On International Women’s Day 2025, corporate women leaders emphasize the need for urgent, intentional action to eliminate workplace gender barriers. From inclusive hiring to mentorship and systemic reforms, they stress that equity is not just fairness—it’s about innovation, economic growth, and a better future that can’t wait. Here are a few voices of women leaders in the Indian corporate world:
Chhaya Sharma, Head of HR, axio: Real progress happens when we shift our perspective on gender diversity—from an obligation to a valuable opportunity for innovation and growth. At axio, we believe that building an inclusive workplace goes beyond policies; it requires meaningful actions that empower women to lead without limitations. This entails ensuring that opportunities are accessible to all.
Diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) are transformative forces that create thriving workplaces. An inclusive culture fosters innovation, strengthens collaboration, and enables employees to contribute their best ideas with confidence. When diverse perspectives are valued, organizations become more agile, better equipped to solve complex challenges, and more resilient in the face of change.
Creating a truly inclusive environment requires leaders at every level to take responsibility, champion the cause, and recognize gender equality as a critical priority. By embedding DEI into the core of workplace culture, companies not only create growth opportunities– they build a workplace where employees can make a meaningful impact”
Dr. Gowri Kulkarni, Head of Medical Operations, MediBuddy: This years’ theme “AccelerateAction” is a call for urgent and decisive steps to eliminate gender inequality and achieve true parity in the workplace. One of the critical challenges women face is re-entering the workforce after career breaks—often met with bias, limited opportunities, and systemic barriers. To ensure their return with dignity, opportunity and equity, we must implement intentional strategies that create a more inclusive professional landscape.
Despite their wealth of experience and expertise, many women struggle to regain their footing in the workforce. Structural reforms such as inclusive hiring policies, reskilling programs, mentorship initiatives, and flexible work arrangements are essential in addressing this gap.
Achieving gender equality is not just an aspiration—it is an urgent necessity. Incremental progress is no longer enough; we need transformative action. When women are empowered to restart their careers, businesses thrive, economies strengthen, and societies move forward. By fostering a truly inclusive ecosystem, we do more than just bridge gaps—we create a future where equal opportunity is a lived reality for all.
Shefali Rai, SVP & Global Head, People & Culture, InMobi & Glance: Accelerating gender equity isn’t just a moral imperative – it’s an economic one. It’s about unlocking the full potential of industries, economies, and society. With women making up 40% of STEM graduates but holding only 14% of STEM jobs, the gap isn’t in talent—it’s in access, opportunity, and the structures that shape career trajectories. If we are serious about realizing India’s vision to become a $7 trillion economy by 2030, we cannot afford to wait for change to happen gradually. We must create it, intentionally and urgently.
At InMobi, we believe that progress starts with mindset. It means reimagining workplaces where women don’t just participate but lead, where career re-entry is seamless, and where mentorship isn’t just guidance but sponsorship that opens doors. It means recognizing that inclusion isn’t a one-time initiative, but an ongoing commitment woven into how we hire, develop, and empower talent. This moment demands more than acknowledgment – it calls for action. At InMobi, we are committed to accelerate – because equity is not just about fairness, it’s about building the future. And the future can’t wait.
Arppna Mehra, Vice President, Human Resources, Honeywell India: As we commemorate International Women’s Day, Honeywell reaffirms its commitment to Accelerate Action towards gender equality. We believe that decisive leadership and measurable commitments are essential to driving transformative change. Through our STEM education initiatives, we are empowering young girls from schools and colleges with the skills needed to thrive in science and technology careers, where women have historically been underrepresented. Our Sustainable & Holistic Community Development programs adopt a comprehensive approach to empowerment, providing rural women with access to education, healthcare, WASH facilities, and livelihood opportunities. We recognize that gender parity cannot be achieved through isolated interventions, but requires addressing interconnected barriers.
Through our partnership with the Society of Women Engineers (SWE), Honeywell actively recruits talented women engineers, ensuring our workforce reflects the diversity we champion externally. This collaboration strengthens our technical capabilities while creating pathways for women in engineering. The cost of inaction affects innovation, productivity, and global competitiveness. AccelerateAction demonstrates our commitment to transformative change that goes beyond metrics to fundamentally reshape opportunities for women in technology and beyond.”
