85% of Indian respondents reported strong DEI efforts with 64% crediting generative AI skills for career acceleration
Bengaluru, 10 March, 2025 – Ensono, a leading technology advisor, innovation partner, and managed service provider, released today the results of its fifth-annual Speak Up survey, revealing both progress and persistent challenges for women in the technology industry in India. While 92% of respondents report an improved workplace experience, inequities persist – especially as they navigate return-to-office (RTO) mandates and explore career-accelerating technologies like generative AI.
A strong commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) is evident in India, where 85% of respondents reported robust DEI initiatives in their organizations—outpacing their counterparts in the U.K. (73%) and the U.S. (67%).
“While the experiences for many women in technology have improved, this should not distract tech leaders from understanding the inequities that impact the workplace and striving to meet all employees where they are,” said Meredith Graham, Chief People Officer at Ensono. “Balancing equity across a diverse, distributed workforce is a complex mandate, and there’s no one-size-fits-all approach to understanding organizational needs. To scale successfully, companies must foster consistent experiences and opportunities – regardless of location or role.”
Beyond equity perception improvements, 89% of respondents identified new generative AI skills as career accelerators, with the percentage of respondents ranking their skills as “expert” doubling year-over-year. However, remote employees had vastly different perceptions, with many feeling they were being left behind on generative AI skill building. Only 6% of remote respondents ranked their generative AI skills and knowledge as “expert,” compared to 31% of hybrid and 29% of in-person respondents.
These challenges also bleed into career management and leadership ambitions. 76% of women surveyed aspire to be people managers, led by a staggering 90% of Gen Z and 93% of millennial respondents, compared to 74% of Gen Xers and 64% of baby boomers. While 85% of women in tech want to advance into an executive leadership position during their careers, 15% shy away because they are either happy with their current responsibilities or do not want the stress and work-life balance compromise that would accompany an executive elevation.
Additional key findings from the 2025 Speak Up survey include:
● 1 in 4 women still feel unsafe due to micro aggressions at work – only a 1% improvement from last year. 32% of Indians face micro aggression at work and other forms of discrimination
● 82% of women faced return-to-office (RTO) mandates in 2024. 49% struggle to balance caregiving with in-office expectations – a repeat of last year’s top challenge. 48% of Indian respondents emphasized work in office 5 days per week
● 86% of Indian respondents showed the highest drive for leadership. They aspire to move into people management roles surpassing their counterparts in the UK (72%) and US (70%)
● 19% of women plan to leave their companies in 2025 in search of greater remote work flexibility, more inclusion in decision-making, and better work/life balance.
● For the second year, better pay and benefits dropped out of the top three reasons women seek new roles.
While gender equity progress in India has been positive overall, the gender gap at the highest levels of leadership is still shockingly wide. Women’s interest in rising through the ranks is encouraging, but organizations must implement systemic changes that remove structural barriers to equitable growth to see real change.
