IAS Sonal Goel on Women's Empowerment, Education, and Leadership in Civil Services

During the International Women Day, women who are making a difference and motivating the new generation, get all the significance they deserve. A good example and source of inspiration is IAS officer Sonal Goel. Her experience shows how perseverance, learning and serving the people contributed to her success. The way she overcame obstacles to become a focal point of initiatives that make a difference at the grassroots level is a lesson that is worth learning by young women who want to pursue meaningful careers. In this interview with Jagran Josh Sonal gives the account of her experience, the relevance of an education and upskilling, and her advice to young women who would like to enter leadership positions and change the world.

1. How did your educational journey influence your decision to join the civil services? 

My educational path directly influenced my choice to enter the civil services. I completed my B.Com honors from Shri Ram College of Commerce at the University of Delhi, which I completed together with my Company Secretary studies, which I finished in 2004. My part-time Company Secretary job in the corporate sector brought me essential work experience, which taught me how to think systematically and maintain professional standards that enabled me to eventually lead teams in various sectors.

My college experience established my commitment to civil service work. I read an article about an IAS officer through which I discovered the extensive impact that administrators use to create societal changes. That moment stayed with me and gradually shaped my aspirations. I wanted to work for society because the corporate sector provided me with important educational experiences. Hailing from Panipat, Haryana, where I saw women and marginalized groups face social difficulties because of the traditional patriarchal system.

My personal experiences showed me the importance of empathy, together with institutional efforts to create sustainable solutions for social problems. The civil service created an opportunity for me to use my professional abilities to serve the nation from a broader perspective. My motivation to prepare for the UPSC Civil Services Examination began after I achieved an All India Rank 13 during my second attempt in 2008. The examination results served as a professional achievement for me, which created new opportunities to promote social progress and development. My work as an Indian Administrative Service officer has developed my governance approach, which requires policies to produce actual benefits for citizens. Public service, to me, is ultimately about ensuring that the benefits of development reach the last mile and empower those who need it the most. 

2. Were there particular skills or learning experiences that helped you grow as an administrator? 

Public administration functions as a new learning experience that has developed my public service values over multiple decades. Empathy and compassion serve as the two main values that I consider most crucial because administrators need to grasp how people at the local level experience their life situations. I have learned valuable lessons through my work in various regions.

My work in the beautiful northeastern Indian state of Tripura and my subsequent work in the Haryana districts exposed me to two different sets of social and administrative practices. The experiences convinced me that effective governance requires listening to citizens and understanding their needs while responding with caring and understanding. The ethical leadership component serves as a vital element for administrative functions.

Public service often requires making decisions in complex situations, and it becomes essential to ensure that these decisions are guided by integrity, fairness, and clarity so that they serve the larger public interest. Another aspect would be team building exercises, which enable people to work together effectively. It serves as an essential requirement. Governance requires multiple departments to work together while community members need to participate in the process. A team that shares a bond built on trust guarantees a high rate of success on policies and implementation because they understand the value of compassion and coordination.

My experiences have shown me that administrators need to implement policies through empathetic approaches and ethical decision-making and collaborative efforts because these elements will produce actual results in their work. These qualities are essential in the public administration as they allow a person to serve the nation with utmost faith. 

3. As an IAS officer, have you led initiatives that focus on empowering women through education and opportunities? 

My professional work has always included women's empowerment as a primary operational focus. The Nandini campaign, which we started in 2015 at the Gomati district of Tripura, presents itself as our most significant program. The initiative operated as a multi-sectoral initiative to create societal behavior transformations because the district served as one of the 100 pilot districts for the Beti Bachao Beti Padhao campaign.

The campaign aimed to establish social dialogues that extended beyond policy discussions to address dignity and respect and equal opportunities for girls. The communities examined a fundamental question, which asked how society could worship the divine feminine while daughters received fewer rights and opportunities than sons. We worked together with the Health, Education, Sports, and Panchayati Raj departments to create awareness through synchronized execution of our initiatives. The district administration started the "Soch Pe Dastak" campaign as part of this project.

