Women Who Lead, Innovate, and Inspire: Celebrating the Changemakers Shaping the Future of Tech

Women Who Lead, Innovate, and Inspire: Celebrating the Changemakers Shaping the Future of Tech

In a world increasingly driven by technology, the voices that shape its future are crucial. Yet, despite technology's promise of progress, a significant gap exists in terms of gender representation in the field. As it stands, only 32% of leadership roles in global tech are held by women—a glaring underrepresentation in an industry that claims to prioritize progress.

However, there are women breaking through these barriers, transforming industries, and demonstrating that technology is not just about algorithms and automation but about impact, innovation, and social change. These remarkable leaders are driving change on a large scale, reshaping their respective fields, and proving that technology’s potential is best realized when diverse voices are involved.

This edition of IndyaStory AWS Women in Tech Series highlights four trailblazing women leaders—Suparna Singh, Galveen Kaur, Shipra Bhat, and Shally Modi. These women are harnessing the power of technology to build scalable businesses that not only solve real-world problems but also inspire the next generation of leaders in tech.

The Women Shaping the Future of Tech

Suparna Singh – Co-founder and CEO of Frammer AI

Suparna Singh, Co-founder and CEO of Frammer AI, is no stranger to disruption. With a proven track record as the CEO of NDTV Group, Suparna’s career has been marked by her drive to innovate and simplify complex processes. At Frammer AI, she has revolutionized the way content is created. By leveraging AI to transform long-form videos into concise, engaging short-form content, Suparna is reshaping video content creation—making it more accessible and impactful for marketers and creators alike. Her expertise in digital video and AI-driven approaches has given her company a unique edge, driving its growth and setting it apart in a competitive space.

Galveen Kaur – Co-founder and COO of Connect and Heal

Galveen Kaur's journey is a testament to how technology can be used to bridge gaps in essential sectors like healthcare. Before co-founding Connect and Heal, Galveen worked as an investment banker at Deutsche Bank, where she developed a keen understanding of business and finance. However, a personal health crisis involving her father’s challenges with healthcare inspired her to co-create Connect and Heal—a platform that reimagines healthcare through a patient-first approach. By integrating corporate clinics, home visits, and emergency care into one seamless platform, Connect and Heal is simplifying healthcare for millions across India. With over 2.3 million families served, the platform is a powerful example of how tech can transform an industry that has long been fragmented and inefficient.

Shipra Bhat – General Manager at HomeLane

Shipra Bhat’s work at HomeLane has significantly altered how people approach home design. With over 13 years of experience in tech, Shipra has driven critical innovations in the home interiors space. As the General Manager at HomeLane, she played a pivotal role in streamlining operations and increasing efficiency through the development of the company’s Order Management System. Shipra’s leadership has also been instrumental in the creation of SpaceCraft, a cutting-edge 3D visualization tool that enhances customer experience by allowing them to see their dream homes come to life in precise detail. This focus on technology-driven customer engagement has helped HomeLane stay ahead of the curve in an increasingly competitive market.

Shally Modi – Co-founder and Product Head at Pratilipi

Shally Modi’s work at Pratilipi, India’s largest user-generated content (UGC) storytelling platform, is a shining example of how technology can democratize creative expression. A dual postgraduate MBA gold medalist, Shally has held several roles at Pratilipi, from managing author engagement to overseeing partnerships and product development. As the Product Head, she has led the company to success, enabling countless storytellers to reach a global audience. With a strong commitment to inclusivity, Pratilipi has ensured that over 65% of its top writers are women, breaking down barriers and creating opportunities for diverse voices. Under Shally’s leadership, Pratilipi has expanded into comics, audio, and physical books, further revolutionizing storytelling in India.

Building a More Inclusive and Empowering Tech Ecosystem

As these four women continue to lead their companies toward greater success, they remain deeply committed to creating a more inclusive ecosystem that fosters women in tech leadership. While their individual journeys have been shaped by unique experiences, all four leaders agree on one crucial aspect: creating an environment that supports women-led businesses is essential for driving innovation and societal change.

Suparna Singh emphasizes the need for greater funding opportunities for women-led startups. She notes that despite their proven leadership abilities, women often face challenges in securing capital, which can hinder their ability to scale their ventures. "Investors need to be proactive in identifying and supporting women-led startups. There is a wealth of untapped potential that needs to be nurtured," she says.

Galveen Kaur highlights the significant disparity in venture capital funding for women. "Despite strong returns from women-led businesses, less than 3% of global VC funding goes to women. Investors tend to view women entrepreneurs through a lens of risk rather than vision. This mindset needs to shift," she says. Galveen also points out that mentorship is critical, and that structured mentorship programs must do more than just provide advice—they should create tangible opportunities.

