Going DigitALL

Michael Hankey, U.S. Consul General, Mumbai (right), speaks at the “DigitALL: Innovation and Technology for Gender Equality” event. (Photograph courtesy Nicolette DSouza)

Over the past decade, women’s exclusion from the digital world has cost developing countries nearly $1 trillion in economic losses. A recent report by UN Women, Gender Snapshot 2022, presents a concerning assessment of the digital divide’s impact on women. Experts warn that these economic losses could go up to $1.5 trillion by 2025 if no action is taken to encourage gender parity through greater digital participation.

Many factors contribute to this gap. Recent studies have highlighted online violence affecting nearly 38 percent of women, as a major barrier to their online presence. To address these issues, the U.S. Consulate General Mumbai’s program, “DigitALL: Innovation and Technology for Gender Equality,” aimed to promote women’s economic empowerment and workplace inclusion. This networking event was held in collaboration with the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII).

Encouraging access

The CII Western Region Indian Women Network (IWN) organized the interaction in Mumbai to connect its stakeholders and improve access to digital tools in the workplace. The CII, which works closely with industry members and academia across various sectors, established the IWN as a platform for women’s professional advancement. One of their key focus areas is diversity in technology.

The event, attended by approximately 30 women professionals, featured speakers like Ranjana Maitra, co-chair, CII IWN Western Region and Geetika Kambli, co-founder of Future Factory, a business development consultancy. A panel discussion featured Ritu Anand, senior vice president and chief leadership and diversity officer at Tata Consultancy Services, and Tanuja Gomes, co-founder and CEO, Furtados School of Music. The discussions highlighted the importance of acquiring knowledge and skills necessary for career advancement in the workplace.

Tech for equality

Innovation and technology are pivotal tools in advancing gender equality, offering new avenues for empowerment, inclusivity, diversity and opportunity. “By harnessing digital innovation in the Indian industry,” says Maitra, “we can bridge gaps, challenge all biases and, more importantly, close the existing gap between academia and industry.”

Michael Hankey, U.S. Consul General, Mumbai, and senior industry representatives emphasized the importance of workplace diversity, especially in executive positions, for achieving better business results. The program sought to promote innovation among women by creating a supportive ecosystem that addresses both technical skills and systemic barriers in the technology and innovation sectors. Through these efforts, it aimed to empower women to assume leadership roles and drive change in the digital economy.

Paromita Pain is an associate professor of Global Media Studies at the University of Nevada, Reno.

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