Artificial Intelligence (AI) is one of the most disruptive tech trends in the modern-day digital business world. Leveraging the trend is no longer a question of ‘good-to-have’. AI is a necessity. According to NITI Aayog, AI has the potential to add 1 trillion dollars to India’s economy by 2035.
But how fair or ubiquitous could a tech trend be, if it does not include women’s equal participation?
Data points indicate women’s lack of participation in the field of AI. For instance, according to the World Economic Forum report 2020, women comprised just 26 percent of data and AI positions in the workforce. There are more statistics on where that came from.
For AI-first data engineering company, Quantiphi, the involvement of women in AI is crucial. “A gender-balanced tech landscape is vital for fostering innovation and developing more inclusive and effective AI solutions.,” explains Ritesh Patel, Co-Founder, of Quantiphi Inc.
Founded in 2013, Quantiphi is actively breaking boundaries by fostering gender diversity and empowering women in artificial intelligence (AI). Through targeted initiatives and policies, Quantiphi is redefining the landscape of AI and technology careers, ensuring women have equal opportunities to thrive and excel.
To know more about Quantiphi’s initiatives to motivate women to foray into AI, Women Entrepreneurs Review spoke to the company’s co-founder, Ritesh. Before founding Quantiphi, Ritesh was a Vice President at Capgemini Financial Services Business Unit - North America, focused on delivery and new business development. Ritesh has deep experience setting up and running distributed teams for development and application management.
Delve into the conversation that explores the underlying factors behind women’s dearth in the tech workforce, the need for a diverse workforce & leadership team in tech, and more. Ritesh also sheds light on the key initiatives driven by Qualtiphi, in terms of empowering women’s participation in the tech workforce and making the field of AI more equitable.
Here are choice excerpts.
The number of women pursuing technical education in India has been on a constant rise. However, this number does not reflect women’s participation in the tech workforce or leadership positions. What is your take on the dearth of women pursuing tech roles, despite possessing the technical abilities?
In India, while many women pursue technical education, several systemic and cultural barriers hinder their progress into tech roles and leadership positions. Traditional family and cultural expectations often place constraints on women, with some elders not fully understanding that young women with degrees or in STEM programmes aspire to more than just traditional roles of being a mother and daughter. These expectations can limit their career opportunities and advancement.
Additionally, factors such as gender biases, lack of mentorship, and limited access to networking opportunities contribute to this gap. Work-life balance challenges and organizational cultures that do not actively support diversity and inclusion can further restrict women's advancement.
To address these issues, organizations must create supportive environments, offer mentorship programmes, and actively promote policies that encourage women's participation and growth in tech roles.
At Quantiphi, we are addressing these challenges through initiatives like our QWEEN Programme, which supports young women seeking advancement in technology. This programme provides scholarships, laptops, and industry knowledge to help bridge the gap between education and career opportunities. By creating a supportive environment and offering practical resources, we aim to empower women to pursue and thrive in tech careers, breaking down the barriers that have traditionally impeded their progress.
Why is it important for the greater good to build a more gender-balanced tech landscape, especially about artificial intelligence (AI)?
A gender-balanced tech landscape is vital for fostering innovation and developing more inclusive and effective AI solutions. Diverse teams bring a variety of perspectives and experiences, which enrich the problem-solving process and enhance our understanding of user needs. In AI, diversity helps to mitigate biases in algorithms and ensures that technologies are equitable and representative of all segments of society. At Quantiphi, we are deeply committed to responsible AI practices that align with our core values of inclusivity and fairness. Our responsible AI structure is designed to prioritize ethical considerations and diverse input at every stage of AI development. This includes implementing rigorous bias-check mechanisms, engaging in continuous stakeholder feedback, and ensuring that our AI solutions are developed with a comprehensive understanding of the diverse world we live in. By promoting a gender-balanced tech landscape, we drive innovation and reinforce our commitment to creating AI technologies that are both effective and equitable.
What are some key policies and programmes implemented by Quantiphi to attract, nurture, and retain female talent in its workforce?
Quantiphi has implemented several key policies and programmes aimed at attracting, nurturing, and retaining female talent. These include:
- Diversity and Inclusion Initiatives: We have established comprehensive diversity and inclusion policies that focus on creating a welcoming environment for women at all levels.
- Flexible Work Arrangements: To help balance work and personal responsibilities, we provide flexible work hours and remote work options.
- Training and Development: We offer targeted training and development opportunities to help women build skills and advance in their careers.
Introduce us to Quantiphi’s ‘QWEEN Programme’. What does the programme aim to achieve and how does it aim to do so?
The QWEEN (Quantiphi Women Empowerment and Engagement Network) Programme is designed to empower and support women in technology roles at Quantiphi. The programme aims to:
- Enhance Skills: Provide targeted training and development opportunities to help women advance their technical and leadership skills.
- Mentorship: Connect women with mentors who can offer guidance and support for career growth.
- Networking: Create opportunities for women to network with peers, industry leaders, and other professionals to foster collaboration and support.
- Leadership Development: Focus on developing leadership skills and preparing women for leadership roles within the organization.
By implementing these initiatives, the QWEEN Programme aims to create a supportive environment that helps women thrive and achieve their full potential.
In your work with empowering women in the field of AI, what are some of the most common challenges that you encounter? How do you overcome these challenges?
Some common challenges in empowering women in AI include:
- Bias and Stereotypes: Persistent biases and stereotypes about women's capabilities in tech can undermine their confidence and opportunities. Overcoming this requires proactive efforts to challenge and change these perceptions through education and awareness.
- Lack of Representation: Women are often underrepresented in AI roles, which can limit their access to role models and mentors. Addressing this involves creating visibility for successful women in AI and providing mentorship and networking opportunities.
- Work-Life Balance: The demands of AI roles can sometimes create challenges for women managing work and personal responsibilities. Offering flexible work arrangements and supportive policies helps mitigate these challenges.
To overcome these challenges, we focus on creating an inclusive culture, offering targeted support and resources, and actively promoting women’s achievements in the field.
Can you tell us about the impact created by Quantiphi’s initiatives and programmes aimed at fostering gender diversity in the field of AI?
Quantiphi’s initiatives have had a significant impact on fostering gender diversity in AI. Some key outcomes include:
- Enhanced Skills and Career Growth: Women participating in our programmes have reported improved skills, confidence, and career advancement opportunities.
- Stronger Networks: The establishment of support networks has helped women build valuable connections and receive guidance from experienced professionals.
Tell us about Quantiphi’s next plan for action in terms of empowering more women to foray into the field of AI?
Quantiphi plans to further empower women in AI through several key actions:
- Expansion of the QWEEN Programme: We will enhance and expand the QWEEN Programme to reach more women and offer additional resources and support.
- Partnerships and Outreach: We will collaborate with educational institutions and industry organizations to promote AI careers among women and provide opportunities for internships and training.
- Innovation Challenges and Hackathons: We will organize events that encourage women to participate in AI innovation challenges and hackathons, fostering creativity and showcasing their talents.
- Continuous Improvement: We will continually assess and refine our policies and programmes based on feedback and outcomes to ensure they effectively support women in AI.
We aim to further increase the representation of women in AI and support their continued growth and success in the field.
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