Get women to succeed

There are four women CEOs among the top 200 Indian IT companies. In terms of
ratio, it's globally comparable. The fairer sex head 10 of the Fortune 500
companies.

One of the biggest challenges of the near future, not just for vendors, but
perhaps much more for the solution providers and channel partners, will be
availability of manpower. At a time when IT is growing in smaller cities and
towns, where the role of solution providers is going to be important, the
pressure to retain good people will be even higher.

The population balance in the country is about almost 927 females for every
1,000 males. The ratio is 48 to 52. Therefore, ideally, there should be almost
40 to 45 percent women in all workplaces. But we know the actual picture is far
from this. Most workplaces, and I am talking about the IT, BPO/ITeS, and telecom
industry, the female representation is not more than 15 to 20 percent.

But if more women become managers or team leaders, there are very high
chances that this ratio will be changed. This essentially means that a big
population of women, which has the potential to work but is not doing so
currently, will consider employment and career seriously.

A successful career woman can surely be a source of inspiration for many of
us who do not believe that there is much opportunity for women in the
professional world. Young and budding ladies will look up to women holding
senior positions, and their confidence on a career and success will be
strengthened. Women in senior positions are also examples of how office and
family life can be balanced.

It has been widely seen that male selection panel members in job interviews
have reservations when considering female candidates for employment. The reasons
are many-some genuine and some unfounded. Bring women into selection process,
and they will give a completely different perspective to the interview and the
analysis of the women candidates.

It is too early to predict, but I believe that channel partners and solution
providers should take womanpower more seriously.