We kicked off International Women’s Day week by discussing how to create an equitable world and bridge the gender divide through technology with some of the most inspirational women leaders in tech. 

Irina Ghose (COO, Microsoft India), Kamolika Peres (Director Sales, Google Cloud India) and Vaishali Kasturae (Director & Head Enterprise, AWS India) were on the panel, while Rucha Nanavati, CIO, Mahindra Group moderated the discussion. 

Time to close the gender gap – a proactive approach

It was clear that we still have a long way to go while creating a more equitable society and  workplace. Technology can play a vital role in educating people, making resources accessible, and opening a plethora of opportunities for women, even in the remotest areas. Along with technology, we still need better policies and considerate cultural changes to move in the right direction.

The speakers also reflected on how badly women were affected during the pandemic and whether enough has been done to make sure such instances are avoided in the future. The approach must be proactive rather than reactive. 

Together we can move forward

Everyone resonated with the fact that our mistakes don’t define us when we respond in the right spirit. We can make our way by speaking up for ourselves and others. We must stop underestimating ourselves, take on tough jobs, use technology to our advantage, pass on the right ideologies, and be there for each other.

We must remember that allies, mentors and  any other support system are imperative for our collective growth and advancement. This is not a battle that we can fight alone.

The only way we can move forward and create a better society is by being together in this and constantly making efforts to create a more inclusive environment for all of us to thrive. We want to create a community where there is no need to celebrate Women’s Day in particular, or where we celebrate Men’s Day with equal zeal, because we will only rise if we enable others to rise.