Preparing Next-Gen Women Tech Leaders

While women have made tremendous progress in the male-dominated tech industry, a lot of work still needs to be done to ensure that the progress is not fleeting

- Aruna Jayanthi

THE TECH AND consulting industry is not new to women at the top and, over the past decade, there have been several companies in India, globally and, especially, multinational companies in India-that have had women in CEO and other Csuite positions. Women who have made a difference in the highly competitive global environment, and have stood out as visible role models. Even though it is widely acknowledged that organisations with higher levels of diversity and with women on their Boards demonstrate superior performance, women still fill only a small percentage of leadership positions; partly because of organisational dynamics and partly because there are just not enough women rising fast enough through the ranks. The net result is that there is a real shortage of women at the top, and a lot more needs to be done to rectify the situation.

There is one point that stands out in this industry and defines the expectations of any leader here: the global nature of the work. For most tech companies in India, the work is across multiple continents and, consequently, creates a 24/7, incessant, 'always on' and demanding work schedule. There are projects to manage, clients to communicate with, colleagues to collaborate with... and all that across multiple time zones and cultures. Anyone who has risen up through the ranks with hands-on technology or consulting experience knows the work is often travel intensive at all levels and roles. While all the companies focus on work-life balance, the conscientious leader does encounter the difficulty in finding that balance without it affecting either her work or personal life. And at some point, she may even have to make the difficult choice of taking a pause from work or not take on too much of a challenge.