Ponni Carlin, COO, iVP Semi: If we truly want to #AccelerateAction, it’s not just about welcoming women—it’s about fostering an environment where they can thrive. This means implementing mentorship programs that connect emerging talent with experienced leaders, leadership workshops that build confidence, and workplace policies that support real-life responsibilities like caregiving.
Men and women bring unique strengths to the table, and recognizing these differences can lead to stronger, more balanced leadership. Research shows that while men often take risks early, women tend to seek full readiness before stepping into new roles. Yet, when they do, they excel in leadership, particularly in collaboration and accountability.
Men: Be an ally by championing women on your teams, amplifying their voices in meetings, and advocating for their advancement. If you hear someone question the ‘fairness’ of choosing more women, remind them that it’s not about lowering the bar—it’s about recognizing that talent often goes overlooked without a deliberate effort to include it. The more we support and highlight women in leadership, the more we create a culture where they and the organizations they help build can succeed; the cycle of positivity and inclusion will feed itself. By making small, intentional changes, we can create lasting impact, ensuring that opportunities are truly accessible to all. Only then can we claim true progress toward gender parity and create a legacy that benefits everyone.”
Noopur Julka, Senior Director, UST: Gender equality isn’t just a goal, it’s a system that needs a complete overhaul. I am reminded of this frequently when I attend events and engage in discussions with women from diverse backgrounds. The systemic barriers such as unequal pay and lack of childcare and even the school pick-ups at odd hours had shaped their lives!
Equality isn’t about levelling the playing field; it’s about redesigning the game! That’s exactly what we need to do since the world is talking about AI, let me take an analogy and state that we must rewire the invisible algorithms of bias embedded in our societies, workplaces, and mindsets. How about we dismantle the default settings? that favor one gender over another. How about redefining leadership with value traits like empathy and collaboration? Imagine a world where there’s no “female candidate” or “male candidate” and only just a candidate chosen for their skills, vision, and potential but the key is to ensure the definition of skill is not biased.
The systems thinking goes deeper. It’s about addressing the feedback loops that reinforce inequality. For instance, unpaid care work, a global issue disproportionately affecting women feeds into economic disparities, which in turn limit opportunities. I recently read a report from the World Economic Forum that highlighted how investing in childcare infrastructure could add trillions to the global economy. Imagine the ripple effect if we redistributed care responsibilities and valued this work properly. And while we’re at it, let’s create a world where no one asks a woman at a dinner meeting, “Who’s managing your kids if you’re here?”, just like no one would ask a man.
Technology can be a powerful equalizer, but only if we design it inclusively. AI and data analytics can help identify gaps in representation and pay, but we must ensure these tools don’t perpetuate bias. I love how organizations like Girls Who Code are not only teaching girls to code but also challenging the tech industry to build more equitable algorithms.
As Malala Yousafzai once said, “We cannot all succeed when half of us are held back.” This International Women’s Day let’s commit to more than just awareness. Let’s take bold, systemic action. Let’s redesign the blueprint, together, and create a future where equality isn’t an aspiration but a reality. Because, honestly, isn’t it about time?
Romita Mukherjee, Head of People and Culture, Whatfix: Inclusivity is more than just an idea—it’s a mindset that drives meaningful change. Empowerment happens when women and girls have equal opportunities to access knowledge, contribute to innovation, and step into leadership roles. While STEM education serves as a powerful tool for dismantling barriers, gender inequalities persist. Programs like Udaan, the Pragati Scholarship, and the National Education Policy 2020 have broadened access, but true change is achieved when organizations take deliberate action—investing in mentorship, leadership training, and fair workplace practices.
At Whatfix, diversity isn’t just something we support—it’s ingrained in our culture. We cultivate environments where women in tech and STEM aren’t just present but empowered to lead. Through dedicated employee resource groups, career advancement programs, and inclusive workplace policies, we provide the support women need to grow, excel, and make a lasting impact. By championing equal opportunities and challenging biases, we are building a future where success is determined by ability, not gender.
This International Women’s Day, we reinforce our commitment to building a more equitable future. When businesses empower women, industries grow, economies strengthen, and communities prosper.
Chandni Gaglani, Head of Aisle Network: Indian women today are rewriting the rules of leadership, innovation, and ambition. Yet, the path to success whether in entrepreneurship, corporate leadership, or the evolving workforce is still riddled with challenges. From systemic biases to the constant balancing act between personal and professional responsibilities, women continue to push against barriers that should no longer exist. At Aisle, we recognize that meaningful progress isn’t just about breaking ceilings; it’s about reshaping the very foundation on which success is built. The opportunity now is to foster ecosystems where women are not just accommodated but actively empowered, where mentorship, equitable policies, and flexible work environments are now norms and not an exception.
