Women In Tech: Breaking Barriers Or Confined In A Prejudiced System?

International Women’s Day is celebrated on the 8th of March every year, commemorating the strength and essence of femininity. However, considering the societal expectations placed on the women, a question arises: Why is this celebration confined to just one day? Today, 'She' is no longer a damsel in distress, but an exceptional leader in diverse domains achieving significant heights, despite encountering challenges. On this Women's Day, let’s explore ‘Her’ advancements in the tech field and unravel the path they are forging.

Over the years, the tech industry has predominantly been male-dominated. This fact is reinforced by Dice's Equality Tech Report (2021), a survey conducted among 9,000 technologists. The report revealed that 57 per cent of women employed in the tech sector have encountered gender discrimination in their workplaces in comparison to only 10 per cent of men who faced similar experiences.

Motivating women in the face of this disparity, Laura Langdon, CMO at Wipro said, “I advise women to focus on the job they aspire to have in the future, rather than solely relying on their current position.”

She urged women to seize every opportunity that comes their way.

In a similar vein, Rupa Ramamurthy, Sr. EVP – Banking Operations, Teleperformance, India said, "As a leader in the organisation championing DEI (Diversity, Equity and Inclusion), I recognise the ongoing challenges women face, overcoming gender bias, stereotypes and underrepresentation." 

She emphasised that India needs to be positioned at the forefront of the technological race and it is crucial to have active and empowered female participation.

Running Ahead Or Falling Behind?

Neha Bagaria, founder & CEO, Herkey shared that at present, the tech sector is structured to accommodate men due to their majority in the workforce. Essentially, the work environment is created with men in mind. To achieve a more inclusive setting where all individuals can succeed, it is imperative to reassess the norms governing recruitment, retention and advancement.

Kirti Kama, Senior Vice President-Technology at Mastercard, highlighted the need of strengthening recruitment efforts. She cited a recent nasscom report, which revealed a significant increase in the representation of women in the Indian tech workforce in the past few years. She said this surge was possible due to the collaborative efforts of the government, NGOs and various organisations working towards a shared objective.

"The interim budget prioritised investment in Nari Shakti (women empowerment), showcasing the country's dedication to achieving gender equality. Notably, females made up 43 per cent of the students who registered for STEM courses this year, a figure that ranks among the highest globally." - Kirti Kama, Senior Vice President-Technology at Mastercard.

"Despite the gender gap in the technology industry, Indian women are making significant strides in the fields of artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning (ML) and robotics. They are breaking barriers and playing a vital role in driving advancements," said Padmashree Shagrithaya, Executive Vice President and Head of Insights & Data, Global Business Line - India, at Capgemini sharing her personal experience.

She added, “My deep-rooted passion for innovation and problem-solving fuels my dedication to AI, ML and robotics. As a frontrunner in these fields, I am fully devoted to utilising state-of-the-art technologies to address complex challenges and accelerate significant advancements.”

Surekha Ramakrishnan, Lead Intelligent Automation Analyst at Ciklum, also expressed her professional experiences. She said over the past decade, she has continuously strived to learn new technologies to stay up-to-date in a rapidly changing market environment.

Ramakrishnan suggested India must confront and overcome systemic obstacles and prejudices that impede the progress and involvement of women in technology. This involves addressing gender stereotypes, unconscious biases, workplace inequalities, and cultural traditions that restrict women's roles and impact in technology-focused areas.

Is Motherhood A Pause In Career?

A report by the Genpact Centre for Women's Leadership revealed a shocking statistic. It found that around half of the working women in India choose to leave their jobs by the age of 30 to prioritise taking care of their children. What's even more surprising is that among those who do manage to return to work, almost half end up dropping out within just four months of rejoining the workforce.

"The motherhood gap continues to pose a significant obstacle that needs to be addressed. Organisations must come together and tackle this challenge head-on. Women should be provided with specific assistance, promoting inclusive environments, and advocating shared domestic responsibilities within both workplaces and households." - Mamatha SG, Executive – Global Quality Systems & TQL, GE HealthCare 

A Leader's Note

Skillsoft's 2022 Women in Tech Report for the India Region revealed out of the 1,004 women tech professionals surveyed, just 7 per cent occupy C-Suite positions like Chief Information Officer (CIO) and Chief Technology Officer (CTO), etc. BW Businessworld had the opportunity to speak with a few leaders who aim to inspire the rising generation of women in tech.

Archana Joshi, Associate Vice President – Strategy, LTIMindtree said, “Unconscious biases are present in various systems, whether it is in India or any other country, and they extend beyond the realm of technology.” 

She asked women, who aspire to be leaders, to not let societal biases hold them back and be open to questioning their own beliefs to achieve significant goals.

Priya Kanduri, Senior Vice President & CTO (IMSS), Happiest Minds Technologies said that even though women are widely underrepresented, many exceptional women have led the way in AI and robotics. 

Kanduri stressed, “Women contribute passion, distinct perspectives and a readiness to challenge limits - all essential attributes in collaborative technological environments.” 

"Visionaries like Mira Murati (CTO  of OpenAI), Lila Ibrahim (COO of Google DeepMind) and India’s Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, who champion initiatives such as 'Make AI in India' and 'Make AI Work for India', represent progress in the field" - Priya Kanduri, Senior Vice President & CTO (IMSS), Happiest Minds Technologies

The Emerging Leaders Hope

Snehal Meshram Sr Manager, Alexa AI-Natural Understanding, Amazon said, “To effectively address gender or other biases in the workplace, it is essential to provide training sessions and platforms where employees can share their personal experiences and work in collaboration to find solutions."

Muthu Kumaran, Operating Partner and Head of India operations at Recognize said, “Companies should embrace an inclusive culture, welcome diverse opinions and view women's participation as more than just a compliance requirement.”

Kumaran stressed the significance of adapting to swift changes to pave a steady path toward women's success, ultimately leading to the overall success of the organization.

Sejal Dalal Joshi, Senior Principal Consultant - AI Innovation, Fulcrum Digital believes that India has the potential to emerge as a frontrunner in the global technology competition by leveraging the significant participation of girls and women in the tech sector. 

According to the All India Survey on Higher Education (AISHE) report for 2021-2022, India boasts one of the top female enrollment rates in STEM courses, standing at 43 per cent.