be found in every experience along the way. You will apply knowledge in ways you never thought possible. Invest in relationships. The key to a fulfilling career is found in the way you lift others up!

What is a source of joy in your life that has nothing to do with work? 

I am in my walking era! I have logged many miles while breathing fresh air and connecting with friends. 

Julia Paskaleva, Senior Manager – Product Research

What is a significant milestone or achievement at Chargebee that you are particularly proud of?

2021 is the year I became a mom and joined this whirlwind adventure called Chargebee during COVID! I’m proud and grateful for the opportunities and how I showed up for all of them. And best of all, I get to come home to my daughter, happy and present. 

What Chargebee value most resonates with you and why?

Empathy is an extremely powerful way of looking at the world. Empathy towards our customers, our colleagues on every level, and even our competitors makes us shift from a space of expressing to a space of listening and understanding.

Looking back at your career, what is one thing you wish you had known when you started?

Speak about your projects as you’re figuring them out (not when they are nearly finished), bounce ideas off others early, and be comfortable expressing your point of view in any forum.

Liz Rojas, Senior Manager, Regional Marketing  

What Chargebee value most resonates with you and why?

I’ve come to understand that curiosity is the foundation of innovation, propelling us towards greater empathy and having a bias for action. This value not only inspires learning, experimentation, and problem-solving but is also inclusive of everyone, regardless of position or status. By maintaining a sense of curiosity and staying involved with our products, customers, and partners, I find myself empowered and encouraged to continue to ask the questions that drive progress— “why” and “how.” Once the foundation is in place, the real innovation begins. 

How do you manage work-life balance and maintain well-being in your busy life?

I manage work-life balance by ensuring I prioritize the things I care about. Whether it’s calendar blocks for lunch, or starting/ending the day by a certain time. I appreciate working at companies where boundaries are not just accepted but celebrated. 

What is a source of joy in your life that has nothing to do with work?

Family means a lot to me, and I find a lot of joy in my relationships with my family members, especially spending time with my daughter, baking cookies, or reading books.  

Akila Sankarasubramanian, Senior Manager – Data Engineering and Migrations 

What is a significant milestone or achievement at Chargebee that you are particularly proud of?

The migration of a major media brand from a legacy subscription billing and management platform to Chargebee stands out as a significant achievement. For the first time at Chargebee, we implemented the ETL migration approach, introducing an automated pipeline for data migration.

Analyzing the migration strategy and approach utilized for this project will offer valuable insights for future migrations characterized by complexity and substantial data volumes.

How do you manage work-life balance and maintain well-being in your busy life?

As a mother of a 23-year-old son, I can confidently speak about managing work-life balance. When I began my career, my son was in kindergarten, and I also worked shifts. While some may hesitate to work night shifts, I saw it as an opportunity to balance my responsibilities. Whenever I needed to assist my son with his studies or care for my parents, I opted for night shifts to be available for him after school or for my parents during the day, managing work during the night.

Upon transitioning to a managerial role, I managed to work extended hours while keeping track of my son’s activities over the phone. During his 10th and 12th grades, I utilized the work-from-home option and took breaks during his exams, which enabled him to perform well in his board exams. I made decisions based on daily life priorities, whether it was work or personal matters, and moved forward accordingly. 

What is a source of joy in your life that has nothing to do with work?

Spending quality time with either my family or my team brings me the greatest joy. I consider my team as an extension of my family. 

When it comes to family, activities such as sharing dinner, watching movies, taking leisurely walks in the park, and reminiscing about past moments greatly enrich my life.

With my team, our connection transcends the confines of work, offering me a sense of warmth, love, and belonging that revitalizes and enhances my life.

Lydia Stone, Chief Accounting Officer & VP of Finance 

What skills or qualities do you believe are essential for women to thrive in your industry, and how do you cultivate them?

Cultivating skills such as adaptive learning, integrative thinking, collaboration, and resilience demand confidence from us. It necessitates regular practice, the courage to fail, and the determination to try again. It involves embracing our capabilities, taking ownership, expressing ourselves openly, and fearlessly voicing our opinions.

What Chargebee value most resonates with you and why?

Stay curious. The world evolves because of our curiosity. Being curious about work, about people, about customers-  learn, listen, and grow. 

What is a source of joy in your life that has nothing to do with work?

Visiting and observing different cities, countries, and cultures and exploring and experiencing different ways of life. It gives me joy to see how different cultures share many common traits. It also puts things in perspective.

Conclusion 

As we wrap up our International Women’s Day blog post, we want to express sincere appreciation and respect for the women at Chargebee. You are an integral part of our organization, propelling us toward a future that is more diverse, inclusive, and balanced. Your invaluable contributions across roles and departments have been instrumental in our growth and have significantly enriched our culture with your unique insights and experiences.

Our dedication to advancing women into leadership positions, ensuring gender equality and equity across all departments, and creating a nurturing work environment extends beyond today. We look forward to adding value to your journey at Chargebee by investing in your growth and fostering opportunities for learning and education. 

 As our global footprint grows, so will our efforts to foster inclusion. We are committed to ‘Inspiring Inclusion’ not only today but every day. To the outstanding women of Chargebee and women everywhere, we acknowledge your strength, resilience, and unwavering pursuit of excellence.

Happy International Women’s Day!