"I am the first person from India to be selected for the Capgemini Women in Rugby Leadership Programme,” Sanaya Mehta Vyas of Calcutta, vice president of Rugby India, informed Parsiana in a telephonic interview. To identify and develop the current and
next generation of female leaders in the world of rugby, enabling inspirational role models to fulfil their potential and create further parity across the game, Capgemini announced the names of 12 recipients from different countries who made it to the 2023 list.
Besides a scholarship of $ 5,000 (Rs 4,13,942), the awardees can avail of mentorship and coaching opportunities and are granted access to the leadership masterclasses as well as hundreds of online training sessions from the Capgemini University that has its headquarters in France. Assured Sally Horrox, world chief of Women’s Rugby, "Our 2023 scholars will benefit from unrivalled training and coaching opportunities that will develop the skills and knowledge they need to enhance their leadership journeys.” Besides Mehta Vyas, the 11 other 2023 awardees are from Australia, Brazil, Burundi, Canada, Colombia, Georgia, Italy, the Philippines, St Lucia, Tonga and Uganda.
"Delighted and privileged to be a part of this cohort of strong, inspiring women. I would like to thank Capgemini who through the Women’s Leadership Programme are enabling women in sport to keep raising the bar. Rugby, like many other sports, provides an equal platform without prejudice. I would like to urge young girls from across the country to take up rugby,” Mehta Vyas shared her LinkedIn post with Parsiana.
"As part of our ESG (environmental, social and governance) commitments, we have set an ambitious objective to reach 30% of women in executive leadership positions at Capgemini by 2025, and our University is a key tool for us to grow top female talent,” Virginie Regis, chief marketing and communications officer is quoted on the Capgemini website.
Top, r: Sanaya Mehta Vyas; and above, center: interacting with coach Suraj Prasad
Three generations of women in Sanaya’s family have been involved in sports so she is well aware of the time, money, coaching that is required to excel. Her mother Prochy is a veteran athlete, Sanaya plays rugby and basketball, and daughter Samara plays basketball. Realizing that many Indian girls "don’t have resources to pursue sports despite being talented,” she launched Women in Sports as a section 8 company where she and her mother Prochy are directors. This is the second year when they conducted a camp for footballers with potential, many of whom "play football with torn shoes fastened with rubberbands or tapes, don’t have proper nutrition or training facilities.” Players who have represented India are given an opportunity to improve their game with learnings from overseas coaches at a five-day program. Abroad, sportspersons who represent their country are paid for nine months; here those who play in the women’s league are only paid for one month in a year, mentioned Sanaya. There is neither recognition nor opportunities to improve their performance.
She believes Parsis are at an advantage for they have the Calcutta Parsee Club premises where those interested in sports can pursue the game of their choice. Passionate about sport and valuing what she has received, Sanaya feels the need to assist the younger generation.
Her sports career runs parallel to her professional life as Sanaya is director of Selvel One, the communications and outdoor publicity company which is an offshoot of the firm Selvel, started by her maternal grandfather Rusi Gimi. The master trainer starts her day doing workouts with her family which she considers "the best family time.”