Industrial Automation celebrates the achievements of women in the tech industry creating a more inclusive and diverse environment.

Industrial Automation launched the annual Women in Technology initiative in a small way in 2018. This year, 24 women from diverse fields within the STEM ecosystem were shortlisted for this feature in the Q&A format.

These 24 women all have different stories to tell. Stories of what inspired them, the support they received, obstacles faced and the determination that led to overcoming them. They have seen and experienced all this first hand, and having achieved their own goals are now firm in their belief to help others to do the same.

“My passion derives from the need for diverse perspectives in innovation and problem-solving. I’ve seen firsthand how representation empowers individuals and strengthens the industry,” says Dr Abhilasha Vyas, Business & Technology Delivery Associate Manager, Accenture. “By creating opportunities, mentorship programs, and skill-building initiatives, I strive to break barriers and ensure women in tech have equal access to growth and leadership,” she adds..

While today’s generation has more opportunities open to them, often it is lack of motivation that becomes an obstacle. “I strongly believe that passion for one’s work keeps you motivated, and with that, there is no dearth of opportunities. The constant evolution and the opportunity to tackle new challenges always kept me motivated to contribute to both strategic direction and technological development, while continuously learning from my peers,” says Anju Malik, Engineering Manager, Bechtel India Pvt Ltd.

For women, making a mark in the corporate world may no longer be enough as some of them also embark on their entrepreneurial journeys, which present different sets of challenges. “Competing with established players as a new Brand in the automation industry was a key challenge. Focusing on innovation, offering unique value propositions, and building strong relationships with customers, helped in staying ahead of market trends and continuously improving my product offer, by being agile and adaptable to changing market conditions and customer preferences,” is how Anuja Thukral, Director, Congmax Electro, describes her endeavour.

Not all entrepreneurship ends in the manufacturing domain. Some also embark on building bridges and that’s exactly what Anuradha Balasubramanian, Founder & Managing Director, Centrado Tech Solutions Pvt Ltd, decided to do. “A decade ago, when I moved back to India from Singapore, I noticed a lack of application-oriented learning in schools, leading to significant learning gaps and a disconnect between academia and industry. This inspired me to create an inclusive, hands-on STEM learning ecosystem that makes education relevant, future-ready, and empowers students to become problem solvers, in addition to becoming creative and globally competitive,” she explains.

Mentoring – both as a receiver and giver – has played an important role in all these stories as part amnd is a recurring theme as elaborated by Professor (Dr) Aparna Dey Ghosh, Department of Civil Engineering; and Dean (Planning and Development), Indian Institute of Engineering Science and Technology, Shibpur. “Mentorship indeed plays a very important role in my life. To my students, I try my best to mentor them in their approach to whichever career they choose to excel in, stressing upon the need of hard work and integrity, both in the core and non-core professions. In my early years of my career, both my M.Tech and Ph.D supervisors continued to serve as excellent mentors, and I was greatly moulded by them,” she says.

Today’s women have proved their mettle in emerging technologies as well, as is evident from the testimonies that follow. “AI powered advance and autonomous process control undoubtedly is the most promising frontier. We are already seeing applications of AI assistants in designing, problem solving, digitisation and reducing repetitive work. Digital twin is going to entrench itself as basic backbone infrastructure supporting plant operations to visualise running plants, establishing correlations and causations without disturbing the running plant,” says Bidita Barman Krishna, Chief Technical Advisor – Process Controls and Instrumentation, Kellogg Brown and Root India Technology Centre.

It is not restricted to expertise but also extends to innovative approaches for problem solving. “Programming is a crucial part of machine functioning, yet programming engineers often have limited time during the manufacturing process. To address this, I developed the Motion Template Program. This program allows engineers to focus on the core aspects of the machine while significantly reducing the time spent on repetitive tasks. By simply feeding in the required values, the template takes care of the rest,” explains Dharini Joshi, Director of Finance and Technology, TRIO Motion Technology India Pvt Ltd.

What perhaps helps is the dexterity with which women are more at ease. “Role change increases motivation to deal with new challenges and boosts satisfaction. Moving across various functions be it tendering, engineering, project management has helped me grow professionally as well as individually. It has improved my business as well as financial acumen. In every function, you learn something new and come up with new ideas. To understand the overall business process, it is important to work in all functions,” says Falguni Sudarsan, General Manager – Customer Project Officer, SEMEA Electrical & Automation FZE, International Operations, Schneider Electric.

