At The Hindu’s Tamil Nadu Women’s Summit 2024, held at the ITC Grand Chola Hotel in Chennai, panelists explored the theme ‘Women in IT: From Coding to Leading’. Eva James, Vice President of Global Service Delivery and Global Hubs at Renault Nissan Technology and Business Centre India Private Ltd, emphasized the importance of implementing gender-neutral policies, such as parental leave for both men and women, to support women’s career advancement.
During her discussion, Ms. James referenced a statement by renowned corporate leader Indira Nooyi about the conflict between women’s biological and career timelines. She also highlighted sociological research on the ‘motherhood penalty and fatherhood bonus,’ noting that women often face career disadvantages like lower earnings, fewer promotions, and ongoing scrutiny of their competence. In contrast, men are frequently perceived as more reliable and are promoted faster when they become fathers.
Ms. James advocated for gender-neutral corporate policies, arguing for parenting leave that applies equally to both men and women. She criticized a policy allowing only women with young children to work from home, stating that such policies undermine inclusivity. “Both fathers and mothers with children under six should have the option to work from home,” she asserted.
Srimathi Shivashankar, Global Head of Edtech Services Business at HCL Tech, questioned the concept of ‘empowering’ women, suggesting that they should be seen as integral to economic growth rather than merely beneficiaries of social justice initiatives. She pointed out that smaller towns are valuable talent hubs, home to many highly qualified women. Shivashankar urged IT and Global Capability Centres (GCCs) to support women by improving infrastructure and creating opportunities in these regions. She proposed that either work should be brought to these talented individuals, or efforts should be made to facilitate their integration into the workforce, potentially giving Tamil Nadu a competitive edge.
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