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Engineering is no longer considered a “man’s job”: Balvinder Khurana, ThoughtWorks

Balvinder Khurana, Data Anchor, ThoughtWorks, talks about what has changed for women in engineering, and how companies can encourage more participation

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Supriya Rai
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The International Women in Engineering Day is being celebrated today, and the current scenario suggests a lot has changed for women in the field. Not only are women increasingly taking up science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM), but are also being entrusted with leadership roles in the field. In an interview with DataQuest, Balvinder Khurana, Data Anchor, ThoughtWorks, talks about what has changed for women in engineering, and how companies can encourage more participation from women engineers.

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DQ: Engineering was earlier considered a man's job. How do you believe the perception towards women in engineering has changed over the years?

Balvinder Khurana: In my opinion, we have made amazing progress in this regard. I see both organizations and more clients becoming receptive to technical leadership that happens to be women. Unfortunately, the perception of engineering being a man’s job was also present in women technologists’ minds, and I believe that, that particular barrier is also being broken with more women joining engineering.

DQ: What are your thoughts on diversity in the technology industry?

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Balvinder Khurana: We have come a long way in bridging gender diversity within the technology industry. In India 34% women are employed in technology which is a great number in comparison to Europe (18%) and the US (24-25%). However, I still believe there is more work to be done, especially for better inclusion amongst mid to higher level technologists. Activities like hiring drives, technical bootcamps and workshops help us tap into this talent pool. Add to this efforts to disassociate certain tech or practices like Security and Data Science being associated with a particular gender - to make them gender agnostic. But, more work needs to go into retaining women technologists to maintain diversity across the board. Lack of women leadership also means there are lesser mentors with whom younger technologists can interact and engage with.

DQ: What are the steps that are needed to be taken to ensure participation from more women?

Balvinder Khurana: Some of the important factors that will ensure better participation of women in the workplace is an inclusive work culture, encouragement of work-life balance and flexibility, actively discouraging unconscious bias, having access to a diverse leadership and creating safe spaces to interact and discuss technology. In this context, ThoughtWorks has always been progressive by encouraging a diverse pair for important leadership roles like Office Technology Principals, Office Principals and more. Reality is that more often than not, it’s women who end up juggling several responsibilities towards family and work which can be both physically and emotionally demanding. And, timely support in the form of organizational efforts to progress womens’ physical and mental well being connects to the larger objective of encouraging more women to be a part of the workforce.

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DQ: As a woman working in engineering, do you have any role models that you look up to?

Balvinder Khurana: I have many role models, especially at ThoughtWorks. I believe every woman I encounter here has inspired me in one way or another. For instance, younger women who come into the organization through our STEP program have fought so many odds to work in a field that they are passionate about. I see a humble confidence in them. I am also inspired by the many women who work hard to meticulously balance work and home/kids every single day. If I had to pick though, it would be our CTO, Rebecca Parsons. It’s very challenging to be the CTO of an organization known for its extremely dynamic technical work. Also, I admire that she comes from a totally different background of Academics and is doing a phenomenal job as ThoughtWorks CTO. She also consistently makes time to give back to the technical society by writing books, speaking at conferences and interacting with the technologists of tomorrow etc.

DQ: Why in your opinion must more women be included in the engineering field?

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Balvinder Khurana: As software professionals, we are building products and software for a diverse audience which makes it extremely important that we include inputs from a diverse audience to begin with. Additionally, there are studies backing the fact that “women make highly competent leaders, ... and what’s holding them back is not lack of capability but a dearth of opportunity. When given those opportunities, women are just as likely to succeed in higher level positions as men.”

DQ: How has your journey as an engineer been in your organization?

Balvinder Khurana: I would sum it up as a wonderful and successful journey as a Technologist at ThoughtWorks. What I am confident of is, that here, none of my achievements, learnings or setbacks happened because I am a woman.

DQ: What are some of the initiatives adopted by your organization to encourage women?

Balvinder Khurana: ThoughtWorks believes in the power of diversity. We run several inclusive programs to encourage women in tech. Our award-winning initiative #TalkTechToHer is designed to create better career paths and opportunities for senior women technologists. Vapasi provides a platform for women developers to restart their careers. We run WiLD, a Women in Leadership program and N.O.W. (Network of Women) an initiative developed with the purpose of connecting and growing communities of women.

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