Infra & IT: Top enablers for women
The IT/ITeS sector has shown the way to attract and retain women talent into the workforce.
By TNN |
The IT/ITeS sector has shown the way to attract and retain women talent into the workforce. Globally, technology enablers to create a mobile workforce like telecommuting and virtual workplace are huge hits with women and this is beginning to catch on in India too.
| "Women should not play the gender card. They must be able to take on responsibilities and deliver without using excuses that affect deadlines," Hema Ravichandar, HR Consultant | |
Geeta Kannan, VP - HR, Infosys Technologies said, “the biggest advantage for our sector is that we are in the technology space, and technology can be used as an enabler. So working from home and telecommuting are something that can be easily done.”
Citing the Infosys story, she said, the organisation has a two-pronged strategy towards enablers for women. First, infrastructure like day care centres, right policies and satellite centres to reduce commute time for women. Second, softer factors like networking, developing competencies that can be an enabler, role models for women employees and mentorships.
On the learnings from the technolgy sector that could be transferred to other industries in India, outgoing Nasscom president Kiran Karnik said, “I don’t think there are many learnings that can be taken to other sectors from the experiences we have gone through, some of them are unique to the IT industry. But some like training — we have the most thorough training amongst all sectors in India — would put men and women on the same platform.”
Recognition of women as leaders because of the sheer number of women folk in the IT workforce and the need to pick up talent from this pool is another learning that can be used.
Citing the Infosys story, she said, the organisation has a two-pronged strategy towards enablers for women. First, infrastructure like day care centres, right policies and satellite centres to reduce commute time for women. Second, softer factors like networking, developing competencies that can be an enabler, role models for women employees and mentorships.
On the learnings from the technolgy sector that could be transferred to other industries in India, outgoing Nasscom president Kiran Karnik said, “I don’t think there are many learnings that can be taken to other sectors from the experiences we have gone through, some of them are unique to the IT industry. But some like training — we have the most thorough training amongst all sectors in India — would put men and women on the same platform.”
Recognition of women as leaders because of the sheer number of women folk in the IT workforce and the need to pick up talent from this pool is another learning that can be used.
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