Making products, creating jobs, mentoring aspirants – all this is fine. What else have these women done? Some are also engaged in designing plants and projects. “Every industry has its unique specifics, which makes engineering exciting. Building a plant that meets its unique needs and requirements makes each project fascinating. Working with cross-cultural teams globally has been one of my most cherished experiences, allowing me to collaborate with some of the best professionals,” says Jamuna Saiganesh, IEA SIS SME (Instrument/Electrical/Analytical Safety Instrumented Systems Subject Matter Expert) at Dow Chemicals India Private Ltd,” of her experience.

Empowerment is a recurring theme in this narrative and client acquisition is one of the tougher assignments in any field, one that needs more of everything – mentoring, motivation and more. “As a woman navigating the tech world, I'm passionate about empowering the next generation of female leaders by creating a supportive community where they can connect, share experiences, and thrive. I strive to be a mentor, confidante, and role model, guiding them through the challenges and celebrating their triumphs. The most rewarding aspect of mentoring is witnessing the transformative journeys of my team members. It's incredibly fulfilling to see someone I've mentored blossom and achieve their full potential. Whether it's receiving client praise, exceeding performance goals, or earning industry recognition, their success becomes a shared victory,” says Jaslin Jaison, Senior Director, Sales  and Client Partnerships, Aiden AI.

On a different note, there is the vast arena of healthcare and caregiving, where our women have made a mark, often overcoming personal tragedies, and here is a sterling example. “The Cancer Cost Calculator by CancerMitr provides patients with realistic cost estimates based on their cancer type, stage, city, and hospital choice, helping them plan ahead and make informed decisions. Beyond estimates, our Cancer Care experts guide patients through treatment options, hospital choices, and financial support avenues—ensuring no one faces cancer alone or without the knowledge to navigate it,” says Mansi Mehta, Founder & CEO, CancerMitr, an endeavour born out of a personal experience in dealing with the aftermath, not once but twice over.

One of the most serious issues facing today in the connected world is cybersecurity that is threatening individuals and institutions alike, and industry is no exception. And we have women professionals making a mark in this area too. “Cybersecurity will move from reactive to predictive, from compliance-driven to AI-powered resilience. AI will automate threat detection, and quantum-safe security will redefine cryptographic defences. The future demands adaptive, intelligence driven security frameworks that evolve in real-time. Organisations that embrace this shift will stay ahead; those that don’t will be left vulnerable,” explains Monisha Oberoi, Director & Partner, Security Services, IBM Consulting, APAC.

These women have travelled widely, across inhospitable terrain and extreme weather conditions as is evident in the case of Papia Mandal, General Manager, Engineers India Limited, and one of her challenging assignments. “Mongolian climate conditions are extremely harsh. Winter is prolonged and lasts for about eight months in a year, wherein temperatures drop up to around -35 degree Celsius. The refinery structures were of structural steel and their foundations were in concrete. Concrete construction was to be performed in an ambient temperature for which a very short period was available, only during the summer. In addition to that, there was ice in the subsoil, which needed special protection measures for the design of foundations,” she says.

With so much accumulated experience there is wisdom to share for the benefit of the young workforce, and here is one example. “For young professionals in instrumentation engineering, continuous learning and adaptability are key. Work on building strong technical fundamentals while developing problem-solving and decision-making skills. Gain hands-on experience with diverse projects to understand real-world constraints and challenges. Embrace innovation and think beyond traditional approaches to tackle complex situations. Effective communication and teamwork are crucial for collaborating with clients and teams. Stay updated with industry trends, pursue relevant certifications,” says Prasanna Chitre, DGM – Instrumentation in Thyssenkrupp Uhde India Pvt Ltd.

Yet another important need of women professionals is childcare, especially those coming from nuclear families. And who better than a career woman to understand this and do something about it? “While we benchmark ourselves with global standards in early childhood care, we also ensure our roots are firmly established by keeping in touch with our cultural traditions. We teach Indian Prayers, including yoga and chanting daily, celebrate various festivals with our children, and provide wholesome, pure vegetarian Indian food. This blend of global and Indian practices creates a unique educational experience for our children, focusing on complete child development and combining the best of East and West,” explains Dr Priti Rao, Chairperson, Aatmaja Foundation and Managing Director, Pumpkin Patch Daycare, about this initiative.

Clean energy is a trending topic as the world is marching towards the Net-Zero objective and women professionals have also stormed the nuclear bastion as seen in the case of Remya P, Senior Electrical, Control and Instrumentation (EC&I) Design Engineer, Nuclear and Power Business, GTC, AtkinsRealis, India. “Throughout my career, I have had the privilege of working on groundbreaking projects, but my involvement in the Hydrogen-3 Advanced Technology (H3AT) project and the ITER-IN Cooling Water System stands out as transformative experiences. These projects represent the future of nuclear technology, shifting from fission-based to fusion-based energy, offering cleaner and more sustainable alternatives. From an industry perspective, these projects have pushed the boundaries of materials science, safety engineering, and system design,” she asserts.

