Breaking Boundaries: ‘Women In Tech’ Global Launches India Chapter; Pledge to empower five million women

Women in Tech is a global movement with a total membership of more than 3,00,000 volunteers around the world.

New Delhi: Women in Tech (WIT) Global, a prominent international organization committed to the advancement of women in technology, announced the official launch of its India chapter. The grand event was organized at the prestigious French Embassy in New Delhi last week. The launch of the India Chapter marks an important step for the rights and empowerment of women around the world. Most importantly, the launch aligns with WIT Global’s ambitious goal to empower five million women and girls in science, technology, engineering, arts and maths (STEAM) by 2030.

The launch of Women in Tech (WIT) Global in India aims to equip Indian women with essential tech skills, support women entrepreneurs and bridge the digital divide in society. WIT Global, in line with the World Economic Forum (WEF)supports mentorship programs and skills-building initiatives to help women build successful careers in the technology sector.

About women in technology

Women in Tech is a global movement with a total membership of more than 3,00,000 volunteers around the world. Women In Tech has had a significant impact on the lives of more than a third of a million people worldwide, aligning with and contributing to the achievement of seven Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The goal is to educate, equip and empower women and girls with the necessary skills, confidence and opportunities to succeed in STEAM studies and career fields. Women in Tech is a global movement of people advocating for gender empowerment in STEAM.

Commenting on the launch said Mr. Thierry Mathou, Ambassador of France to Indiasaid, “France is strongly committed to promoting women in science. In our international relations, we promote gender equality through our feminist foreign policy, which translates into action in our bilateral cooperation with India. I would like to mention two examples: the “Women in Science” program led by our Indo-French Center for the Promotion of Advanced Research (IFCPAR/CEFIPRA) and the targeted networking initiative of the French Development Agency (AFD), GroW: Greening of Finance by Women, which aims to empower women in India by facilitating their access to the Indian financial system. I am therefore pleased that the Paris-based association Women in Tech is launching its actions in India. They can count on our full support.”

In response to the announcement said Radhika Iyengar, Country Head, Women in Tech Indiasaid, “The Women In Tech India team is excited about the popularity the chapter has gained in a short time. After a soft launch just a few months ago, we’ve grown from 3 to 500+ as of November 2023. The formal launch of the India Chapter marks a pivotal moment in Women in Tech Global’s collective effort to support 5 million women and girls in STEAM by 2030. while also tailoring our local activation activities and programs to India’s relevant issues. The dropout rate of girls in STEAM careers and the gender paradox in India are all alarming. We know the problem, but we also see that global partnerships have helped create media that can keep women in STEAM. Following on from this, we would like to see girls and women forging the growth path in the technology sector, whether it is in academia, a career or a career. decision-making roles, in more powerful but simpler ways and that have more enriching and enjoyable journeys”

Deepthi R, the CEO of ‘We Hub’and one of the panelists on the show discussed the launch of Women in Tech (WIT) India where she spoke about several points that need our urgent attention.

• On We Hub: She said the organization ‘We Hub’ helps women from different backgrounds transition from job seekers to entrepreneurs.
• Women in technology: A crucial initiative, especially given the low participation of women in technical careers, despite a strong STEM educational background.
  • Commended WIT’s focus on building a strong foundation in STEM education for girls and mentorship programs for mid-career women.
  • These initiatives are essential to retain women in the labor market.

Women’s situation in India: There is progress, but there is room for improvement. (Quote: “I’m not going to say you know it’s great, but at the same time we’re not behind any country.”)

Deepti Rai, Women in Tech India’s Regional Director for South (also a Principal Data Scientist at Microsoft), spoke at the launch of the India Chapter, where she highlighted their goal of empowering women in the technology sector, especially given the low representation in India (around 12-15% in tech). Moreover, Deepti Rai also emphasized the importance of men as allies in achieving gender equality.

Finally, she spoke about the solutions to address this challenge, where Women in Tech India would focus on:

1. Building a strong, pan-Indian technology community for women through gatherings in major cities of India such as Bangalore, Delhi, Mumbai and the Northeast.
2. Organizing events aimed at developing skills and boosting the careers of women in technology.