Four industry experts, Pallavi Arora, Jhilmil Kochar, Soundari Arunachalam, and Priyanka Swain, in an exclusive conversation with ET Insights.
International Women in Engineering Day is celebrated around the world on the 23rd of June. It is to commemorate and celebrate the work done by women around the world in the field of engineering – a traditional field dominated by men. The growth of women in engineering over the past few years is a testament to the collective efforts of governments, organizations, and non-profits. The number of female students in STEM fields has increased over the past few years, however, their participation in the workforce remains low.
At ET Insights, we spoke to a few women leaders to understand the challenges they faced when entering this demanding domain, their global triumphs, and their journey forward.
Pallavi Arora, Vice President, Cisco Customer Experience (CX) Centers
Major Triumphs:
Throughout my three-decade engineering and customer experience career, I have witnessed the transformative power of innovation. My team and I developed a VoIP-based unified communication product over a decade ago. It simplified the management and usage of the product to suit SMB customers in India, which was later adopted and scaled by the global team.
Your predictions for the top technology trends shaping the next 5 years – Is it going to be AI-based?
AI and ML will shape the top technology trends across engineering, security, collaboration, hybrid cloud, and more. We will witness the rise of predictive networks and innovations that gather data from various telemetry sources, pre-empting user experience issues. The evolution of cybersecurity and IT infrastructure will align with the changing landscape, while SD-WAN technologies enable secure connectivity between users, devices, and systems.
Jhilmil Kochar, Managing Director, CrowdStrike India
Challenges faced when entering the industry and top technology trends
When I embarked on my career journey, there were limited opportunities for women in engineering and I had to persuade my parents to let me pursue a career in STEM. Today, it is encouraging to see how the situation has significantly improved from what it was a few years ago.
With the rise of technologies such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), Machine Learning (ML), cloud computing, data analytics, and blockchain, the demand for women engineers has surged across various industries in India. Additionally, with the increased use of digital technologies and systems, cybersecurity remains a top priority for both organizations and individuals. AI and ML are expected to play a bigger role in cybersecurity, enabling organizations to detect and respond to threats more quickly and accurately. Therefore, it is a promising time for women to seize the opportunities that engineering presents, while also bringing forth their unique perspectives and talents to the field. Themed #MakeSafetySeen this year, International Women in Engineering Day serves as a powerful reminder to break barriers, challenge stereotypes, and create an inclusive environment where women can thrive and excel in engineering.
Soundari Arunachalam, Director R&D, Honeywell Technology Solutions
Major Triumph in the international domain
I have a deep-rooted passion for the energy industry. A few years back, we had an opportunity to come up with solutions for the digital transformation of the utility Industry. We worked with global teams, met quite a lot of energy utility professionals across the globe, and started a journey towards improving the energy value chain. 
Since then, we have made significant improvements in our Meter Data collection, Meter Data Management, Field Device management, Renewable Fuel injection, and Utility Safety solutions. I am quite proud of what we have achieved and really thrilled about the future.
Your predictions for the top technology trends shaping the next 5 years?
Technology only has meaning if it promotes development. With sustainability in everyone’s mind, any new technology that aids us in making the world a better place for future generations is a top technology bet. Efficient carbon management technologies, a circular economy, and greener fuels will shape the future. AI has taken a monumental leap with the growth of “Generative AI” and is allowing humans to perform more innovative jobs than simple monotone routines. Explainable and Trustable AI Technologies, Metaverse, 5G, and Sustainable Technologies, according to me, will be leading the industry in the next few years.
Priyanka Swain, Director- Engineering, Tally Solutions
Your predictions for the top technology trends shaping the next 5 years?
The next five years are expected to witness significant advancements in AI-based technologies. Some of the top technology trends that are likely to shape the next five years are AI-based, considering the current trend. Some of the applications, like Explainable AI, AI-powered Automation, edge AI, AI in Healthcare, etc., are some of the AI-powered trends that could pick up pace in the next few years. Other than this, Internet of Things (IoT), Edge Computing, Quantum Computing, AR and VR, Blockchain, native application development language engine (TDL) for rapid application development, customization, and Distributed Ledger Technology (DLT) are trends that represent a glimpse into the transformative technologies that are expected to shape the next five years.
