International Women's Day 2023 Live Updates: Women Tech Leaders on "DigitALL: Innovation and Technology for Gender Equality"

Anushree Jain, Co-founder of SocialTAG

While 83% of influencer marketing consists of women creators but men still earn 30% more than them per post.

The female dominance is not a risk, but the increasing pay gap surely is.

Even in the 21st century, we still are miles away from gender equality, and it is highly needed.

Gender Inclusivity :

1. Allows creators from diverse backgrounds to showcase their talents and perspectives, thus enriching the content available on digital platforms.

2. Ensures that all genders have an equal opportunity to create and monetize content

3. Allows creators to tap into a wider audience and increase their marketability.

4. Allows creators from diverse gender identities to come together, leading to the creation of new and exciting content.

Gender inclusivity is a social responsibility that creators and platforms have to their audiences. By promoting gender inclusivity, creators and platforms can create a safe and inclusive space for their audience and contribute to a more diverse and equitable society.

Tarini Malhotra, Founder, Nai Subah Foundation

As India aspires to become a US$5 trillion economy, it is no secret that this goal cannot be achieved without deeper involvement of women in the workplace. Further, tapping into the entrepreneurial instincts of women will certainly make a huge difference not just to economic outcomes but changing women’s role in our Indian society.

As a young Indian social entrepreneur, I encourage all women to shape their own destinies and join the growing community of women leaders and business owners. The world knows that Indians make great entrepreneurs. Now it’s time for Indian women. Our daily struggles, resourcefulness and adaptability, command over English, and work-life balancing skill makes us uniquely positioned to become trailblazers. Today, around 20% of all enterprises, big or small, are owned or run by women in India. The time has come to forever change this dynamic and make this 50% or even higher.

Dr Priyanka Goyat, Co-Founder, Rejove Aligners

Women's advancement in the medical technology profession is addressing the crucial and long-overlooked need for improved gender equity within the healthcare industry. More women are pursuing graduate degrees in technology, science, and math (STEM). The development of technologies today gives gender and race more consideration. Women are redefining the health technology sector by creating innovative, individualised healthcare solutions. the use of software that strongly includes artificial intelligence and machine learning. At Rejove, 90% of the employees are women, including healthcare professionals. Every action we take opens the door for more women to follow in our footsteps, encouraging a new generation of women to follow their passions and have a profound effect on the world. At Rejove, we utilise 3D Intraoral scanners, 3D printers, microscopic endodontic treatments, and dolphin software, which predicts surgical outcomes in orthognathic situations”.

Niroopa Padmanabhan, Vice President Design, Smartworks

Women are breaking gender stereotypes and stepping into this sector, which was once perceived as male-dominated. But that's not the case anymore; there is a change in perception, and the unwavering determination, hard work, and honed talent have pushed the influx of women upwards in real estate in the last few years. The hiring conversations have moved from gender to experience and meritocracy. From entry-level or mid-manager roles, women today lead functions such as Sales, all-men-led Operations teams, Projects, and more.

Leading a team of 50+ people have its challenges, but when you know you are trusted and supported by the higher-ups, it makes all the difference- showcases that your skills and perspectives are recognized.

What's worked well for me over the years is my continued investment in reskilling and up skilling, keeping up with the trends and industry updates. The organization has been instrumental in my growth by providing me with the resources and opportunities to grow, such as leadership training, involvement in key projects, mentoring, and networking opportunities.

Vaishnavi Shukla, HR Head, Comviva

With the wave of digital transformation across sectors, it is also crucial to bridge the digital gender divide and create a future that is inclusive and equitable for all. The past few years have magnified the existing gender digital gap, but it has also presented an opportunity to accelerate our efforts towards digital as well as financial inclusion for women, enabling them to achieve their maximum potential. As women leaders, I believe it is our responsibility to advocate for policies and initiatives that will help close this gap and guarantee equal access to education, training, and job opportunities. We need to find more ‘STEM girls next door’ and encourage them to innovate, fail and most importantly, fuel the growth mindset. The government and policymakers can help address this issue by investing in digital infrastructure and skill development and promoting gender equality. Let's aim to work together to create a world where diversity and innovation are encouraged and where all women have equal access to technology. We at Comviva have a strong culture of encouraging growth mindset and challenge the stereotypes. We believe that inclusiveness is the only path to sustained success.

Rituparna Mandal, General Manager, MediaTek Bangalore

According to the UN, more women in the technology space results in more advanced solutions and has greater potential for innovations that promote gender equality. It is imperative that the global STEM ecosystem step up and provide women and girls with innovative up skilling opportunities and technology-based education, starting from the grassroots, to unlock a sustainable future for the planet and humankind. Additionally, organizations need to deploy a strategic and continuous approach to strengthen equality and equity by creating appropriate ecosystems and policies to grow their career path and to assist them in building long-term careers in tech

Sqn Ldr Dimple Rawat (Retd), Director HR at Barco India

As more and more women make their mark in technology, we have also seen remarkable growth in the innovation quotient, leading to better and more advanced solutions and output. The Indian IT industry has shown tremendous improvement in bridging the gender gap and empowering women in technology. Gender parity remains essential to a resilient future, and there is a strong need to provide adequate mentorship and equal opportunities to women in the global STEM ecosystem. Moreover, organizations need to implement a consistent strategic approach to strengthen equality and foster an appropriate ecosystem with policies aimed at enhancing women's career paths and unlocking innovative up skilling possibilities and technology-based education, starting at the grassroots.

Divya Chethan, Co-Founder, CBREX

“Women in non-traditional industries seem to be hesitant to try new things. But as someone with a recruitment background who became a co-founder of a B2B tech product company, I personally experienced the benefits of stepping outside my comfort zone when I was asked to head the product team. Although men dominate the tech industry, there is tremendous potential for women to excel in India's tech industry with just a little encouragement. As part of CBREX, a B2B talent management platform, I aspire to help more women discover new and exciting opportunities. Remember that every woman has support, whether from friends, family, or others. Believe in yourself, and you'll find endless opportunities for growth.”

Swetha Kochar, Partner at PKC Management Consulting

“Women with families, even in today’s generation show hesitance when it comes to building their careers. Being an entrepreneur for nearly 5 years, I am yet to see proportional contributions of women in business. Especially when it comes to an industry like business consultancy, there are still more men than women. This is due to the lack of belief in oneself. Business minds have for years been associated with men, thereby undermining the intelligence of a woman without her even getting the chance to showcase her intelligence.

I wish to see an increased number of serial women entrepreneurs and in C Suite positions who have the confidence and power to build themselves in career paths that are considered unfit for a family woman! People need to see that a house and a business can easily be built by a woman with just a little support from everyone.”

Chaitali Pishay Roy, Founder, CPR Consultants

“Women have always been inherently shy and introverted when it comes to putting themselves out there and being considered a leader. As a woman entrepreneur, I can feel and understand the needs of women leaders and associate myself with the hurdles and problems they face. This is one of the reasons I started CPR, where we provide reputation management and PR services, to make it available to clients beyond just the metro cities. There is phenomenal work being done in tier 2 & 3 cities of India as well, and we want to help bring their stories to the forefront, tell them to everyone, and help them sail through their entrepreneurial journey.

We have worked and continue working with fantastic woman entrepreneurs who have done tremendous work in traditionally male-dominated spaces like business consulting, alco-beverage companies, D2C brands, and more. These women leaders are not only breaking the traditional barriers by running successful businesses but also empowering many other women by providing them with jobs. It gives me immense satisfaction to help put such stories of grit, determination, and success of women entrepreneurs on the stage that they need and deserve.”