There are several debates on seeing woman differently or equal. The objective of this article is not to address any of those. It is how an organization can harness the contribution and enable woman. One of the key challenges, is to address time utilization, effectively (skill part is taken). Important limitation for an woman is time, due to various balancing acts. It could also apply to man who faces similar situation.
Individual’s Role:It is the individual who needs to strive hard to bring out one’s potential. At the same time, most of the effort is from the individuals to create the environment and support system. It is the other 30% dependency on the external environment and support system.
It is also about prioritization of work and compartmentalizing. Planning is very essential. Plan the high priority work and identify the rest. Learn to delegate tasks that you have mastered, to groom people.
Organization's Role & Support:
1. Organization’s culture should be towards harnessing technical people,if a company has depth and breadth of product portfolio. It should provide, immense opportunities for anybody to learn and contribute. It should provide various facets in the technical paths that one could choose to operate depending on individual’s strength and passion (from hard core technical programmer to solution architect).
2. Some of the organizations have facilities like work from home, bringing back women who have taken a break, etc
3. Observation – Lot of recognition should be in place for women, in general employees towards technical contribution.
Organization’s Vision for Women in India:
Org. needs to chalk out the expectation from Women. Meaning, what would it like Women, as part of diversity deliver. “Creating Women Entrepreneurs. “
In next 2 years, these Women Entrepreneurs can setup “Baby Org” each focusing on specific portfolio.
It is no longer worthwhile to create hierarchy and worry on progressions in an Organization.
How part - methods
a. Create and pressurize women to network (men & women). This can be done by creating forums for participating, presenting. It has to be learn-fearlessly kind of environment. Due to Indian culture, some women are slow in responding in such scenarios. Company need to create a fearless environment to get them involved.
b. Mentors (men & women) need to take active role towards influencing women. The diversity perspective from men is also equally important for women to understand. Assist in utilizing existing trainings effectively. There are lots of training available, provide directions to women at each stage towards required training.
c. Shadow mentoring is one technique that creates effective exposure.
i. Ex:- Every customer interaction, a woman from the team has to be chosen to learn through observation. After certain period, she can handle independently.
ii. Mandate field trips to rural areas of identified places of challenges or existing solutions – like exposing to micro-financing – Grameen Bank, technology usage in farming.
d. Get more Women participate in Open Source, Standard Committees like IEEE, StorageTech
e. Since technology is changing rapidly, need to create a momentum and focus for women to ramp up. Sometimes, even when one gets into depth of a certain domain, there is always a lack of breadth exposure.
f. Exposure on how various women have contributed technically (Innovation, solution space, product development) across the Industry
g. Create newsletter for women on summary of emerging trends, challenges in the technology and solutions on some of the challenges, an introduction to someone successful at Org, outside Org or other industries. Specifically paper edition(recycled paper ), since women can read during commute or wait time :-).
