Munira Loliwala, VP of Growth and Strategy at TeamLease Digital, and Harish Bijoor, a brand and business strategist, dive into the rise of women in leadership within Indian tech firms. They discuss the impact of global tech giants' DEI initiatives on local companies and the role of Global Capability Centres in fostering female leadership. The duo highlights the need for supportive ecosystems that involve male colleagues and emphasizes cultural shifts necessary for meaningful change. Their insights shed light on the evolving landscape of gender dynamics in the workplace.
The increase of women in leadership roles within Indian tech companies reflects a positive shift in gender representation, though challenges remain.
Global Capability Centers have played a crucial role in promoting female leadership, yet executive participation of women still requires significant improvement.
Deep dives
Rise of Women in Leadership Roles
There has been a significant increase in the number of women assuming leadership positions in global tech companies in India. Notable appointments include Preeti Lobna at Google and Sandhya Devanathan at Meta, indicating a shift away from the historical gender disparity in the industry. Despite this progress, women still represent a mere 6.7% of executive roles in Global Capability Centers (GCCs) compared to about 8% in traditional IT services. This disparity highlights the work still needed to ensure women can rise to the highest levels of leadership across all sectors.
The Impact of Global Capability Centers (GCCs)
GCCs have emerged as significant influencers in promoting women to leadership roles, accounting for a notable portion of women in the tech workforce. Currently, approximately 25% of the tech workforce in GCCs are women, with expectations for this figure to grow. The roles offered in GCCs often entail strategy and management responsibilities that are more inclusive for women, allowing them to take on significant decision-making positions. However, even within GCCs, the overall percentage of women in executive roles remains relatively low, indicating the need for continued efforts in gender inclusivity.
Addressing Workforce Participation and Retention
While progress has been made, the podcast highlights a concerning trend where many women exit the workforce in their early to mid-career stages, particularly around the ages of 30 to 35. Organizations must actively work to retain female talent by fostering an inclusive environment and creating opportunities for professional development. Male colleagues must also be involved in this effort to create a balanced and supportive workplace culture. Overall, both systemic changes and support mechanisms are essential to ensure that women can thrive in and remain part of the tech workforce.
More and more women are stepping into top leadership roles at Indian tech cos, primarily at Indian units of global tech firms. Recent high-profile appointments highlight a reversal of the long-standing narrative of gender disparity at the executive level. While global tech giants are making strides with Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives, the question remains: are Indian IT firms keeping pace? How has the rise of GCCs contributed to this trend, and what do the workforce participation numbers reveal? Host Dia Rekhi talks to Munira Loliwala, VP of Growth and Strategy at TeamLease Digital and Harish Bijoor, Brand and Business Strategist as they unpack these questions and explore how the industry can close the gender gap at the highest levels.