Stories behind the Data - Rukmini S

How do we ensure we’re truly representing women when collecting data? The answer lies in how we ask the questions. In this episode of L for Leadership, Rukmini S, data journalist, Founder and Director of Data for India, takes us behind the scenes of India’s data landscape and unpacks the hidden stories behind India’s numbers, especially when it comes to labour and gender. Rukmini sheds light on her own journey from field reporting to data journalism, and explains how biases in data collection and reporting can distort perceptions, from women’s labour force participation, to access to technology. She emphasizes the importance of triangulating multiple sources and adding context to the numbers to reveal the full story.  Rukmini gives actionable insights for leaders, policymakers, and organizations on how to use government data effectively, avoid simplistic averages, and adopt more nuanced, creative approaches to drive inclusive decision-making.   Credits:  Host: Swati Apte / Dr. Sangeetha Rajan About The Arts Quotient The Arts Quotient is a leadership development firm powered by the two founders’ collective experience of over 50 years across business strategy, operations, psychology, law, communications, and more. Founded by Swati Apte and Dr. Sangeetha Rajan, and their shared experience in the live arts, where they learned in practice - many of the concepts of leadership, such as presence, collaboration, and agility, TAQ looks to bring a multi-dimensional approach to solving leadership problems. Over the past decade, it has harnessed the power of diverse disciplines to solve business challenges and energise leaders across more than 80 organisations.    This is a Maed In India Production Creative Director: Mae Mariyam Thomas Project Manager: Shaun Fanthome Head of Audio Production: Kartik Kulkarni Producer: Rachna Sukuru  Assistant Producer: Devanshi Chandak Sound Editor & Mix Engineer: Nihar Temkar Artwork: Alika Gupta   Recorded at Island City Studios, Mumbai