Towards A Gender Equitable World: Unveiling Diversity in DeepTech

India’s emergence as a global DeepTech hub is a remarkable growth story. However, amidst this rapid progress lies a critical blind spot – the glaring lack of equal gender representation and participation of women in the tech workforce.

The statistics paint a stark picture. Only 70% of Indian women have access to primary education and a mere 3% reach senior leadership roles in the corporate world. This gender divide is a challenge we can no longer afford to overlook. Excluding half the talent pool will severely hamper India’s DeepTech goals and dreams of becoming a USD 5 Tn economy. To highlight some of the glaring challenges, lay out strategies, and provide a blueprint to build a better tomorrow, Pure Storage ideated on and partnered with Zinnov to bring out this timely study.

The Need for a Multi-Stakeholder Approach

While government initiatives like Digital India have catalyzed growth, piecemeal efforts won’t suffice to solve this systemic, multi-dimensional issue. To bridge this gap, we need a holistic, multi-stakeholder approach.

1. Academia: For starters, promoting STEM education for girls from an early age and normalizing women’s participation in technical fields should be a priority area for policymakers. Simultaneously, academic institutions must enhance efforts to nurture and retain this talent pool through robust mentorship programs and growth opportunities.
2. Corporates: Corporates and the organizational leaders have to go beyond tokenism and build truly inclusive cultures. From ensuring pay parity and sponsorship for career growth to overhauling archaic workplace policies, consistent actions are needed. Even at progressive firms, the representation drops drastically from junior to senior levels.

Global Capability Centers (GCCs) have made progress, with women constituting 28% of their workforce. However, representation drops drastically at senior levels, with only 6.7% of women at the Executive level. Clearly, more needs to be done.

Dismantling Barriers, Embracing Change

Of course, the road ahead is rife with deeply entrenched barriers and challenges. Within organizations, unconscious biases and cultures resistant to change pose major hurdles. At the societal level, patriarchal mindsets and gender stereotypes discourage women’s participation in STEM, limiting their opportunities from an early age.

Countering these barriers will require consistent efforts on multiple fronts:

1. Companies must implement robust diversity and inclusion programs, focusing on unbiased hiring practices, equal pay, and creating a supportive work environment.
2. Mentorship and sponsorship initiatives can help women navigate career challenges and break through the glass ceiling.
3. At the policy level, governments can incentivize companies to adopt gender-friendly policies and practices.
4. Tax benefits, subsidies, and recognition programs can encourage organizations to prioritize gender diversity.
5. Public awareness campaigns and media initiatives can help challenge stereotypes and promote positive role models for women in STEM.

Gender diversity is no longer just a check-box exercise, but an economic and technological mandate for the nation’s future.

Accelerating Progress and the Way Forward

The winds of change are blowing, with the study projecting women’s participation in the DeepTech workforce rising to 27.3% by 2028. But we must accelerate this momentum through collaborative efforts across all quarters – from prioritizing STEM education for girls in school curricula to leadership tracks for women in the corporate world.

To better understand the current landscape and chart a course for a more inclusive future, thisPure Storage-Zinnov study titled, “Towards a Gender Equitable World: Unveiling Diversity in DeepTech,” deep dives into the gender divide. The study examines the talent pipeline, explores organizational interventions, and provides actionable insights for fostering a more inclusive and prosperous DeepTech ecosystem in India.

Download the study now to understand how viewing gender diversity as a technological and economic imperative, rather than just a diversity agenda, is crucial for the nation’s growth.

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