Women Leaders in Indian IT: Progress and Challenges
BENGALURU: A decade ago, multinational IT companies in India proudly showcased a handful of women in leadership roles, including notable figures like Rekha Menon of Accenture and Kirthiga Reddy of Meta. Today, while there is a commitment to enhance female representation in senior positions, the reality remains stark: women are still significantly underrepresented in the upper echelons of Indian IT firms. Despite a growing number of women in entry-level roles, the journey to the C-suite remains challenging, with only a few women holding top management positions.
Current Landscape of Women in IT Leadership
The landscape for women in leadership within Indian IT firms has seen some progress, but the numbers tell a different story. Recent data reveals that while companies like Wipro and Infosys have appointed women to key roles, such as CFO and chief legal officer, the overall representation of women in senior leadership remains low. Reports indicate that women make up only 6.7% of the executive workforce in global capability centers (GCCs), with mid-level positions seeing a slightly higher representation at 24.3%. Senior roles, which require extensive experience, have only 15.7% female representation. This disparity highlights the ongoing challenges women face in climbing the corporate ladder in the tech industry.
The Role of Global Capability Centers
Global capability centers are playing a pivotal role in promoting women to leadership positions. With 1,760 GCCs operating in India, there is a significant focus on high-value services and research and development. A recent Nasscom-Zinnov report indicates that over the past five years, the number of global roles in India has surged, with 1,100 women now holding these positions. Lalitha Indrakanti, CEO of JLR Technology & Business Services India, emphasizes that GCCs provide a more stable environment for women, allowing them to develop deeper organizational knowledge and expertise. This stability is crucial for retaining female talent and fostering their growth within the industry.
Initiatives Driving Change
MNCs are actively implementing policies to nurture female talent and promote them into senior leadership roles. These initiatives include mentorship programs and international opportunities aimed at accelerating women’s career advancement. Anuprita Bhattacharya, head of Merck IT Center, reports a 14.3% increase in women in leadership roles over the last five years, attributing this growth to hands-on exposure and engagement with influential leaders. Similarly, Sirisha Voruganti, CEO of Lloyds Technology, highlights the company’s commitment to creating an inclusive workplace through various initiatives designed to enhance opportunities for women.
The Path Forward
Despite the strides made in recent years, the journey toward gender parity in IT leadership is far from complete. Experts like Karthik Padmanabhan from Zinnov note that structured interventions and targeted mentorship are essential for fostering a diverse leadership pipeline. As MNCs continue to embed gender diversity into their core talent strategies, the hope is that more women will rise to leadership positions, ultimately transforming the landscape of the Indian IT industry. The ongoing commitment to these initiatives will be crucial in ensuring that the progress made is not only sustained but also accelerated in the years to come.
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