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In her short video message, Isha also urged young girls to opt for science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) and build a career in these fields. “We are living in a time with exponential changes; the world is changing, the world is innovating and if we are to survive in this fast-changing world we too must innovate. Already the way we work has changed and it will further change. And so, for everyone present here today be ready to embrace the change. Be prepared to take up science and technology as a career because science and technology hold the key for the future. The majority of future jobs are going to be in those streams. So break the shackles of traditions, challenge yourself and be the changemakers,” she said.
In her speech, Isha further highlighted the gender divide at the workplace and emphasised on the need for equality and promoting more women to join the workforce, especially in technology which is the need of the hour. “Sadly though, even today there is a gender divide in India’s tech workforce. According to NASSCOM, only 36 percent of India’s tech workforce are women. Belief in age-old dogmas and societal stereotypes such as women are best suited as teachers and jobs involving soft skills. A similar disturbing aspect is the drop in the number of women in science, technology, engineering, and maths (STEM) focussed roles. Data from the World Bank shows that women make up 43 percent of total STEM graduates in India but account for only 14 percent of all scientists, engineers, and technologists. India has favourable demographics to make tremendous progress in this era of the 4th industrial revolution also known as the digital era and emerge as a world leader. If we were to drive ahead with our demographics, then both men and women should attain their fullest potential. A male-dominated STEM or ICT landscape where women are underrepresented will rob India of its opportunity to rule the world. We have missed the first two industrial revolutions and we are merely catching up with the third. This era of the fourth industrial revolution has allowed us to make amends. We must rise to the occasion, we must exert ourselves, and we must excel otherwise we run the risk of becoming irrelevant. So for India to shine, more and more girls, the women of tomorrow, must enter the realm of STEM and opt for technology as a career because if we are to build the India of our dreams, technology will be our driving force and both men and women in science and tech must fire all cylinders,” Isha added.
Addressing the gender gap issue at the workplace and the need for inclusivity, Isha also said that women employees should be nurtured early-on in their careers. “They need to be shown that their growth can play out in a company and how it will go a long way to help the company,” she added.
She concluded by saying that to encourage more women to take up STEM and ICT, we also need to strengthen our curriculum and ensure they are unbiased. “Together we can build a future where innovation is driven by diversity and our daughters are given equal opportunities to become the leaders of tomorrow,” she said.
For the unversed, Isha leads Reliance Retail and she is also a mother to twins– Krishna and Aadiya Piramal. She is married to businessman Anand Piramal.