19 MAY2022from Sheryl Sandberg of Facebook to Susan Wojcicki of YouTube, women have brought their own style, ideas and inspirations to the table. This could be because they haven't been conditioned to look at bottom lines and business outcomes only. Women bring the perspective of design and usability, experience and interface, and inclusivity and sustainability, which has proven to be the game changer ever so often. Imagine using computer without graphical icons or symbols that are integral to both Windows and Apple computers; this was the work of a certain Susan Kare.Bringing more women into the tech industry is not a gender issue, rather, it is a solution for a number of growing problems. First, there is a scarcity of skilled industry-ready professionals in the world and with new startups coming up every day, a new army of working professionals will be needed and the women should be able to fill this gap. Second, the need for new ideas to meet global problems can be easily met by bringing a different perspective to the table. We are beginning to see more women take important roles in the startups and also starting their own venture. With proper support, women entrepreneurs could also be leading the unicorns of tomorrow and employing armies of their own. This is no longer a desirable outcome, it is a dire necessity. And it is not just about the established STEM roles, it is the new, exciting innovations as well. If we could just look at gamification of learning, for example, we could look at gamification of education, make learning fun, make sure that that phone in your hand is doing far more than just delivering telephony services. This could be a path-breaking innovation and could have applications in healthcare, education, corporate, governance and military and women could surely be at the forefront due to the heavy reliance on user experience and design. India as a knowledge-driven civilization that has celebrated, revered, recognized and allowed women to reach the highest levels of potential being in politics, sports, music, arts, science, technology and others. The list of outstanding examples of Indian women achieving their creative potential and the highest levels of leadership is endless and it keeps growing with each passing year. To achieve the full potential of the Indian digital dream, we need every individual working towards it, and that means every woman too. In that regard, we have to ensure greater participation of women in leadership roles, who can then be role models to other women and inspire them. There is a critical need to increase the percentage of women in STEM from 15 to 30 percent in the next five years and then to 50 percent by 2031. Initiatives like Coding Girls will go a long way in achieving that coupled with better technology adoption in women, which can only be achieved with a change of perception at a societal level. We need to make technology so pervasive that everyone can access it at any time and then and only then can women realise their full potential. The opportunity for women is there, and it isn't anyone's to give but they will need the tools to access those opportunities and to deliver the best that they can. A march towards a self-reliant India is not possible without equal participation from women, walking alongside men and maybe, this time, leading them. BRINGING MORE WOMEN INTO THE TECH INDUSTRY IS NOT A GENDER ISSUE, RATHER, IT IS A SOLUTION FOR A NUMBER OF GROWING PROBLEMS
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