Ivanka at GES: Women's presence in tech, science, other sectors need a push

'McKinsey study says that India can add $700 billion to our GDP if we bridge the gender gap', Chanda Kochhar said

Policy changes are needed to encourage more women in high-growth sectors, including science and technology, said  Ivanka Trump, US President Donald Trump’s daughter and presidential advisor, at the Global Entrepreneurship Summit on Wednesday.

 
Participating in a discussion on the topic, We Can Do It! Innovations in Work force Development and Skills Training, she said the policies that are aimed at closing the gender-wage gap in the industry have stagnated in the US and successive Presidents have been trying to change the situation.

 
“All women are working women, whether they are working at home, raising the families, or working in her professional capacity. Out of every dollar earned by them, 90 cents are invested back into their families and community. Unfortunately, women participate in sectors that are undervalued and underpaid,” she said. In America, only
 
24 per cent women represent computer professionals, and 13 per cent of entrepreneurs are women. The US government is currently working on measures to bring more women into STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) education to help bridge the gap, she added.
 

Chanda Kochhar, ICICI Bank CEO & MD

“Education, encouragement, and empowerment are the three most important aspects to make women succeed in business and career,” ICICI Bank Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director Chanda Kochhar said.  She said India had made great strides in women empowerment and that had been reflected in the presence and achievements of women in many fields, including sports, defence, and politics.

 
“India has come a long way, and there is still a lot more to do. Not even 25 per cent of the graduating women really participate in the workforce. McKinsey study for India says that India can add $700 billion to our GDP if we bridge the gender gap,” Kochhar noted.
 
Cherie Blair, wife of former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair and founder of Cherie Blair Foundation for Women, said there was no need for women to feel inferior to men as they will be far superior to men in many aspects if they get access to technology. “We have to find solutions to enable women do better at what they do without giving up on their enterprises,” she said.

 
Dell CMC Chief Customer Officer Karen Quintos said men should be made part of the process to encourage women entrepreneurship. “Business outcomes are great when you have diverse thinking. The world is a better place when we come together with a common vision,” she said.
 
Later, Ivanka Trump participated in a pitch competition, where a group of young start-up founders presented their cases for funding and partnerships.