Imagine a world where every app, device, and service we use are born from a single viewpoint, reducing the vast tapestry of human experience to a narrow outlook. Now, envision a different world—a vibrant digital ecosystem fueled by diverse minds crafting innovative solutions that resonate with everyone. This is not a distant dream; it is an achievable reality. The key lies in embracing diversity in technology, starting with half of the world’s population, women. This is not just a matter of social justice but also a critical driver for innovation and comprehensive solutions.

As India aims to harness its demographic dividend, with the working-age population projected to surpass 70% by 2030, the underrepresentation of women in the workforce is a challenge that must be urgently addressed.

India’s digital progress has been significantly driven by the increasing participation of women in the tech sector. However, a Teamlease report reveals a notable gender disparity, with 3.61 million men compared to only 2.05 million women in the industry as of 2024.

This imbalance stems from numerous challenges faced by women, including lower educational enrollment, lack of quality opportunities, the gender pay gap, safety concerns, societal norms, discriminatory workplace practices, and insufficient upskilling and reskilling opportunities. Overcoming these barriers is crucial to ensure a steady rise in the number of women entering or re-entering the tech workforce, thereby fully leveraging their potential and contributing to India’s economic growth.

The Power of Diverse Teams

Diverse teams bring a wealth of perspectives, experiences, and ideas, which are essential for problem-solving and innovation. According to a recent McKinsey report, diversity in executive teams greatly boosts financial performance. Companies with more women leaders are consistently more likely to do better than their peers. In 2015, companies with high women representation had a 15% higher chance of outperforming which increased to 21% in 2018, 25% in 2020, and 39% in 2023.

These benefits also extend beyond financial gains and into various crucial areas such as:

• Boosting Creativity and Innovation: Diverse teams bring varied viewpoints that can lead to groundbreaking innovations. This is because diverse teams consider a wider array of possibilities and challenges, leading to more robust and effective solutions. Women often approach problems differently than their male counterparts. They may identify hidden biases in algorithms and challenge the status quo, fostering a more creative problem-solving environment. This diversity in problem-solving approaches can result in more comprehensive and creative solutions.
• Designing for everyone Women make up nearly half of the global population, yet they are significantly underrepresented in tech creation. A 2023 UNESCO report states that women hold only 28% of the world’s researchers in computer and mathematical sciences. This lack of representation introduces a bias in the design and testing of products and services. For example, consider voice assistants. A study by Algorithmic Justice League revealed gender bias in voice recognition software, with a higher error rate for women’s voices. This can be frustrating and exclusionary for female users. Having more women in design teams can help identify and address such biases, leading to voice assistants that understand everyone equally.
• 360 Degree View on User Impact: Technology should be accessible and beneficial to all but it can have unwanted consequences when the user impact is not fully understood. For example, algorithmic bias and unrealistic representation on social media platforms can exacerbate mental health issues, particularly for young girls. Women in tech can help develop features that promote positive online experiences and identify potential mental health risks associated with excessive social media use
• Inspiring the Next Generation: The lack of female role models in tech discourages young girls from pursuing careers in this field. A 2022 PWC report highlights that only 26% of computer science graduates in India are women. When women see themselves reflected in leadership positions within the tech industry, it sends a powerful message. The future of technology depends on attracting and retaining the best talent. Encouraging more girls to pursue STEM fields creates a robust pipeline of diverse individuals ready to shape the future of tech.
• Understanding the Evolving Needs of Users: Technology is constantly evolving, and user needs change rapidly. Women can bring a keen eye to identify these emerging needs and develop solutions that cater to a diverse user base. Women are often underserved by traditional financial institutions, but women in FinTech can develop innovative solutions like mobile banking platforms or microfinance options that cater specifically to their financial needs, promoting financial inclusion for a wider population. Similarly, in the field of educational technology (EdTech), women can design personalized learning platforms that address different learning styles and cater to the specific needs of girls in STEM education, ensuring that educational opportunities are more inclusive and tailored.
• Ethical Considerations in Technology: As technology becomes more powerful, ethical considerations become paramount. Women can bring a different perspective to discussions about bias in algorithms, data privacy, and the potential societal impact of new technologies.

Creating an inclusive environment within an organization is not a one-time initiative but a continuous journey that demands dedication, strategic planning, and active participation at every level. From entry-level employees to top-tier executives, fostering inclusion involves embedding practices and policies that ensure every individual feels valued and empowered to contribute their best.

As we stand on the brink of a digital revolution, the full participation of women in technology will be the catalyst for groundbreaking advancements and a balanced, more empathetic approach to tech development. By dismantling the barriers that hinder women’s entry and progression in tech, we can unleash a wave of creativity and innovation that benefits everyone.