Shipra Bhat stresses the importance of challenging biases, particularly around career progression for women post-marriage and motherhood. She advocates for creating workplaces that offer flexibility, mentorship, and equal opportunities for all, regardless of gender. "The startup ecosystem has made progress, but we still need more deliberate efforts to empower women and ensure that women leaders are given the same opportunities as their male counterparts," she explains.

Shally Modi echoes these sentiments, adding that addressing gender biases and offering equal opportunities are essential for nurturing women in leadership roles. At Pratilipi, Shally and her team have made it a priority to ensure that women lead critical functions across the organization, from engineering to legal, product, and business. "At Pratilipi, we have created an environment where women leaders are empowered to thrive, and we continue to support women who want to follow in our footsteps," Shally says.

Advice for Young Women Entrepreneurs in Tech

The journey to leadership is never easy, and these women understand the challenges that young women entrepreneurs face. They offer valuable advice for those seeking to navigate the biases and roadblocks that still exist in the tech ecosystem:

• Suparna Singh: "Find mentors who have experience in your field. Don’t let external opinions or doubts affect your self-assurance. Remember that success is not about being aggressive—it’s about being strategic and negotiating wisely."

• Galveen Kaur: "Believe in yourself and stay focused. Build expertise, seek out mentors, and be part of the right networks. Success is about working smart, not just harder. Commit to your vision and build something lasting."

• Shipra Bhat: "Surround yourself with a supportive network of like-minded people. Stay persistent, continuously learn, and always trust in your own abilities. Challenges are part of the journey, but persistence will help you overcome them."

• Shally Modi: "Own your success, and don’t be afraid to speak with confidence. Tech and deep tech offer opportunities for women to lead in ways that were once unimaginable. Keep challenging the status quo and trust in your unique strengths."

The Role of Technology in Scaling Businesses

Each of these remarkable leaders has made key decisions in their respective companies that have allowed them to scale efficiently and remain competitive in their industries.

• Suparna Singh: At Frammer AI, the decision to develop a cost-effective AI model for high-quality video production was transformative. It allowed them to deliver scalable and efficient video content without incurring high infrastructure costs.

• Galveen Kaur: For Connect and Heal, the creation of a digital healthcare platform that prioritizes patient-first care was a critical decision. The integration of telemedicine, diagnostics, and emergency services into a seamless platform has allowed the company to scale rapidly, providing accessible healthcare to millions across India.

• Shipra Bhat: HomeLane’s decision to build its own Order Management System in-house was pivotal. The ability to control their technology stack has allowed HomeLane to adapt quickly to business needs, streamline operations, and improve efficiency in the highly competitive interior design industry.

• Shally Modi: Pratilipi’s launch of a mobile app for UGC long-form fiction was a bold move, especially given the internet access challenges in India. Today, 99% of the content on the platform is written via mobile, demonstrating how a strategic technological innovation can drive a platform’s success.

How AWS Helps These Leaders Build Scalable and Secure Businesses

AWS has played an instrumental role in helping these leaders scale their businesses. From ensuring scalability and security to providing flexible cloud solutions, AWS has enabled these companies to grow and innovate with confidence.

• Suparna Singh notes that AWS’s hands-on support and deep involvement in the startup ecosystem have been invaluable, providing them with the tools and resources necessary to scale their operations.

• Galveen Kaur highlights the critical role that AWS’s microservices architecture and secure infrastructure have played in helping Connect and Heal rapidly scale while maintaining security and privacy for sensitive healthcare data.

• Shipra Bhat credits AWS’s tools, such as Amazon EKS and Amazon CloudWatch, for enabling HomeLane to build a highly scalable architecture and monitor performance in real-time, ensuring efficiency and security.

• Shally Modi mentions how AWS has provided Pratilipi with on-demand scalability, secure data management, and a global network to deliver a seamless experience to users worldwide.

Conclusion: Empowering Women to Lead in Tech

These four women exemplify what it means to be true changemakers in the tech industry. Their stories prove that technology, when driven by diverse leadership, has the power to solve real-world problems and inspire innovation at every level. However, as their journeys demonstrate, there’s still work to be done to create a more inclusive and supportive ecosystem for women in tech. By investing in women-led ventures, fostering diverse leadership, and challenging outdated norms, the tech industry can move closer to a future that is truly representative of the world it serves.

IndyaStory.com

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Edited by Priyanka Roy