This episode delves into the intersection of Indian and Nordic leadership through the lens of lived experience. Our guest is Vidya Basarkod, former Director of Ramboll in India. With over four decades of experience in civil and structural engineering, Vidya has broken barriers in a traditionally male-dominated field—both in India and Scandinavia.
Together, we explore:
- The cultural contrasts between Indian and Nordic leadership styles
- What it means to be “the first and only” woman in the room
- How engineering and infrastructure sectors can become more inclusive
- Lessons learned from working within a global company like Ramboll
- Advice for the next generation of women in STEM and leadership
Join us as we navigate leadership across borders and break new ground for the future of inclusive workplaces.
India has one of the largest youth populations in the world, yet digital accessibility remains a challenge—only 54% of households have computers, and nearly 40% lack access to one. However, with 88% of the population using smartphones, mobile technology presents an opportunity to bridge this gap.
In this episode, The Rise of Gen Z Girls in Tech, we sit down with Mayank, the visionary behind Coding Pro, to explore how AI-driven learning and innovative mobile applications are ensuring equal access to coding education for students, regardless of their background.
We discuss the impact of social norms on STEM careers, the challenges of parental hesitation and cultural expectations, and how AI-powered tools are helping families embrace digital education. Mayank shares how Coding Pro’s scholarships and mentorship programs are supporting underprivileged girls, fostering a future where young women take the lead in tech.
We also explore Iraaj, India’s first humanoid robot, and its role in equipping students with real-world skill and
the emergence of AI-powered universities and Techno Schools that will redefine learning over the next decade.
This conversation is about breaking barriers, reshaping education, and preparing India’s youth—especially Gen Z girls—for the digital revolution.
In this episode, we sit down with Sunita R. Cherian, Senior Vice President – Group Human Resources at Wipro Limited, to explore how the company is leading the way in Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DEIB) in the tech industry.
With over two decades of expertise in Human Capital Strategy, Sustainability, and Diversity & Inclusion, Sunita has been instrumental in shaping Wipro’s DEI initiatives, including the Women of Wipro platform. As a former Chair of NASSCOM’s National D&I Council, she has been a driving force behind inclusion efforts at Wipro and beyond.
Recognized as a DEI Lighthouse by the World Economic Forum, Wipro sets industry benchmarks through impactful policies, leadership programs, and gender diversity initiatives.
What we cover in this episode:
- What it means to be a DEI Lighthouse and how Wipro has set itself apart in advancing diversity in tech
- How Wipro integrates DEI into its core business strategy, ensuring it goes beyond corporate rhetoric
- The company’s efforts to accelerate women’s leadership in tech through mentorship, sponsorship, and leadership programs
- How Wipro designs inclusive hiring and talent development programs to support women and underrepresented groups
- The policies and programs that have driven intersectionality, supporting cultural, socio-economic, and neurodiverse inclusion
- How Wipro is leveraging AI and technology to advance diversity and inclusion
- Key lessons for Nordic companies and how they can adopt best practices from Wipro’s DEI journey
- Sunita’s top action for individuals and organizations to create sustainable gender diversity in the workplace
This conversation is packed with valuable insights from one of the leading voices in DEI in tech. Whether you’re a business leader, HR professional, or DEI advocate, this episode will provide actionable takeaways on building more inclusive and equitable workplaces.
Listen here:
India has built one of the world’s strongest pipelines for women in STEM and technology, yet in the Nordics, where gender equality is a global benchmark, female representation in IT and tech leadership remains a challenge.
In this episode, Sunita Mohanty, Senior Vice President and Chief Investment Officer at Invest India, shares insights on what’s driving India’s success and what the Nordics can learn. With experience leading diversity and workforce transformation at Google Singapore, Sunita discusses the key policies, corporate initiatives, and cultural shifts that have shaped India’s growing female tech workforce.
We explore:
- How India became a global leader in female STEM graduates
- The role of government policies like Vigyan Jyoti and WISE-KIRAN in bridging gender gaps in tech
- Lessons from India’s structured digital skilling programs and corporate-government partnerships
- The future of women in AI, quantum computing, biotech, and emerging tech fields
- Sunita’s personal journey and the impact of mentorship and leadership in creating lasting change
This conversation highlights the importance of mentorship, policy support, and workplace inclusion in building a more diverse and innovative tech sector.
Listen now to understand how gender diversity in technology can be strengthened worldwide:
In this latest podcast, we’re joined by the inspiring Parul Soni, an advocate for gender equality and founder of the Association of Business Women in Commerce and Industry (ABWCI). Together, we dive into some of the most pressing challenges and transformative opportunities for women in business and industry.
Here’s what we explored:
We’ve delved into these topics and more in our latest podcast episode.
Listen here: https://lnkd.in/d7yc4XBU
Podcast Episode: Policy Impact on Gender Diversity – A Conversation with Seema Arora
In this thought-provoking episode, we dive deep into the challenges and opportunities of achieving gender diversity in India’s workforce with Seema Arora, Deputy Director General of the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII). Supported by funding from the Nordic Council, this episode unpacks the critical intersections of policy, industry collaboration, public awareness, and global learning in fostering gender inclusion.
Policy and Gender Diversity
India boasts a higher percentage of employable women (52.8%) than men, yet women’s labor force participation remains staggeringly low at 32.7% compared to 76.8% for men (2023). What role have government policies played in shaping this disparity? Are there recent or upcoming policies poised to change the landscape for gender inclusion in the workforce? Seema shares her insights on these pressing questions.
