Recognizing individuals and organizations leading the way in fostering gender diversity and innovation in India’s technology industry, Nasscom announced the winners of the 2024 Women in Tech Awards. On the sidelines of the awards, Nasscom, in partnership with Deloitte, launched the ‘Women in Tech’ Coffee Table Book, capturing stories of resilience, leadership, and innovation from trailblazing women shaping the future of India’s tech sector.
Women make up 36% of India’s tech workforce, yet leadership representation remains a challenge. While notable progress has been made, there is an urgent need for sustained efforts to bridge the gender gap, particularly in leadership and emerging technology roles.
Leading organizations are adopting strategic interventions to address these disparities. Inclusive hiring and retention initiatives leverage AI-driven bias-free hiring, proactive career development programs, and structured returnship pathways to create sustainable talent pipelines. Skill development and leadership training efforts emphasize tailored mentorship, sponsorship programs, and leadership development tracks to accelerate career progression. Workplace flexibility and well being programs focus on extended parental leave, hybrid work models, and community-driven support initiatives, ensuring a supportive environment for all employees. Male allyship and advocacy efforts highlight executive sponsorship, mentorship networks, and active involvement in diversity ERGs (Employee Resource Groups).
Additionally, inclusive tech innovation is being fostered through women-led incubators, dedicated R&D funding, and global sponsorship for open-source contributions, driving equitable representation in emerging technologies.
The Women in Tech Awards 2024 spotlight individuals and organizations making a tangible impact on gender inclusivity in tech through three key categories: Innovators – Women leading cutting-edge technological advancements; Leaders – Executives, entrepreneurs, and male allies fostering diversity; and Catalysts – Organizations that have successfully implemented gender-inclusive policies.
With 330+ nominations from 180+ organizations, the selection process was led by a distinguished jury of industry experts, academicians, and technology leaders, including Arundhati Bhattacharya (Chairperson & CEO, Salesforce India), Irina Ghose (Managing Director, Microsoft India), Romal Shetty (CEO, Deloitte South Asia), Tiger Tyagarajan (Senior Advisor, BCG, Bain Capital; Board Member, Genpact, Jabil, MathCo), Santhosh Viswanathan (VP & MD, Intel Corporation) and Sangeeta Gupta (Sr. VP, Nasscom).
Sangeeta Gupta, Senior Vice President at Nasscom, emphasized the need for sustained efforts to bridge gender gaps in technology: “Women in tech are not just contributors but drivers of innovation. The 2024 Women in Tech Awards and the Coffee Table Book highlight the strides we have made as an industry, but also underscore the continued need for inclusive policies, leadership opportunities, and systemic change to ensure that women thrive at every level of the industry. As we move forward, fostering equitable opportunities isn’t just about representation—it’s about shaping the future of technology.”
Deepti Agarwal, Partner, Deloitte India, said, “Deloitte is proud to be the knowledge partner for nasscom’s inaugural Women in Tech Awards – a celebration of the bold, brilliant, and unstoppable women and allies shaping the future of technology. The sheer volume of nominations pouring in from across the country, including Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities – highlights the vast and diverse talent of women technologists. These awards aren’t just about recognition; they’re about igniting change. Every story of resilience and innovation shared sends a powerful message – there are role models to look up to, opportunities to seize, and a future waiting to be rewritten. To every woman pushing the limits, breaking barriers, and redefining what’s possible – we see you, we hear you, and we celebrate you.”
The Women in Tech Coffee Table Book, serves as a comprehensive industry resource, highlighting best practices, success stories, and scalable models that companies can adopt to create an inclusive and equitable workforce.
As India continues its rise as a global technology leader, fostering gender diversity is no longer an option but a necessity for innovation and economic progress.
