Corporate sector witnesses women leaders soar from 19% to 37% in 3 years

Women's day 2024: India's corporate sector is witnessing a surge of women rising to leership positions, with a notable increase in hiring of women at mid-management to senior levels.

In 2021, women constituted 19 per cent of hires for se positions, a figure that rose to 26 per cent by 2022. This momentum is reflected in representation of women in senior leership roles among participating companies, reaching 37 per cent in 2023, according to experts citing DivHERsity Benchmarking Report.

India surpasses global norm

Businesses led by women not only contribute to diversity but also gain a strategic edge in understanding expanding female consumer base. According to Grant Thornton's International Business Report, India stands out on global stage with a 36 per cent representation of women in senior management roles within mid-market businesses, exceeding global average by 4 per cent.

From education and tech to automobiles, fashion, real estate, travel, and banking, women have taken centre stage. Leers like Sudha Murthy and Kiran Mazumdar Shaw have me ir mark, showcasing diverse impact women are having across sectors.

IndiGo, with a 44 per cent female workforce, stands out with one of highest percentages of female pilots globally and an all-female cabin crew.

Breaking family business norms

shift in attitudes toward passing on family businesses to daughters is evident, with examples like Isha Ambani contributing majorly to growth of Reliance Group. Roshni Nar, heing HCL Technologies, stands amongst one of India's wealthiest women, challenging tritional norms.

infusion of gender diversity in corporate leership has become a driving force behind creativity, innovation, and inclusive work environments. Shalini Lambah, CEO of Migrate World, DUDigital Global, highlighted how women leers bring invaluable skills, fresh perspectives, and cultural diversity to enhance problem-solving and foster empatic leership.

"Women leers bring diverse perspectives, empathy, and strong problem-solving skills to table. ir emotional intelligence drives success, and y uniquely dress challenges, potentially narrowing gender pay gap and promoting equality," Lambah ded.

Women set tech standards

Despite progress, a leership gap persists, prompting organisations to refine policies and structures. Lynette D’Silva, VP and He-HR Regions, Amdocs, stressed importance of inclusive hiring practices and awareness-building to enhance diversity, equity, and inclusion.

"As an equal-opportunity employer, our focus is on recruiting, developing, and retaining diverse talent. Our strategy stresses inclusive hiring, fostering belonging, and ensuring pay equity. We're making good progress, particularly in tech roles, where women excel in software testing (45 per cent) and product management (35 per cent), setting new standards for inclusivity," D’Silva said.

What do women bring to corporate culture?

Women leers play a vital role in identifying opportunities and challenges, contributing to more innovative and effective teams. Ekta Bhaskar, Global He – Corporate Communication, BLS International, highlights collaborative ethos and commitment to employee development that women leers bring to table.

"Women leers emphasise collaboration, communication, and inclusivity, fostering trust, respect, and teamwork. y prioritise relationship-building and invest in personal and professional growth of ir teams," Bhaskar ded.

As more women ascend to leership positions, corporate world is witnessing emergence of a more dynamic, inclusive, and forward-thinking future.