• Boardroom representation mandates: Panelists highlighted that the single-woman regulatory quota often acts as a mere compliance check, advocating for 33% female representation or multiple women directors, as seen with Mahindra & Mahindra and Cognizant having four women each on their boards.
• Corporate diversity metrics: Cognizant has surpassed 40% female representation across its total workforce and raised women in leadership positions from 13% three years ago to 18%.
• Targeted hiring initiatives: Leaders are deploying structured mechanisms to retain female talent, such as Mahindra mandating that at least 30% of interview candidate pools be women, offering the SOAR returnship program, and eliminating gendered terms like "man-hours."
• Startup workplace practices: Startups are intentionally designing flexible and inclusive work cultures, with Plush establishing a 77% female workforce alongside policies such as menstrual leave and safe transit support.