This International Women’s Day 2026, we move beyond celebration and into documentation. Women Who Did It Anyway is a curated article series featuring women who progressed not because conditions were perfect, but because they chose to move forward anyway.

Across industries, from entrepreneurship to corporate leadership, these women navigated systems, expectations, resistance, and trade-offs. Their stories are not motivational slogans. They are lived decisions. This series brings those decisions to light, in their own words.

Usha Subramaniam

MBA, Marketing Director, i-Digits Ventures (PVT) LTD

1. There is usually a moment when continuing feels harder than stopping. What was that moment for you, and what made you go ahead anyway?

There were quite a few moments in my journey where continuing felt much harder than stopping. Especially during times when things were uncertain or not going as planned, it honestly felt easier just to step back and take a safer route.

But one thing I’ve always believed is that quitting will never take me to where I actually want to be. That thought stayed with me. Even when things felt heavy or unclear, I reminded myself of why I started in the first place.

I’ve come to understand that nothing meaningful comes easy. So instead of looking for the easy way out, I chose to keep going, even if it was just one small step at a time. That mindset really helped me push through those difficult phases.

2. Not all obstacles are loud. Some are structural, cultural, or quietly exhausting. What kind of resistance did you face that people may not immediately see?

Growing up and working in a society like Sri Lanka, I’ve definitely felt the need to prove myself more than once. There are still situations where people don’t immediately expect women to take the lead or make decisions.

Most of the resistance I faced wasn’t obvious. It came in small ways: people second-guessing, hesitation to fully trust, or just subtle doubt. These things don’t always get talked about, but over time, they can be quite draining.

What helped me was staying consistent and focusing on my work. I didn’t try to fight every assumption; I just made sure my results spoke for me. Slowly, things started to shift. I won’t say those challenges are completely gone, but they’re definitely easier to handle now than before.

3. You didn’t just progress, you navigated systems along the way. What did you have to learn, unlearn, or negotiate to move forward?

I come from a very traditional and strict Hindu family, so naturally, that shaped how I saw things growing up. It gave me discipline, but at the same time, there were certain limits in how I viewed opportunities.

As my work began to expand globally, I realized very quickly that I had to adapt. I had to learn how to engage with multicultural environments, understand different work cultures, and be comfortable in spaces that were completely new to me.

At the same time, I had to unlearn some of the limits I had placed on myself without even realizing it. That was probably the biggest shift. Once I started letting go of those boundaries, I was able to grow much more, both personally and professionally. You need to realise that you are just one fish in the sea.

4. Doing it anyway often comes with trade-offs, personal, emotional, or professional. What did this journey cost you, and what made it worth paying that price?

The highest cost for me has been time. There are moments where I feel like I could have spent more time with my family, and that’s something I do think about.

But at the same time, I remind myself why I’m doing all this. I am teaching my kids to be independent, and I am teaching them how to make a positive impact on the community you live in. It’s not just for me; it’s for my family and for the people who are part of this journey with me.

When I see the opportunities we’re creating and how it’s helping others grow, it makes the sacrifices feel worth it. It’s about building something that has a bigger impact, and that’s what keeps me going.

5. Has your definition of success changed since you began this journey? What does success look like to you now?

At the beginning, success for me was mainly about financial stability and independence. That was the focus: to build something secure.

But over time, that definition has changed a lot. Now, success feels more like growing together as a team, creating opportunities for others, and doing something meaningful and influencing as many lives as possible.

I also value being able to bring global exposure and opportunities back to Sri Lanka. Seeing people grow along with the business gives me a different kind of satisfaction. That’s what success looks like to me now.

6. If another woman is standing at the edge of a difficult decision today, what would you want her to know, not as advice, but as truth?

If there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s to trust the process. Some of the decisions that felt the hardest at the time actually turned out to be the best ones for me.

At that moment, things don’t always make sense. You question yourself; you feel unsure; that’s completely normal. But when you pass that stage and look back, you realize those moments helped shape who you are today.

I don’t regret any of my decisions, even the difficult ones. So the truth is; it might feel uncertain now, but if you keep going, it will lead you somewhere meaningful.

Women Who Did It Anyway

Curated by FireCircle by G

International Women’s Day 2026

FireCircle by G

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