Maaya belongs to the latter. She is the most senior woman in her field, a position earned over many years through judgement, discipline and an unwavering standard of work. Recognition arrived gradually, though never as quickly as it should have. She has little interest in revisiting that imbalance. Her attention remains on the work itself.

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Growing up, she watched her parents labour harder than many of their peers while receiving less credit in return. The lesson stayed with her. Success would never depend on permission, approval or visibility. It would depend on doing the work well, and doing it repeatedly.

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Colleagues seek her perspective because experience has refined her judgement. She is measured rather than impulsive, thoughtful rather than reactive. Decisions made with her counsel tend to endure, carrying consequences long after the meeting has ended.

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Work occupies an important place in her life, but never the whole of it. Home remains distinct from the office, protected from the habits and demands of her profession. There are parts of her life that belong only to family, close friends and herself, and she intends to keep them that way.