8 MAY2024IN FOCUSIN FOCUSIsha M Ambani, Director of Reliance Industries Limited, emphasized the need for systematic change to increase women's participation in science and technology at the Girls in Information and Communications Technology (ICT) Day India 2024 in New Delhi, highlighting the gender gap in India's tech workforce.Isha Ambani emphasized the need for innovation in India's tech workforce, highlighting the gender divide. Despite progress, only 36 percent of India's tech workforce is women, mainly due to societal stereotypes. She addressed India's demographic advantage for the Fourth Industrial Revolution and called for more girls to pursue STEM careers. She emphasized the importance of women in leadership roles for innovation and holistic development, focusing on the need for societal development.Isha stated, "While women make up 36 percent of India's tech workforce, their presence drops drastically as one looks up the corporate hierarchy. For instance, only 7 percent of women held executive-level positions, only 13 percent were working in director-level roles, and a mere 17 percent held mid-managerial positions. Even the new-age start-up ecosystem is grappling with the problem of the dismal participation of women. Limited access to funding and resources for female-led start-ups and business continues to contribute to the under-representation of women in leadership roles." EPIA, a women's healthcare early-age startup, conducted a study on egg-freezing preferences, concerns, and demographics, providing valuable insights for potential consumers. The research mentions that egg freezing is becoming increasingly popular among women aged 35-40 in the IT sector for family planning flexibility, with 35 percent of inquiries appearing from the knowledge and IT-related fields, 30 percent from law and healthcare, 20 percent from hospitality, retail, aviation, and 15 percent from the media sector. Couples are also exploring egg freezing as a proactive measure for future family planning.In order to preserve fertility until they are ready for parenthood, 30 percent of couples are opting for egg freezing as a proactive family planning measure, specifically for women dealing with conditions like PCOD or PCOS, as it can alleviate future aspects. Preemptive egg freezing offers a solution for 75 percent of PCOS-afflicted women experiencing infertility as preserving quality eggs at a young age mitigates the impact of PCOS-related fertility issues. The report highlights an increasing interest in egg freezing among women aged 25 to 32, with 40 percent of monthly inquiries coming from this age group. The primary reason for pursuing egg freezing is finding the right partner, and showcasing control over one's reproductive future.Egg freezing is not just for women before childbirth, it is actively sought by middle to high-income individuals, particularly those in their early 30s, who want flexibility and peace of mind. The 35-40 age group is most active in egg-freezing cycles. ISHA AMBANI URGE FOR SYSTEMATIC CHANGE FOR WOMEN IN TECHEPIA FINDS EGG FREEZING IS POPULAR AMONG WOMEN IN IT SECTOR
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