From boardroom to classroom - How female graduates are transforming the workplace into a fairer place

There is a silent revolution taking place in India's universities. Increasing numbers of young women are being employed straight from college, not only qualified but set on succeeding. As hiring patterns evolve, the number of women filling important corporate posts is slowly rising, especially in stereotypically vocationally regarded as masculine roles. For instance, in Jaipur's JECRC University, women constituted a total of approximately 35% of the placements this year. That's not a figure it's a symbol of diversity and a cultural and structural transition towards a gender-balanced setup in employment and education.

Throughout India, there are more colleges adopting experiential learning models that equip students, particularly women, with skills to address issues in the external world. Courses such as computer science, data analytics, mechanical engineering and finance are no longer male preserves alone. More young women are enrolling in these courses because of inclusive learning settings, structured recruitment training, and exposure to industry projects.

Others believe that this transformation is not fortune. Propelling the same are programs like campus hiring training (CRT) modules of a few months duration in communications, problem-solving, and technical abilities. Most students, especially women from tier-II cities or first-generation graduates, approach uncertain but leave with the will to confront industry titans. Even some universities tie up with platforms like CoCubes and HackerRank to mimic real interview environments.

Practical exposure is also on the cards. Tie-ups with technology firms like AWS and Google Cloud have subjected the students to practical exposures to cloud computing, cyber security, and software development. Such exposures have reduced campus placement drives to ruins, with firms wanting to hire recruits who can deliver value on day one.

Placements in the majority of the colleges are mirror-like. Huge women campuses are being recruited by TCS, Capgemini, Deloitte and KPMG companies from software development, consultancy, operations and analytics domains. It is not limited to metro cities. Increasing numbers of tier-2 city and rural town women students are now commanding fat corporate salaries, normally the first generation to do so.

At HR events and national conferences, recruitment experts also have begun paying attention. These analyses bring to light the way career-readiness training, diversity hiring practices, and mentorship are overcoming centuries-old gender boundaries.

In addition to the statistics, however, is the human dimension. For certain young women, a job offer isn't exactly an offer of employment. It's freedom, it's aspiration and shattering stereotypes. For some families, it's the first experience of business life for the daughter. For others, it's the start of an exhilarating new story, one that gets them from learning to empowerment.

The transformation also defies the standard presumptions concerning what women are capable of performing. In more exposure to leadership courses, research studies, and innovation labs, women students are not only enrolling but also leading.

Since institutions are competing to increase placement numbers even higher, most are now looking to assist women graduates to move on from first-level careers into developing leadership positions. Industry leaders point out that regular mentoring, transparent work cultures and visible role models will be critical to allow momentum to be sustained.

One thing is certain: The transition from boardroom to classroom is no longer a boy's game. Women in India are stepping up, defining the corporate sector and creating a legacy to last generations.