"Women bring a different perspective to business"

BANGALORE: There is strong and visible presence of women leaders in the corporate world. A general survey states that women possess better problem solving skills and are open to variety of options and therefore they form an efficient workforce.

In the first ever "Women leadership" conference organized by IBM in Bangalore, women leaders from various companies in IT and non-IT sectors shared their experiences on how they achieved their current positions and how they balance work and life schedules.

The Women's Leadership Conference 2002 saw several key women executives from IBM and the Indian IT Industry like Betti Alijisbana, Country General Manager, IBM, Indonesia and Yukako Uchinaga, Vice President , IBM Software Labs, Yamato , Japan , Chan Yit Foon, Director, HR, IBM Global Services, Revathi Kasthuri, President Sales & Marketing Tarang Software Rekha Menon, Country Manager Talisma to name a few.

Abraham Thomas, Managing Director, IBM India says that this conference is in recognition of the significant contributions made by women to IBM's success. "It's also an effort to develop female leadership in the business. From the outside, the IT industry has the appearance of an all-male business. However, with increasing market demand for technology solutions and explosive growth in the industry, there is a compelling reason for companies to identify and promote new opportunities for women to excel and become leaders in IT, " he said.

"This endeavor by IBM also acknowledges that women bring a different perspective to a business. Women are our customers (9.1 million women-owned businesses about 40 %). We need to design, develop and market our products to women, " he added.

Based on the theme "Let's Create Value: You are the key", the programme was formulated to be a rich mix of panel discussions, networking sessions and informal conversations covering workplace equality, mastering change and the business challenges women have yet to face working in the high-tech arena.

IBM has a long history in the advancement of women, particularly in the professional and executive levels. Back in 1935, IBM founder Thomas J. Watson Sr. said, "Men and women will do the same kind of work for equal pay."

IBM commitment to valuing diversity is an important strategic objective for the company. The company believes that it needs the best talent and the most creative minds available, regardless of gender. Effective management of the workforce diversity and efforts to provide equal opportunity for employees have paid huge dividends in every area of our business, and set an example for businesses both inside and outside the technology sector.

Around the world, IBM addresses the advancement of women. Of IBM's more than 170,000 technical workers -- approx. 20% are women. IBM boasts of six female IBM Fellows and 20 female Distinguished Engineers and eight IBM women are members of the Women in Technology International (WITI) Hall of Fame.