The initiative established multiple "Naari Ki Choupal" programs through targeted gram panchayats that showed low census-based Sex Ratio at Birth rates. The community platforms provided opportunities for citizens to engage in open dialogues which addressed important social issues, including dowry prohibition and parda pratha and female foeticide prevention and menstrual hygiene and the importance of girls' education. The administration also encouraged pledges, oath-taking ceremonies, conversations with community members, and recognition of local champions, so that the message could resonate more strongly within society. Initiatives like these helped bring multiple sectors and communities together to address deep-rooted social challenges and encourage lasting behavioural change. 

4. Civil services often come with intense professional responsibilities. How do you maintain balance between work and personal life? 

Civil services require continuous availability as the work demands instant decision-making. I see balance as a process that requires me to make choices between different tasks. Public administration requires employees to work beyond scheduled times because they must respond to unpredictable emergencies that arise.

Employees in this system require both flexible work arrangements and a clear understanding of their work priorities. The desire to serve the nation provides a strong purpose that helps to drive my efforts forward. The experience of seeing projects that enhance human well-being and bring about actual improvements in society provides you with strong energy, which enables you to keep working through difficult times. Family support has also been an important pillar in maintaining balance. My two children, who attend school, show exceptional understanding of my situation, while my parents, spouse, and extended family members provide me with essential support for handling work and home duties. The process of learning requires me to reflect on my experiences and take care of myself.

My reading activities, together with my interactions with young people and my discussions about governance, enable me to keep my viewpoint intact. The practice of taking a pause to think, combined with taking quick breaks and dedicating time to physical and mental health development, enables me to maintain my energy levels and mental focus. People who want to achieve balance in their lives must remain focused on their purpose for choosing to serve others. I believe that is the whole point behind serving the nation. 

5. What advice would you give to young women who want to build impactful careers but feel uncertain about where to begin? 

Young women should start their journey by believing in themselves. Many talented youth hesitate because they doubt their own abilities. The first step is to recognize that your aspirations are valid and worth pursuing. The development of an appropriate mindset holds equal weight with academic skills. The qualities of curiosity and resilience and empathy enable people to make meaningful contributions to society. Curiosity drives you to investigate and find answers to your questions.

Resilience enables you to maintain your dedication throughout difficult times. Empathy enables you to comprehend the actual situations that exist in various communities. Young people should also focus on developing practical skills such as communication, critical thinking, and project management. People should understand their purpose because it matters more than skills. You should determine how your work benefits society through your self-reflection. The combination of purpose and sustained efforts, together with your readiness to test your boundaries, leads you to discover your true path. 

6. Do you think increasing the participation of women in civil services brings new perspectives to governance? What has been your experience? 

The inclusion of more women in civil service roles creates better governance because diverse viewpoints and life experiences of women bring new insights that help in better governance. Women leaders possess strong abilities to connect with communities and understand needs, which makes them suitable for solving social problems that include education and health care and gender equality.

Their presence creates a safe space for women in the community to express their opinions, who might otherwise stay silent about their issues. Women have faced numerous barriers throughout history that have prevented them from accessing civil service positions. Madam Anna Rajam Malhotra Ji, who became India's first woman IAS officer in 1951, joined the service under a marriage prohibition that required her to resign if she wed. The prevailing societal biases during that period created major obstacles that prevented women from entering public administration careers.

The civil services had only 18 to 20 percent female representation at the time when I cleared UPSC CSE in 2008. Today, that figure has increased to almost one-third in recent examinations, showing a significant shift in societal attitudes and the growing acceptance of women as leaders in public service. The core principles of governance require different groups of people to work together. Administrative success occurs when all staff members of an organization dedicate themselves to maintaining equity and responsibility while serving their community. I have seen many women officers across the nation who bring about positive transformations through their leadership work, which inspires younger people to adopt their leadership style. The leadership paths of these people show that public service leadership positions exist for all individuals who possess determination and commitment and resilient character.

Conclusion

The story of Sonal is an excellent example that proves that hard work, education, and readiness to continue learning can bring some valuable opportunities to life. Her stories accentuate the need to be resilient, with priorities, and how women can contribute to better and more inclusive governance. Stories such as hers are both inspirational and helpful as their number of young women wishes to change the world and become leaders. This Women day she gives her message to the younger generation to dream big, keep their commitments in learning, and do not be afraid to achieve what they want.