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.