We Must Stop Workforce Dropouts Of Women: Tech Leader Nupur Goenka

Nupur Goenka inhabited a continuous exploratory streak growing up, a major reason why she chose to study across courses and learn about different fields at a young age. Goenka, who also holds a degree in Cognitive Neuroscience, was fascinated by India’s growing tech sector, and making an opportunity in the space seemed like the next big step for her. 

Goenka, who serves as the Executive Director of the multinational technological organisation ‘Tally Solutions’ also ventured into entrepreneurship and co-founded ‘Clustr’, a data analytics company based out of Bengaluru, that is now part of Tally. Apart from the direction at Tally, she also is holistically involved in the company’s operations ranging from strategy, computer information systems, finance, and human resources. Her work is heavily spread across overseeing data science space and product management when it comes to the organisation. 

In an interview with SheThePeople, Nupur Goenka discusses her journey in tech, the choices she made as an entrepreneur, what makes her a dynamic leader, and why it’s integral to work from the grassroots if we want to establish equality in STEM.

Nupur Goenka’s journey 

The events that led Nupur Goenka to make a career in tech and reach the leadership position she is in today stemmed from her deep interest in the workings of space in India. Belonging to India’s Silicon Valley, Goenka tapped into the opportunity and paved the way to start a data science firm that could empower Micro, Small and Medium enterprises (MSMEs) across industries and geographies.

“I’m just getting started, and there’s still so much to learn and put to use,” says Goenka, whose involvement at the organisation is integral, considering she is hands-on with the day-to-day operations of the firm. 

On dealing with challenges during and after the pandemic 

The pandemic made us move from our regular routines to find a different kind of normal. In terms of businesses, it was another ballgame. Goenka shares her experience drawing from the past three years.

Transitioning is a challenge everywhere, and it was no different at our organisation; going from an office culture to a work-from-home trajectory was different, to say the least. Bringing a thousand-plus member team from office spaces to function in a similar fashion from home was a huge task, and our employees came together to make it happen. It was an achievement to enable it without disrupting day-to-day operations for almost two million customers worldwide. This paved the way for us to acknowledge the different working systems that we adapted without letting the organisation come to a standstill.

On why it’s integral to empower women in leadership 

As someone who dons several hats across organisations as a leader, what empowers Goenka to keep going is her quest to create an impact together with her employees rather than solely taking charge. What keeps the organisation apart from its competitors, she states, is the authentic delivery of products and services that has kept a loyal customer base, not just in India but worldwide.

When asked what, in her opinion, all stakeholders can do to ensure women get a fair chance at leadership, she elucidates, “The reality today raises the alarm because, despite all the efforts made towards empowering women in leadership positions, there are very few women on top of the ladder."

Apart from changes and opportunities not being equal, the area that requires more work is the bottom of the ladder - ensuring that women do not leave the workforce due to societal pressures and unfair practices is an important step if we want to see more women rise to the top.

Goenka points out how their innovation strategies on the go help them grow. “Our focus remains on delivering top-quality products and services, and that has kept us in the market for more than three decades. What keeps us going is our strive to revolutionise not just our organisation’s capabilities but also the Indian market that is rapidly moving towards massive digitalisation dependability. ”

Inspiring Women in STEM

To inspire more women to pursue STEM fields, what remains vital is empowering them at educational levels. That’s where the growth begins, says Goenka. “There are very few women role models in STEM for young girls to look up to. While women study sciences at the school level, the overall percentage of girls receiving education altogether is less too. The bottom-up approach is crucial here to ensure girls don’t drop out of these career prospects. While some companies are doing everything in their regard to ensure diversity and inclusivity, the percentage is low, and it needs a lot of effort at all levels.”

The organisation, Goenka assures, aims at closing the gap in all its power. We have a fair percentage of women at senior levels, and our culture is merit-based. This paves the way for equal opportunities and gives chances to employees across the organisation. “Policy changes are required, and so is the mindset that empowerment begins both at home too. Women must be supported in all spaces so their chances of availing opportunities become brighter.

Drawing from her experience and interaction with hundreds of people as a woman working in the field, Goenka reflects on the gender gap that is still prevalent in STEM globally. Goenka points out that if we are to achieve equality in the workplace, we need to measure talent equally, irrespective of gender. 

The gap is closing, but the journey has been slow for women. We need to understand and identify the core reasons why there is a gap in the first place, and it stems from both societal and internal factors. The systemic conditioning of many women dropping out of the workforce - either owing to responsibilities or due to unfair workplace opportunities - contributes to the gap.

Advice to aspiring entrepreneurs 

Goenka, as she puts it, has just got started, and there’s so much for her to deliver in the field; one of the many reasons why she pins her inspiration not on one person or event but on life as it unfolds around her. She advises aspiring entrepreneurs to first analyse what they wish to do as professionals and then get better at it. “To be able to create an impact in the industry, it’s integral that people first identify their purpose, hone their skills and then work hard at it; the rest falls into place.”

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