A Comprehensive Recap of the nasscom Global Inclusion Summit 2024

8th August 2024 | Taj MG Road, Bengaluru

The 16th edition of the nasscom Global Inclusion Summit (GIS) 2024 was a landmark event, bringing together industry leaders, diversity advocates, and professionals from various sectors to engage in meaningful discussions and share actionable insights on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). The event, themed "GET REAL - Embrace Diversity, Elevate Together," emphasized moving beyond rhetoric to achieve tangible outcomes. Here’s a detailed look at the sessions that made this summit an impactful and transformative experience.

Registration and Kick-off

The journey towards transformative DEI began with a bustling registration desk filled with professionals eager to explore diverse perspectives and advance inclusion. The atmosphere was electric, setting the stage for a day full of insightful discussions and networking opportunities.

Context Setting by Kritika M, nasscom

Kritika Murugesan from nasscom delivered an inspiring address, setting a powerful tone for the summit. She emphasized leveraging our collective strength to build an empowered, inclusive ecosystem. This vision challenges us to drive meaningful dialogue and foster true diversity.

Steps Drama – An Act on Unconscious Bias

Steps Drama presented an entertaining yet thought-provoking act depicting how unconscious bias manifests in daily life. The comical act shared deep insights on incorporating mindfulness in interactions, encouraging attendees to recognize and address their biases to foster a progressive, respectful culture.

Contextualizing Diversity and Inclusion for Business Transformation

Rajesh Nambiar, Chairperson of nasscom, and Sangeeta Gupta from nasscom highlighted the importance of flexibility and transparency in building an inclusive culture. They stressed that tokenism undermines genuine DEI efforts and emphasized the need to select the best person for the job from a diverse pool of candidates. The session concluded with a call to proactively cut unconscious bias and address tokenism.

DEI Assessment Framework Launch

Rajesh Nambiar and Sangeeta Gupta introduced the DEI Assessment Framework, aimed at helping organizations set new benchmarks for measuring and improving diversity and inclusion in the workplace. This framework promises to drive more structured and impactful DEI initiatives across industries.

Leenika Khattar, Director D&I nasscom, spoke about the 4 pillars of the Assessment Framework - Overall Focus, Diversity, Inclusion and Belonging and Equity in People Practices and encouraged organizations to asses where are they on their DEI Journey.

Diversity Matters:?How DEI Trends Shape A Compelling Business Case

Diversity and inclusion have undeniable impact on the bottom line!

Swati Sengar from McKinsey & Company deliberated on how evolving trends are influencing the DEI practices and reshaping business landscapes. The leader showcased statistics that highlighted the an inclusive environment that supports professional growth and allows for safe, open discussions is important for organisational growth. Important key takeway: Continuous engagement in DEI practices can enhance both employee satisfaction and business outcomes.

Masterclass 1: Making the Invisible Visible & Able

SIDDHANT SHAH from Access For ALL led this masterclass, emphasizing a three-pronged approach to addressing disability in the workplace: awareness, building a community of caregivers, and embracing authenticity at work. He explained neurodiversity and highlighted practical measures for accommodating neurodivergent individuals, showcasing how they can thrive and contribute significantly when given the right support.

Fostering Inclusive Leaders: Building Tomorrow's Diverse Leadership

In a fireside chat featuring industry leaders like Sundeep Gandhi, Accenture, Nirajita Banerjee, LinkedIn, Veda Persad, Northern Trust, and Uma Ratnam Krishnan, Optum, the discussion focused on unconventional leadership strategies to cultivate an inclusive work culture.

Key takeaways included the active engagement of leaders in DEI initiatives, creating intentional spaces for DEI conversations, and building psychological safety within teams.

DE&I in Action: Analyzing Successful Approaches in Technology

Panelists Elizabeth Mathew, Tata Consultancy Services, Rani Gopalakrishnan, Accenture and Nanda Kishore, Wipro, shared innovative strategies and best practices for integrating DE&I in tech organizations. Their case studies provided attendees with practical insights into driving meaningful change within the tech sector.

Insights from Invite-Only Rounds

At the nasscom Global Inclusion Summit 2024, two exclusive round discussions focused on pivotal aspects of workplace inclusion: neurodiversity and gender pay parity. The neurodiversity round explored strategies and best practices for creating inclusive environments that leverage the unique talents of neurodivergent individuals. Meanwhile, the gender pay parity round addressed the challenges and effective policies for achieving equi-compensation across genders.

The speakers in both rounds shared valuable insights, successful initiatives, and practical solutions from their organizations, inspiring broader adoption of inclusive practices and equi policies in the workplace.

Masterclass 2: Building an Inclusive Workplace Culture

At Masterclass 2 of the nasscom Global Inclusion Summit 2024, Shradha Shah, Niti Chopra , and Kavita Gopal from 摩根大通 led an insightful discussion on cultivating an inclusive workplace culture. They stressed the importance of fostering a sense of belonging, offering equi opportunities, and ensuring diversity in both services and products.

