Nasscom bats for women power in IT
The country’s engineering colleges churn out around half a million women graduates every year. But a surprising number of them are leaving well-paid and comfortable IT jobs for more demanding assignments in marketing and sales. This has so alarmed industry body Nasscom that it is organising inspirational events for women under its 10,000 Start-ups initiative to persuade them to take a plunge into India’s booming technology start-up sector.
Bangalore houses over 41 per cent of the start-ups in the country, yet when hackathons are organised, only one or two women turn up. Sangeeta Devni, deputy manager, Nasscom 10,000 Start-ups, said, “We have received 7,000 applications from start-ups, but less than 10 per cent are from women. There are zero women founders in technology start-ups and we have found that most of them are opting out of IT to go for HR and marketing jobs.”
To help women entrepreneurs combat their fears, Nasscom organised a women-only 'Bizathon' during the weekend in the city. Over 100 women participated to learn the nuances of entrepreneurship with the two-day event culminating in a hackathon on building websites. Sangeeta added, “We keep organising hackathons from time to time, but we have seen that only one or two women participate among, say, 500 men. But interestingly, those one or two women usually win. ” Budding women entrepreneurs got lessons in business models, canvassing, ideation, and marketing. Lathika Pai, CEO, JobCorp Solutions, and judge for the event, said: “Most women already in the industry are getting bored of the profession. Jobs in HR, sales, and marketing may seem glamorous to them since it is challenging to talk to end-consumers. ”
Though I have an engineering degree in electronics and communications, I got placed in HP from college on a telecom software project. I got drawn to the software industry that way and never looked back. Now I develop mobile apps on Android and Rails platforms for Bullfinch. In our country women entrepreneurs are still not encouraged enough.”
Bangalore houses over 41 per cent of the start-ups in the country, yet when hackathons are organised, only one or two women turn up. Sangeeta Devni, deputy manager, Nasscom 10,000 Start-ups, said, “We have received 7,000 applications from start-ups, but less than 10 per cent are from women. There are zero women founders in technology start-ups and we have found that most of them are opting out of IT to go for HR and marketing jobs.”
To help women entrepreneurs combat their fears, Nasscom organised a women-only 'Bizathon' during the weekend in the city. Over 100 women participated to learn the nuances of entrepreneurship with the two-day event culminating in a hackathon on building websites. Sangeeta added, “We keep organising hackathons from time to time, but we have seen that only one or two women participate among, say, 500 men. But interestingly, those one or two women usually win. ” Budding women entrepreneurs got lessons in business models, canvassing, ideation, and marketing. Lathika Pai, CEO, JobCorp Solutions, and judge for the event, said: “Most women already in the industry are getting bored of the profession. Jobs in HR, sales, and marketing may seem glamorous to them since it is challenging to talk to end-consumers. ”
‘NOT ENCOURAGED ENOUGH’ 28-year-old Sowmya Guru, an Android app developer, is busy developing a product. “I was keen to know more about entrepreneurship because I am planning to come up with my own product. I know a lot of women are seeking a change in profession and that could be mostly because they were pushed into IT by parental or peer pressure.” Sangeetha M, who works with Bullfinch India said, “There are very few women-oriented programs for Bangalore’s entrepreneurs.
Though I have an engineering degree in electronics and communications, I got placed in HP from college on a telecom software project. I got drawn to the software industry that way and never looked back. Now I develop mobile apps on Android and Rails platforms for Bullfinch. In our country women entrepreneurs are still not encouraged enough.”
