‘Hyd well poised to become India’s innovation capital’

As the first woman to helm Hyderabad’s apex IT & ITeS sector body — Hyderabad Software Enterprises Association (HYSEA) — in its 30-year history, Manisha Saboo has her task cut out. In an exclusive interview, Saboo talks to Swati Bharadwaj about her plans to give a new direction to the IT body

- Swati Bharadwaj

As HYSEA’s first woman president, what do you bring to the table and what do you intend to do differently?

Frankly, at work I choose to forget that I’m a woman, and do not differentiate myself based on gender. As a professional, I bring to the table an ability to collaborate across ecosystem partners, aligning all to achieve common goals. HYSEA intends to join forces with various government agencies, academia, large IT organisations, global capability centres (GCCs) and startups to shape the future of the IT industry in Telangana.

What will be your priorities during your two-year term as HYSEA president?

During these two years, we will take up interventions on three strategic themes — enhance the ESG quotient, enable talent transformation and enrich through knowledge exchange

Why are the number of women in tech low? What are the challenges they face? What is HYSEA planning to do to remedy this?

Personally, I believe the tech industry offers fantastic career options to women. We typically see a conducive work environment, equal pay, a safe work place, sound practices to avoid sexual harassment at work, fervent adherence to government guidelines with respect to maternity leave, late night work, among other things. Though WFH is helping women manage personal priorities while continuing to work, it is also inducing stress at many levels.