Empowering Women In Tech: Breaking Barriers, Leading Change
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While the digital revolution continues to rewrite the script for the new world, one reality becomes more obvious with each passing day: empowering women is the secret to its future success. Women are not only contributing to technology, globally; they are spearheading its development. From artificial intelligence (AI) to smart data infrastructure, women are breaking barriers, pushing boundaries, and leaving a lasting legacy in the technology sector. This revolution is not only speeding up change in technology but also changing the definition of leadership.
At Fulcrum Digital, Anjali Sharma, Director and Global Head of Learning & Development, shares the significance of inclusive learning and development for women in the digital age. As per Sharma, the technology revolution is not just about the technology but the humans behind it—women, in particular, who are central to defining its future. With India’s leadership of AI skill penetration among women at 1.7 times the world average, the tech scene is undergoing a huge change. However, the problem continues, especially of converting these skills into leadership positions. While women continue to break technological barriers, they remain underrepresented in leadership positions. Sharma emphasizes that AI is no longer just a tool; it is now facilitating Unified Intelligence, where human potential and machine capabilities work together to create a powerful impact. In the future, the vision of Human Intelligence Amplification will empower women to shatter glass ceilings, open new doors, and lead change for the better, while maintaining their knowledge, creativity, and leadership skills. This Women’s Day, Fulcrum Digital wants to fast-track this revolution by championing flexible and inclusive learning experiences that enable more women to assume leadership positions and influence the future of technology.
Likewise, in NetApp India, Vasanthi Ramesh, Managing Director, champions proactive women’s leadership in the technology sector. In an organization where diversity is considered a core enabler of innovation, Ramesh believes in making sure women are not left behind in leadership positions. Today, women make up just 10.4% of corporate leadership roles among Fortune 500 firms, opening the door for shattering the glass ceiling and making a critical difference. NetApp’s triad strategy of proactive networking, assertive communications, and an aggressive mentor culture seeks to craft an environment for women to grow as innovators and decision-makers. Ramesh emphasizes how AI and data infrastructure play in transforming the sector, offering women in technology a tremendous opportunity. She emphasizes that change is not merely about inclusivity, but empowerment, equipping everyone equally with skills, investing in growth, and practicing an inclusive culture. By embracing their challenges and supporting each other, women in technology can change the sector, transforming it positively.
The journey towards leadership is also an uplifting one at Clover Infotech, where Lakshmi Mittra, SVP and Head of Clover Academy, talks about her own career path in the technology sector. She feels that a career in technology can be both rewarding and life-changing, with constant possibilities to learn and develop. The International Women’s Day 2025 theme, “Accelerate Action,” is a strong reminder that progress is made when we act with confidence and purpose. Mittra urges young women who want to pursue a career in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) not to be deterred by obstacles. She reminds them that there are many women who have blazed the trail ahead of them, making it easier for them. As they learn and discover more, young women need to keep in mind that they are here and they have all the right to be successful.
Both Vandana Singal, Pre-sales Head – PDES, and Deepti C Moolya, Associate Director People Practice & D&I Lead, from Happiest Minds Technologies also discuss how women play a part in fueling technological innovation. Singal points out that women’s leadership in technology is not about sitting in seats of power but about fostering collaboration, pushing humane innovation, and pushing for inclusion. The groundbreaking technologies developed under the leadership of women empower the subsequent generations of female technologists. Singal holds the view that mentorship, access to resources, and developing spaces where women’s voices are amplified are pivotal to the construction of a more inclusive, equitable, and technology-driven world. Moolya is in concordance on this point, emphasizing the necessity of transcending symbolic acts of recognition and taking up a long-term commitment to fair opportunity. For Moolya, that means attention to not just equal hiring practices and open channels for promotion but to creating robust mentorship programs through which women are supported to take charge of their careers. She believes that breaking down organizational silos that impede progress and creating a culture where women of any background feel confident to be their best is key.
The overall message from leaders at Fulcrum Digital, NetApp India, Clover Infotech, and Happiest Minds Technologies is the same: empowering women in technology is vital for the future of innovation. These companies are not just dedicated to empowering women in leadership positions but are actively creating inclusive environments where women can excel, shatter glass ceilings, and pave the way for the future of the digital landscape. With guidance, education, and empowerment, women in technology are not only transforming the sector—they are revolutionizing it.
