We All Rise

Raina Gandhi is the Founder and CEO of Rising Tide Consulting, dedicated to helping professional women overcome limiting beliefs and thrive in leadership. With over two decades of experience across multiple industries and a Wharton MBA, she took an 11-year hiatus to raise her daughters before successfully relaunching her career. Through coaching, workshops, and keynotes, she empowers women to thrive in the workforce, lead with confidence, and bring their authentic voices to decision-making spaces.

I am so thrilled to feature Raina in our March content dedicated to gender bias and allyship. Check out our Q+A with Raina below, and click here for her full feature in this month's issue of En Root!

This month's theme is all about gender bias and allyship. Tell us how this theme has played a role in your personal or professional life.

I am one of three daughters, a mother of two daughters who attended an all-girls school, and a Barnard College alumna—so I’ve been surrounded by strong women my whole life. Yet, despite this empowering environment, I also experienced gender bias firsthand, even within my own home, where traditional values sometimes reinforced societal norms. These experiences taught me early on that allyship isn’t just about acknowledging inequality—it’s about actively making and holding space for others, ensuring support goes beyond just listening.

In my professional life, I quickly realized that gender bias exists in every industry, not just male-dominated fields. I’ve seen how it limits opportunities, stifles voices, and discourages women from fully stepping into their potential. That’s why, as a leader, I’m intentional about fostering an inclusive environment where everyone—regardless of gender, background, or identity—feels valued and empowered. By leading with this mindset, I’ve witnessed real change, from hesitant individuals finding their voices to teams transforming into high-functioning, collaborative groups where diverse perspectives are not just welcomed but celebrated. Allyship has been central to my journey, and I’m committed to helping others build workplaces where everyone can show up as their authentic selves and thrive.

At OutGrowth, we believe in designing the space and time to reimagine the path forward. How do you think that a commitment to allyship can help us to navigate our lives and careers?

A commitment to allyship creates a ripple effect—when we support and uplift one another, we all rise. As more women stay in the workforce and step into leadership roles, businesses and communities benefit from the diversity of thought, experience, and perspective they bring to decision-making. Ensuring that women have a strong voice, especially in shaping policies and business strategies that impact our lives, leads to more inclusive, innovative, and equitable outcomes for everyone.

What is one hard lesson you learned in this past year that contributed to your growth?

One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned this year is the importance of self-reflection in understanding why self-advocacy has been so challenging for me. I’ve always found it easier to advocate for others than for myself—something I know is common, especially among women. But as someone who coaches others on self-advocacy, I realized that simply practicing it wasn’t enough; I needed to dig deeper to uncover the personal narratives that had been holding me back.

For me, the struggle to self-advocate was deeply tied to my identity as a first-generation American and the challenges of asserting my boundaries. Growing up, I internalized messages like “be grateful for what you have” and “don’t ask for too much,” which stemmed from cultural and generational experiences where speaking up carried real consequences. I subconsciously equated self-advocacy with being disrespectful or selfish, making it even harder to assert my needs—both personally and professionally. While I was focused on creating space for others to speak their truth, I had lost sight of my own.

This past year, I learned that without self-reflection, self-advocacy can feel like an uphill battle. If I had confronted these limiting beliefs sooner, I would have stood my ground more confidently in both my career and personal life. The good news? I now use this hard-earned insight to help my clients go beyond the surface, uncover their own deeply ingrained beliefs, and rewrite the narratives that hold them back because true self-advocacy isn’t just about speaking up—it’s about believing that your voice matters.

What is one competency or skill you hope to develop in 2025?

In 2025, I hope to deepen my skills in strategic influence—not just advocating for change, but effectively driving it at a larger scale. I want to refine my ability to shape conversations, challenge the status quo, and inspire action across industries and leadership levels. By mastering this, I can empower even more women to step into their power, reshape workplace cultures, and create lasting impact in their careers and communities.

What inspires you?

I am inspired by the resilience and courage of women who challenge limiting beliefs, step into their power, and create meaningful change in their careers and lives. Seeing others find their voice, advocate for themselves, and take bold steps toward leadership fuels my passion. I am also inspired by the impact of allyship—when people lift each other up, open doors, and create inclusive spaces where diverse perspectives are valued.

Most of all, my daughters inspire me. While parenting is my most unscripted role, it doesn’t define me—it amplifies me. I strive to lead by example, embracing my multifaceted strength and advocating for women so that my daughters can grow up in a world where they never have to question their worth or their place at the table. My own journey of navigating career transitions, overcoming barriers, and redefining success continues to motivate me to help others do the same.

At OutGrowth, we believe in preparing the next generation of leaders. What is one resource you'd recommend to those looking to carve out the time for growth in the next year?

I highly recommend Alison Fragale's Likeable Badass for anyone looking to grow in their career and leadership journey. This book tackles the workplace paradox many women face: you're told to be confident and assertive to succeed, yet when you do, you're often labeled as bossy or aggressive. She offers valuable insights on how to strike a balance between being well-liked and being a strong leader, and shows how charisma and assertiveness can help women earn respect and build influence without losing their kindness or authenticity. It’s a must-read for any woman ready to own their power while staying true to themselves.

What's next? What are you excited about in the coming year?

In 2025, I’m excited to grow my business and expand my impact by working with more organizations that are committed to retaining and empowering women. I’ll be focused on helping companies develop strategies for professional development, while also calling out behaviors that undermine women in meetings—like talking over them or taking credit for their work. I’m passionate about helping organizations understand how gender bias and the lack of allyship are affecting their ability to retain top talent, and I’m eager to guide them in putting the right policies and processes in place to better support women at work. As I continue to grow, my goal is to create lasting change in workplaces, empowering women to succeed and lead in a more inclusive environment.