Honeywell India Hosts Inaugural ‘LeadHERS in Tech’ Event, Breaks New Ground in Empowering Women to Lead in Tech – The Times of Bengal
In an inspiring initiative to promote female leadership in technology, Honeywell recently held its flagship event, ‘LeadHERS in Tech’, at its Bengaluru campus. More than 200 dynamic women professionals from various sectors within the tech industry gathered to celebrate and emphasize the essential role of women in spearheading technological innovation. This influential event served as a platform for idea exchange, encouraging women to assume leadership roles and drive transformation shaping the industry’s future.
Breaking Barriers in Tech: A Panel Discussion
During his keynote speech, Anant Maheshwari, President & CEO of Global Regions at Honeywell, underscored the necessity of diverse perspectives in crafting the future of technology. Highlighting that women are not only propelling current technological advances but are also crucial to designing the next wave of innovation, Maheshwari advocated for enhanced empowerment initiatives to position women at the forefront of technological progress.
A key feature of the day was a fireside chat with Ashish Modi, President of Honeywell India, and Niranjan Kalyandurg, President of Honeywell Technology Solutions. These discussions shed light on the importance of male allies in cultivating inclusive work environments and the necessity of sponsorship for career advancements of women. Addressing various gender biases, the leaders concluded with a motivational call for women to be confident, outspoken, and pivotal in shaping technology’s future.
Stories of Resilience and Innovation
The event’s highlight was a compelling panel discussion entitled “Breaking Barriers in Tech: Stories of Resilience and Innovation.” Esteemed industry personalities such as Latha Chemrakalam from Continental, Sidharth Balachandran of the AirBus Innovation Centre, Ashwini Siddhi from GoDaddy, and Sumedha Limaye from Quest Global took the stage. They shared inspiring stories of how women are methodically challenging assumptions, significantly altering the tech landscape with revolutionary ideas and initiatives. Additionally, motivational talks were delivered by trailblazers like Vandana Suri, the mind behind TAXSHE, India’s women-only taxi service, and former Olympic swimmer Nisha Millet, recounting personal stories of determination and triumph.
Empowering Change Through ‘LeadHERS in Tech’
Anita Vijaykrishnan, VP of Engineering and India Leader at Honeywell Technology Solutions, emphasized the profound impact women have within the tech industry. “‘LeadHERS in Tech’ is more than a mere event—it’s the commencement of a transformative journey that urges and empowers women across the tech sector to actively contribute and elevate the community. At Honeywell, we acknowledge and celebrate women’s contributions to groundbreaking developments, striving to foster an environment where female-led innovation can prosper unabatedly,” Vijaykrishnan stated.
The InnovateHER Contest and More
A major attraction of the event was the ‘InnovateHER contest’, which showcased inventive tech-driven solutions by women-led teams aimed at tackling real-world challenges. This competition demonstrated the immense power of varied perspectives in problem-solving and reinforced the critical role women play in molding the future of technology. Alongside this, participants enjoyed specialized masterclasses and had the opportunity to explore Honeywell’s extensive array of innovations at the Honeywell Experience Center, covering domains such as aviation, automation, and energy transition, as well as its initiatives promoting diversity and inclusion.
Driven by a commitment to championing women and nurturing technical leadership, Honeywell consistently pushes the boundaries of innovation across a breadth of industries. The company’s advancements stretch from enhancing communication technologies in building automation, to real-time safety solutions in fire safety, to cutting-edge optimizations in industrial automation and energy transition through its Protonium suite, which improves green hydrogen production. Honeywell stands as a testament to how a company can pave the path forward with revolutionary advancements while fostering an inclusive culture that uplifts women in technological spaces.