The masterclass underscored the necessity of comprehensive training to eliminate unconscious biases in hiring processes and highlighted the role of Business Resource Groups in supporting inclusivity. Kavita Gopal poignantly remarked, "You don't have to alter anything about yourself to fit in," capturing the true spirit of DE&I in nurturing an environment where everyone can be their authentic selves.

GenAI: The Diversity Game Changer We Can't Ignore - Report Release and Panel Discussion

The panel discussion on 'GenAI: The Diversity Game Changer We Can't Ignore' at the nasscom Global Inclusion Summit 2024 brought together esteemed speakers Jitendra Chakravarthy Putcha from LTIMindtree , Sreyssha George from 波士顿谘询公司 , Sangeeta Gupta from nasscom , and Santhosh Viswanathan from 英特尔 . The session highlighted Gen AI's pivotal role in enhancing diversity and inclusion. Key insights included the necessity of building diverse teams to create effective AI systems and using diverse data to mitigate historical biases.

The rapid advancements in technology and AI were acknowledged as driving forces for organizations to adopt inclusive practices. Emphasis was placed on the importance of trust and ethics in developing responsible AI that promotes inclusivity. The speakers also stressed the need for professionals of all genders to voice their perspectives, embrace challenges, and showcase their competencies. The session began with the release of a report titled "GEN AI: The Diversity Game Changer We Can’t Ignore," setting the stage for a deep dive into this transformative topic.

What Does it Take to Build a Workplace for Skill, Will, or Opportunity?

The panel discussion "What Does it Take to Build a Workplace for Skill, Will, or Opportunity?" featured Alina Alam from Mitti Cafe, Kapil Sharma from FiveS Digital, Pavithra Y Sundareshan from Vindhya e-Infomedia Pvt.Ltd, and Vineet Saraiwala from Atypical Advantage. These D&I advocates shared their empowering stories and highlighted the essential elements needed to foster an inclusive workplace. Alina emphasized the importance of focusing on abilities over disabilities to embrace diversity, while Kapil stressed that compassion and courage are crucial for overcoming workplace challenges and enhancing employee engagement.

Pavithra underscored the need for a two-way skilling process, advocating for continuous learning and development that benefits both employees and employers. Vineet discussed the balance of will, skill, and opportunity to create an ecosystem where everyone can thrive. The key takeaways from the session included recognizing and valuing individual strengths, fostering an empathetic environment, and ensuring ongoing mutual gth through comprehensive skilling initiatives.

Challenges Hindering Leaders from Walking the Inclusive Talk

At the nasscom Global Inclusion Summit 2024, Shankar Swaminathan, Fidelity Investments, Deepika Banerjee (Pronouns-She/Her/Hers) , 高盛 , and Sarika Naik , 凯捷咨询 , and addressed the "Challenges Hindering Leaders from Walking the Inclusive Talk to Build Inclusive Workplaces." They provided actionable insights for leaders to overcome barriers and reinforce their commitment to inclusion.

Key strategies included recognizing and addressing biases formed by prior conditioning, implementing continuous inclusion practices throughout the employee lifecycle, and gathering diverse perspectives for well-rounded decision-making. These steps are essential for creating a genuinely inclusive organizational culture that values and leverages diversity.

From Goals to Impact: Measuring DEI Success

At the nasscom Global Inclusion Summit 2024, the session "From Goals to Impact" brought together experts Vieshaka L Dutta (She, Her) , Publicis Sapient , Pallavi Nanda , Flipkart , and Nirmala Menon , Interweave Consulting Pvt Ltd , to discuss effective strategies for measuring DEI success. They emphasized the need to expand the focus from merely achieving diversity to fostering truly inclusive environments that attract and retain diverse talent.

Traditional metrics like employee surveys provide valuable baseline insights but often fail to capture the deeper aspects of inclusion, such as the quality of interpersonal relationships and workplace trust. Therefore, measuring these intangible aspects is crucial. The experts underscored that DEI is a long-term commitment requiring ongoing resilience and periodic assessments to measure progress and refine strategies.

Inclusion Stories: That's How I Did It - A Show and Tell Session

This session showcased inspiring real-life stories of successful inclusion from Sujoy Das (He/Him/His) of NetApp and Ankit Rajiv Jindal of NTT DATA . Sujoy Dass shared his journey of overcoming challenges and breaking down misconceptions about persons with disabilities, emphasizing the crucial role of emotional stability provided by allies. He urged the audience to look beyond perceptions and continue moving forward together.

Ankit Rajiv Jindal highlighted the importance of lateral hiring for disabled talent, noting that inclusivity should extend beyond entry-level positions. He stressed that clear communication and mindful gestures are key to fostering a sense of belonging and that intent is vital in creating an inclusive culture. These compelling stories and practical tips inspired attendees to implement these lessons in their own workplaces, reinforcing the importance of DEI in organizational success.

Masterclass 3: Trans Inclusion 101: Navigating Challenges to Transgender Inclusion at Workplace

The inspiring and insightful masterclass on Trans Inclusion 101, hosted by Publicis Sapient and PeriFerry featured speakers Sai Nagarajan and Ilene Ann Santhosh , Periferry, and Vieshaka L Dutta (She, Her) , Publicis Sapient. They highlighted the critical importance of sensitization and training to educate employees about transgender inclusion. They emphasized the need for community outreach to engage and support the transgender community actively. The masterclass also stressed setting achievable objectives to measure progress and the necessity of building robust, inclusive support systems within organizations. These key takeaways provide a roadmap for creating a more inclusive and supportive environment for transgender individuals in the workplace.

