New age Indian startups are now prioritising hiring more women into the technology and product industry. According to recent data by Nasscom, women make up 35 per cent of India’s technology industry. Companies like Wakefit, Urban Company, Mpower Financing, EnKash and Simplilearn are looking to accelerate the hiring of more women in order to diversify the workforce. These startups have also introduced a number of initiatives to increase women’s participation in the industry.
“Our business represents a diverse marketplace and hence we are able to attract diverse talent. Our focus is more on the retention part - through driving success stories of women leaders in tech and product roles, giving access to role models, and building structured career development plans for female talent,” Neha Mathur, senior vice president of people success, Urban Company, told Economic Times in a recent interview.
Similarly, Wakefit’s company leaders are requesting their talent acquisition teams to ensure a 50-50 ratio while hiring candidates. Currently, women make up a quarter of the Wakefit tech team. Mpower Financing has made a similar recruitment effort apart from initiating sensitisation programmes to endure bias-free hiring and interviews. Simplilearn has introduced remote working options and found that it helps female employees. EnKash has started a returnship programme aimed at bringing women technologists back to the workforce.
*Image used for representative purpose.