Working with one of India’s leading conglomerates has both charm and challenges galore. Everything is benchmarked against the best, nothing done without meticulous research and optimisation of the last process. And this is what Seema Gaikwad, Senior General Manager, Reliance Industries Limited, has to say: “By utilising data analytics, I strategically identified the most suitable vendors and materials, optimising supplier selection process to meet business needs. I fostered strong collaboration with these vendors, reducing transaction intensity and streamlining procurement operations. Through a systematic approach to price formulation based on a consistent price matrix and pre-agreed price lists, I ensured price stability over the contract period.”

For a woman on the executive side of the company, the responsibility entails a balancing act and here is an example. “A thriving workplace culture is essential for long-term success. At Astec, we have introduced policies that promote gender diversity and equal opportunities. I have actively encouraged more women to join the manufacturing sector through better hiring policies and mentorship initiatives. Additionally, we have created a supportive work environment with leadership training, well-being programs, and flexible work policies that help employees balance personal and professional growth,” says Sherry Kohli, Chairwoman of Astec Valves & Fittings Pvt Ltd.

Women in STEM is where it begins – the stepping stone for careers in technology. This is also an arena where women mentors have an added responsibility – to nurture, guide and mentor talent. As Prof (Dr) Shweta Srivastava, Professor and Head, Department of ECE, Jaypee Institute of Information Technology, says: “My vision for the role of women in engineering and technology is one of equal representation, leadership, and impact—where women are not only present but also driving innovation, shaping policies, and mentoring the next generation. I envision a future where gender diversity is the norm, and women have unhindered access to opportunities, resources, and recognition in STEM fields. Initiatives like the Women in Tech Awards play a vital role in making this vision a reality.”

On the shopfloors today, it is all about connected machines and real time communications, upon which hinges the emerging smart manufacturing ecosystem. Women are at the forefront in innovation in this area too. “In the manufacturing space, building the seamless communication between the different machines and systems across the value chain is crucial, particularly in the context of Industry 4.0. Future of interoperability looks brighter than before, as industrial leaders consider it as a stepping stone for improved efficiency, enhanced decision making, supply chain optimisation, etc.,” says Smitha Rao, Cofounder, Utthunga.

How can the field of Engineering Consultancy and EPC remain uninfluenced by NariShakti? So here we go, and this concerns the present era of energy transition! “Since the future of Oil & Gas will be integral to the global economy, it is necessary for young professionals to understand that domain knowledge of renewable and clean energy shall pave the way to the future. Understanding market expectations, learning new technologies, investing in financial knowledge, reskill and upskill continuously, and adapting to regulatory changes in the oil and gas sector,” says Sonia Madan, Senior General Manager at Engineers India Limited.

As we come to the final three candidates in the Women in Tech list of 2025, the focus once again is on academics and the important role innovative methods play in learning today. “Implementing flipped classrooms and project-based learning has significantly transformed the learning experience for my students in several ways: Flipped classrooms allow students to engage with the material at their own pace before class. This means they come to class prepared and ready to dive deeper into the subject matter. It fosters active participation and encourages students to ask questions and engage in discussions,” says Dr Sreeja S, Associate Professor, Dept of Electrical Engineering, College of Engineering, Trivandrum.

How about filling the much needed gap in counselling that is often the weak link in building the chain of a successful career? There is a woman behind one such initiative. “Gift-A-Career Foundation in association with Cloud Counselage, has taken up the noble initiative to bridge the ever-widening gap between academia and industry by providing professional development absolutely free to the beneficiaries in all the phases of their career lifecycle. This is done by providing real-world industry exposure and experience through access to industry training, career guidance, global professional internships, and personalised career visioning,” Subhi Sanil Shildhankar, Co-Founder & Director (HR), Cloud Counselage Pvt Ltd.

Summing up, we have here a small microcosm of an emerging future scenario of women claiming their rightful share of careers in technology, a scenario that gives hope to the aspirations of roughly half of the population. “As one gains experience, the opportunity to lead teams, mentor younger engineers, and shape the direction of projects can be incredibly rewarding. This often leads to roles like what I perform presently, where one can influence both technical outcomes and organisational culture. Engineering is a field that requires constant learning and adaptation. For many, the opportunity to continuously grow, take on new challenges, and expand their expertise is a key motivator,” concludes Yogita Bilkhu, Deputy Chief Engineer, Burns & McDonnell Engineering India Pvt Ltd.