The Ladder No One Climbed

In a bright corporate tower in Delhi, there was a company where no one questioned why certain people always made it to the top—and others didn’t. Everyone simply followed the unspoken rules. Just like a room full of monkeys who had once been punished for climbing a ladder, now no one dared to even try. That’s when a new HR consultant, Naina, joined the company. She noticed something strange. Talented women were dropping out. Quiet voices never made it to team meetings. And no one spoke about bias, not even in whispers. Naina proposed forming a DEI committee. Some leaders pushed back—“We already treat everyone equally,” they said. But Naina explained, “Equality is giving everyone the same box to stand on. Equity is giving the right box based on who needs it.” With support from the CEO, Naina initiated training sessions. She introduced POSH compliance, pushed for inclusive policies, and even created a safe space for underrepresented voices to speak up. Change was slow—but it came. By the end of the year, promotions were more diverse. Exit rates dropped. Team productivity rose. Most of all, people started climbing the ladder again—not because they weren’t afraid, but because someone finally told them it was okay.