TechGig Hosts She Builds the Future 2026 Leadership Initiative for International Women's Day
TechGig organized a significant two-day leadership initiative titled "She Builds the Future 2026 – Power, Presence & Progress" on March 7–8 to commemorate International Women's Day. The event successfully convened women leaders from diverse fields including technology, engineering, marketing, and human resources to engage in meaningful discussions about leadership journeys and workplace challenges.
Panel Examines Leadership Representation and Workplace Inclusion
The opening session, named "Women in Leadership Today: Progress, Gaps & the Road Ahead," provided a comprehensive analysis of changes in women's representation in leadership roles across technology and business over the past decade. Speakers acknowledged that while visibility and participation have seen notable improvements, achieving equal leadership representation remains an ongoing and critical process.
Distinguished participants included Manisha Banthia, vice president and expert engineer for data and analytics at Fiserv; Sukanya Ramachandran, head of inclusion and belonging and people sustainability at Wipro Limited; and Tejshree Madhu, head of business excellence at Siemens Technology and Services Pvt Ltd.
Ramachandran emphasized the crucial importance of integrating inclusion into everyday organizational practices. She stated, "Inclusion is something that needs to be woven into everyday actions and the organization's culture. When it runs as a separate entity, it becomes another target to chase, and the real intent can get lost along the way." The panel also explored the vital role of global capability centers in building robust leadership pipelines for women in the technology sector.
Leaders Share Personal Career Journeys and Insights
A compelling session titled "Two Journeys, One Table: The Real Conversations Behind Success" focused intensely on personal leadership experiences and career transitions. Speakers included Sangeetha Yanamandra, vice president of software engineering research and development at OpenText, and Megha Chaudhry, senior vice president and global head of marketing and alliance management at C5i.
Yanamandra spoke passionately about problem-solving and innovation in technology leadership, advising, "When the tool or technology doesn't exist, go a layer deeper or build something, but make sure the problem gets solved." Chaudhry reflected on the unpredictable nature of career growth, noting, "Most growth happens in the chapters we didn't plan or anticipate. I feel fortunate to have had those experiences."
Closing Session Focuses on Future Leadership Skills in AI Era
The closing panel delved into the leadership skills essential for workplaces increasingly shaped by artificial intelligence and rapid technological change. Participants included Nidhi Vinod, senior director for learning and organizational development at Epsilon India; Anupa Sadasivan, managing director for human resources at Wells Fargo India and the Philippines; Jyoti Pahadsingh, head of innovation practice at Societe Generale Global Solution Centre; and Shalini Tewari, founder and chief operating officer of CoolBoots Media.
Pahadsingh highlighted the key role of mentorship and sponsorship in leadership development, stating, "Sponsorship doesn't just shape your career, it also helps you see and define your leadership style." Tewari added that leaders play an indispensable role in shaping organizational culture, remarking, "Setting the right tone and context for culture is something leaders must consciously address, for everyone, across all genders."
The initiative effectively brought together industry professionals to discuss critical topics such as leadership development, workplace culture, and the future of work in the technology sector, fostering a collaborative environment for progress and innovation.
