The first-ever "Women in Manufacturing" summit, hosted by Godrej Industries Limited (Chemicals) on March 18, 2024, gathered accomplished women leaders and rising talents in the manufacturing sector. One highlight was the screening of 4 To 40! The Ambernath Story, showcasing a remarkable journey of increasing female representation at the GIL (Chemicals) factory in Ambernath, Maharashtra. (Editor: This film was co-produced with the DEI Lab: go watch it after you read this!) Over 17 months, from April 2022 to October 2023, the factory saw its female workforce grow from 4 to an impressive 40. The film describes and celebrates how this was accomplished.

The event began with Tejal Jariwala, Secretary & Compliance Officer at GIL (Chemicals), setting the tone and welcoming GIL (Chemicals)'s employees and guests to the summit. Parmesh Shahani, head of the Godrej DEI Lab, introduced the audience to the fundamentals of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) and spoke about DEI efforts at the Godrej Industries group of companies. Nitin Nabar, ED and President of GIL (Chemicals), emphasised the importance of hiring and retaining women in manufacturing. Vishal Sharma, CEO of GIL (Chemicals), underscored DEI's significance for the organisation's vision.

The opening remarks were followed by a panel discussion moderated by Roshni Iyer from the Godrej DEI Lab, which featured business leaders Geetha Srinivasa, MD (India) of Ecolab; Vidyaprabha Wasdev, Location Lead of Corporate Security at Cognizant; and Puneet Rajput, CHRO at Piramal Pharma. They shared their challenges, triumphs, and the need for supportive environments for women in male-dominated industries.

Geetha stressed following one's passion, organisational support during critical times like maternity leave, and creating supportive career ecosystems. "More power to everyone who dares to make unconventional choices and follow their passion. It's truly rewarding to do what you love... Embrace your uniqueness and strengths... believe in your strengths, have a dream, and strive to leave a legacy with every project you undertake."

Vidyaprabha highlighted the importance of continuous learning and upskilling. Puneet made crucial observations about increasing women's representation on the production shop floor and sustaining inclusivity efforts.

Women employees Neha Tawade, Akshada Jadhav, Neha Tiwari, and Payal Matte shared their experiences at GIL (Chemicals), offering firsthand insights into what it’s like to work on a factory shop floor. The day concluded with an awesome self-defence workshop for women employees, equipping participants with basic techniques to practise when faced with danger.

The summit showcased the power of diversity, equity, and inclusion in driving innovation and progress in manufacturing. Let's embrace inclusivity and continue championing women's advancement across industry and leadership.

Text and image by the GIL (Chemicals) team.