Women-led businesses aren’t just thriving, they’re reshaping entire industries. More organizations are realizing that diversity isn’t a formality; it’s a strategic edge. The real challenge isn’t proving our capability, it is making sure the systems around us evolve as fast as our ambition.
This International Women’s Day let’s move beyond celebration and commit to action. Because when women rise, industries shift, economies expand, and the future becomes more inclusive for all.
Priya Cherian, Head of HR, Walmart IDC: Feeling like you belong can have an incredible effect on your life and career, and at Walmart, everything we do is aligned with our commitment to foster belonging, create opportunities for all and be a Walmart for everyone. In India, we have several initiatives to make career opportunities more attainable for all, such as an upskilling initiative after returning from a career break, and a range of career development and mentorship programs designed to support learning and growth. At Walmart, we envision a workplace where everyone is included and has equal opportunity to thrive and succeed.
Rekha Nair, CHRO, Tredence: The AI industry represents a unique frontier where diversity and inclusion are creating pathways for women to excel. There has been an increased focus on diversity and inclusion in the corporate landscape, which has created opportunities for women to excel in leadership roles such as BFSI, Healthcare, Pharma, etc.
While technological innovation drives our work, we recognize that true progress stems from diverse perspectives. While significant progress has been made, it is equally important to address the persistent challenges. The rapidly evolving AI landscape offers unprecedented opportunities for women to shape technological futures, emphasizing skill, creativity, and potential over demographic constraints.
As responsible organizations, we need to make conscious efforts toward building an equitable workplace where women are not only represented but also empowered. By fostering environments that value merit and provide targeted skill development, we can accelerate women’s participation in this transformative field. This includes investing in mentorship programs, providing equal growth opportunities, and actively challenging traditional workplace norms.
Our commitment is to build ecosystems where talent knows no gender – where women are integral architects of technological progress. By creating an environment where women can thrive, organizational success can be improved while contributing to a more inclusive and innovative future for the entire industry. At the heart of our approach is a belief that skill, innovation, and potential are the true determinants of success.”
Neeta Jha, Vice President, Global Services, Fiserv: My journey in technology and finance has been fueled by curiosity, perseverance, and an unwavering passion for problem-solving—values instilled in me through my early fascination with science and mathematics. This belief has shaped my career, from leading large-scale banking transformations and optimizing core systems to mentoring aspiring technologists and advocating for greater representation of women in tech.
This year’s theme, #AccelerateAction, is a powerful reminder that fostering gender equity in the tech industry requires more than intent—it demands continuous effort, investment, and meaningful opportunities. At Fiserv, we are not just embracing diversity but actively creating pathways for women to excel through hiring, upskilling, and leadership development. At Fiserv, our Women’s Impact Network Employee Resource Group and programs like Leading Women are dedicated to equipping women associates with the skills, networks, and mentorship they need to thrive in the technical space.
To young women stepping into the world of FinTech—believe in your capabilities, embrace challenges as learning opportunities, and chart your own path with confidence. The future of innovation belongs to those who dare to lead, and at Fiserv, we are committed to empowering more women to do just that.
Ruchi Agrawal, Senior Director, Global Services, Fiserv: My first stint with coding was at school, where I enjoyed creating programs in BASIC and PASCAL, enabled by my passion for technology that was kindled by my father’s unwavering support for my studies in science and mathematics. With this foundation, I began my 20-year career as a mainframe coder and then transitioned to developing programs in front-end technologies. At Fiserv, I have not only led the transformation of online banking platforms for clients by deploying automation solutions that drive operational efficiencies, but also spearheaded initiatives to streamline processes and enhance customer experiences. Throughout my career, continuous learning has been my compass, steering my journey from basic programming endeavors to spearheading major technological initiatives.
It is heartening to see how companies today are championing inclusivity and empowering women more than ever before to thrive in the workforce. By advocating for diversity and inclusion in the workplace, these companies are fueling women’s leadership, enabling them to pave the way for a more inclusive and equitable technology industry. To young women and girls – be lifelong learners, stay updated with technology trends, and remember, your potential is limitless.
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