Industry Collaboration
Despite only 3.2% of Fortune 100 companies having women in top leadership roles, over 40% of working women in India aspire to break the glass ceiling. CII is driving change through strategic collaborations with Indian industries to build robust pipelines for women leaders. In this episode, we discuss the actionable steps companies can take to bridge the gap and empower women to ascend to leadership positions.
Public Awareness and Capacity Building
The CII Centre for Leadership is at the forefront of promoting gender-responsive workplaces through initiatives like upskilling women, scaling women-led businesses, and conducting gender audits. However, with only 15% of C-suite roles in India held by women as of 2022, the road ahead is long. Seema highlights the challenges and success stories from campaigns that have driven measurable impacts on gender diversity.
Global Learning
While women constitute 39% of senior management positions in India, surpassing the global average of 31%, representation drops significantly at managerial (18.59%) and C-suite levels (15.3%). What can Indian companies learn from global best practices, and how does CII enable cross-cultural knowledge exchange to address these gaps?
Key Takeaways
Seema concludes with actionable recommendations for individuals and organizations striving to support sustainable gender diversity. From adopting inclusive practices in the workplace to championing gender-responsive leadership, her advice serves as a call to action for all stakeholders.
Join us for this inspiring conversation as we explore the path to a more inclusive and equitable workforce in India.
This podcast is funded by the Nordic Council and reflects the ongoing commitment to fostering gender diversity and collaboration between India and the Nordics.
We're excited to announce our first podcast episode featuring Ritu Kumar, Head of P&O EDC (Global People Services) at COWI India!
With her vast expertise in HR and organizational development, Ritu has been a driving force behind people-centric initiatives, fostering inclusivity, and empowering diverse talent in the workplace. Her leadership journey is an inspiration, and her insights on sustainable gender diversity are a must-listen!
Join us on a deep-dive exploration of the obstacles faced by companies in recruiting women in India through our upcoming podcast series. We’ll be examining the unique challenges, cultural barriers, and innovative solutions that are shaping the industry's landscape and working to attract more women to the workforce.
As India's industries continue to grow rapidly due to economic development and modernization, significant challenges in recruiting and retaining women persist. Understanding these challenges not only sheds light on India's journey but also offers valuable insights for other countries, including the Nordics, that are striving to enhance gender balance in their own sectors.
In this episode, we discuss:
🎙️ Breaking cultural barriers in recruitment
🎙️ Crafting supportive company policies
🎙️ Building environments that empower women in STEM
🎙️ Skill development and retention strategies for sustainable growth
Key Takeaway: What actionable steps can organizations and individuals take to support sustainable gender diversity? Don’t miss Ritu’s transformative insights and real-world strategies. Liten to it here.
Samfundet i Trondheim inviterte til møte om India.
India er et av verdens mest mangfoldige og multietniske land. Når du tenker på India, tenker du kanskje på Tikka Masala og Butter Chicken. Det er kanskje ikke så rart, for vi hører generelt lite om India i media. Men visste du at India blir omtalt som verdens største demokrati? At India har passert Kina i befolkningstall? Og at landet har vært styrt av samme parti og statsminister siden 2014?
Lørdag 7. september inviterte Samfundet til et dypdykk inn i indisk politikk, hvor vi tar for oss alt fra sosial ulikhet, til økende hindunasjonalisme og anti-muslimsk retorikk, til et demokrati, en religionsfrihet og en ytringsfrihet under press. For hva er det egentlig som rokker seg innad i verdens mest folkerike land? For å svare på dette inviterte de professor emeritus i samfunnsøkonomi og India-entusiast, Karl “Kalle” Moene, samt forfatter, grunnlegger av Det Moderne India, og tidligere ISFiT president, Rina Sunder.
Lytt til debatten her:
India's general elections, which spanned across seven phases from April 19th to June 1st, 2024, aimed to elect 543 members of the Lok Sabha. The results were announced on June 4, 2024.
This historic election, lasting 44 days, broke previous records and stands as the largest in history.
Key highlights of this monumental event include:
The Lok Sabha elections symbolize the essence of democracy and represent the collective voice of India’s diverse population. It is celebrated as a cherished festival of democracy.
At our event, "India Votes: A Celebration of Democracy," our speakers
delved into India's global impact. The interactive session was moderated by Dilek Ayhan, CEO, The Conduit.
Since April 19th, marking the onset of the election season, DMI founder, Rina Sunder has been regularly featured as a commentator on the Indian election on both NRK and TV2.
Additionally, she has been a guest for the Nyhetskompaniet episodes. Nyhetskompaniet is a news-driven panel show featuring current topics and good company. Three guests and a host delve into today's news landscape, trending topics, and matters of public interest.
Sunder was invited alongside former CEO of Innovation Norway, Anita K. Traaseth, as well as editor Erik Stephansen from Nettavisen, amongst others.
India has taken steps into the global landscape throughout the past decades. We see contours of an emerging superpower taking form in multiple economic arenas. With its giant ocean, the blue economy is among the motors of the modern India. Is there any space for the ocean nation of Norway and its blue companies to play a role in this mix? There are indications of this, which is why we invite you into our world of collaboration and opportunities within the intersection of large & small and ocean & land.
Our conference - which was in collaboration with DNB - offered valuable insights and inspiring conversations into the investment possibilities in India. Many companies used this occasion to meet business leaders in Norway’s largest companies and other decision makers to better your understanding of the possibilities within the blue economy and India interconnection. We were happy that more than 40 people had signed up for the conference.
The moderator was Audun Wickstrand Iversen, Portfolio Manager, DNB Asset Management. He addressed:
Panelists were:
Sharing glimpses below:
Orkla was present