Beyond Pinkwashing: Authentic Inclusion or Mere Optics?

In the session "Beyond Pinkwashing: Authentic Inclusion or Mere Optics?", D&I champions Shubha Chacko , Solidarity Foundation, Aruna Newton , 印孚瑟斯 , D&I Consultant Chandra Duraiswamy , and Kusuma K , Intuit , discussed how organizations can ensure their DEI efforts are substantive and not just symbolic. They emphasized focusing on practical solutions to address daily challenges, developing comprehensive and actionable DEI policies, and continuously supporting diversity with internal approaches. The panelists provided insights on creating an environment that genuinely fosters inclusivity and addresses the specific needs of individuals, moving beyond mere optics.

Building Inclusive Workplaces with AI

The session "Building Inclusive Workplaces with AI" featured experts Narayana Prasad Shankar (NP) , Zensar Technologies , Jayawant Tewari , 微软 , and Krupa NS , Xoriant discussing how AI can be leveraged to mitigate biases and enhance inclusivity. They highlighted AI applications in reducing bias in recruitment and data management, using AI-based virtual backgrounds to enhance professionalism in remote settings, and employing AI tools to analyze employee sentiment and improve workplace culture. Additionally, AI-driven accessibility features like voice recognition and automated captions were noted as essential tools for supporting employees with disabilities and fostering an inclusive environment.

Tech Empowering Marginalized Communities at Work

A dynamic panel of DEI evangelists, including Akshita Sachdeva , Trestle Labs | Kibo , Siddarth Daga , NeoMotion , Akshayee Shetty , Sense Kaleidoscopes: Autism Life Academy , and Prateek Madhav , AssisTech Foundation (ATF) , explored solutions for supporting marginalized communities in the workplace. They emphasized investing in assistive technology to boost employability for individuals with disabilities, ensuring educational institutions are accessible, and highlighting solutions like wheelchair scooter attachments for enhanced mobility. The session also discussed utilizing AI tools to make remote work inclusive and efficient, demonstrating the transformative impact of technology in promoting inclusivity.

Masterclass 4: The Role of Allies in Empowering Gender Equity

Tina Vinod , Diversity Simplified , and Moonish Sood , 简柏特 , delved into the snowball effect of experiences reinforcing stereotypes and biases, highlighting that gender equity transcends women's issues. They emphasized the pressing need to address male stereotypes contributing to mental health struggles and high suicide rates among men.

Key takeaways included the importance of unlearning entrenched biases and fostering a more inclusive mindset for all genders. The session called for a rethinking and reshaping of approaches to gender equity, ensuring a more balanced and supportive environment for everyone.

The Big Shakeup for Middle Managers: Transitioning Conventional Workplaces to Inclusive Workspaces

The session "The Big Shakeup for Middle Managers" brought industry experts Dr. Sree Niranjanaa Bose, PhD , Bosch Global Software Technologies , Neeraja Ganesh , @TEDx Speaker, Priyanka Verma , Servicenow India , and MuthuSusithra Devarajan , Broadridge , together to share insights on the transformational role of managers in promoting inclusivity. They discussed implementing reverse mentoring to foster generational understanding, creating platforms for employees to share challenges and collaborate on solutions, and promoting an organizational culture that values all voices. The session underscored the importance of ensuring every opinion is respected and considered in decision-making processes, regardless of age or experience.

Policies and People Practices: How to Spot the (mis)alignment

During this session, attendees explored approaches to identify and address the gap between stated DEI policies and actual people practices. D&I champions Maya Sreekumar , 高知特 Cognizant , Amrita Ganguly , Tata Motors , Pragya Singh , 百事 , and Jay Muthu , 英国电信集团 , shared best practices, including establishing Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) for the LGBTQIA+ community, offering training for specialized positions to trans employees, and developing policies to include same-sex partners in healthcare insurance and other benefits. These practices aim to ensure equal treatment and support, driving significant cultural change within organizations.

Championing Equity Through Sports: Creating Opportunities for All

Yasmeen Shaikh , NextGen Healthcare , in conversation with Rostow Ravanan (he/him) from Alfahive Inc. and the Nasscom Foundation , shared her story of overcoming gender bias. She highlighted how such biases are prevalent and detrimental in both sports and corporate environments. The session drew compelling parallels between the two, emphasizing the importance of equity in creating opportunities for all and challenging stereotypes that limit potential. Yasmeen's journey underscored the need for continuous efforts to break down gender biases and promote inclusivity.

The nasscom Global Inclusion Summit 2024 was a resounding success, providing valuable insights and fostering meaningful connections. By transforming ideas into tangible outcomes, we are well on our way to creating a more inclusive world for all.

Stay tuned for more updates and join us on another transformative journey during the next Global Inclusion Summit!