Inside the Harem: I Escaped a Rich Man’s Cult of Women

How patriarchal structures exploit female ambition

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In 2012, I was 22 — bright, ambitious, and newly certified as one of the youngest CFAs in India. When I landed a job with the Investor Relations team of a telecom firm in Mumbai, I was thrilled.

This was the dream: financial modeling, working with institutional investors, and building my career in India’s financial capital.

I reported to the VP of Investor Relations and joined a small, all-women team. Together, we were a powerhouse — churning out financial reports, handling comparative benchmarks, analyzing working capital, and running quarterly investor calls with large funds and institutional shareholders.

Then everything changed.

The company’s Chairman — let’s call him Dr. M — was visiting Mumbai. He invited our team to his opulent $10 million mansion on the coastline. Dr. M was in his sixties, wore a fedora, and was chauffeured around in a Bentley. Charismatic and commanding, he exuded wealth and power.

Nobody dared interrupt him. I don’t remember saying much during that lunch; I was overwhelmed by the display of luxury and status.

A few days later, I received a call from his office. They wanted me to join his…