MUMBAI: Do you only appreciate God during festivals, or is the devotion an all-year affair? If faith and admiration are ingrained in us for the divine, why does it stop short when it comes to one of God’s finest creations—WOMEN? Why do we insist on sticking a ‘special’ label on just one day of the year to praise, worship, and acknowledge the achievements of women in male-dominated fields? Newsflash: women don’t magically become remarkable on 8 March and revert to invisibility the next day. Let’s retire the ceremonial fanfare and start giving credit where it’s due—every single day.

In India, women aren’t just breaking the glass ceiling-they’re bulldosing right through it, leaving society scrambling to pick up the shards. They’re running boardrooms, leading billion-dollar empires, and rewriting the rules of success. And yet, the elephant in the room remains stubbornly unbudged: why does gender bias still loom like a ghost that refuses to be exorcised? Women in leadership are no longer the underdog story-they’re the main event. So why does recognition still feel like an annual festival rather than an everyday reality?

Celebrating women once a year and calling it progress is like drinking one green smoothie and calling yourself a health guru. Indiqube executive director & COO Meghna Agarwal gets straight to the point, “Women’s economic participation is not just a social imperative but a strategic one, with the power to significantly boost India’s GDP.” And yet, despite the high-decibel conversations about equality, many women still find themselves playing a never-ending game of ‘prove yourself’ while their male counterparts get automatic upgrades.

The numbers across industries tell an interesting story. In IT, multinational corporations (MNCs) are making strides—mentorship programs and global capability centers (GCCs) have propelled 1,100 women into global roles over five years. In marketing, women hold 60 per cent of jobs in North America and 52 per cent of CMO positions, but only 24 per cent of C-suite roles in UK SEO firms. Advertising remains stubbornly male-dominated, with men holding 71 per cent of leadership positions.

India’s progress is a mix of wins and gaps. In media & entertainment (M&E), women hold just 12 per cent of leadership roles in top firms, down from 13 per cent last year. However, they shine on streaming platforms, occupying over 20 per cent of head-of-department roles. In advertising, women make up 40 per cent of the workforce but only 30 per cent of leadership positions-though leadership representation in India hit 36 per cent in 2025, surpassing global averages.

Meanwhile, tech and finance continue to lag. Women hold less than a third of tech jobs and only 18-19 per cent of executive roles. In NBFCs and MFIs, women occupy just 12.5 per cent of leadership positions, proving finance still clings to its glass ceilings. Progress is real but moving at a snail’s pace.

Infosys VP, head of diversity & inclusion, ESG governance & reporting, Aruna C. Newton highlights the slow but steady march forward. “Through our flexible hybrid work model and programs like Restart with Infosys and #IamtheFuture, we continue to unleash opportunities for women to stay intentional about their careers and cement their leadership in technology,” she states. Infosys is gunning for a workforce that’s 45 per cent female by 2030, but the question remains: if businesses can adapt at the speed of light for profits, why does gender equality move at the pace of a sloth on vacation?

The government is also throwing its hat in the ring. Supriya Lifescience Ltd. joint managing director Shivani Wagh points to the Union Budget 2025-26, which allocated Rs 4.49 lakh crore for gender-focused initiatives-a 37.5 per cent boost. “With over 14 per cent of Indian enterprises led by women, women-led entrepreneurship is on the rise,” she states. But there’s a catch. Access to the capital is still harder for women than finding a cab during peak hours. For every woman who secures funding, dozens more are stuck navigating a maze of bureaucracy and bias.

Paper policies sound great, but until the money starts flowing into real businesses, they’re just glorified wish lists.
Tech, of course, remains one of the toughest nuts to crack. Acer India director – commercial sales, Priya Krishnamurthy gets it, “Advancing gender equality is not just a necessity but a catalyst for transformation.” 

Translation? If the tech industry wants to stay ahead, it needs to do more than just talk a good game. Until women in STEM are as common as overpriced lattes in co-working spaces, we’re not done yet.

The outdated belief that women lack the ‘testosterone’ to run Fortune 500 companies is about as relevant as a fax machine. Women have proven, time and again, that they can lead with both ambition and empathy-two traits that businesses desperately need. And here’s the kicker: many of the men who once doubted them now report to female bosses. And guess what? The world didn’t end. In fact, it’s thriving.

Solitario Lab Grown Diamonds head of business & strategy Kamini Singh is all about recognising the brilliance of women. “Women are the driving force of change, shaping industries, breaking barriers, and redefining success on their own terms. This Women’s Day, we celebrate their brilliance, resilience, and unstoppable spirit. At Solitario, we believe every woman deserves to shine, not just beautifully, but powerfully, just like a diamond: strong, radiant, and timeless. Let’s Bling it!” she exclaims.

Meanwhile, SIG Group head of market, India & Bangladesh, Vandana Tandan insists that equality needs to move beyond paper promises. “Real progress in any industry depends on recognising and valuing the unique talents of every individual. International Women’s Day provides an opportunity to reaffirm our commitment to building workplaces where equal opportunities are more than just a policy, they are a reality,” she says. In other words, let’s ditch the lip service and get down to business.

Apollo Green Energy GM-corporate communications & digital marketing, Aanchal Sharma weighs in on the shift in leadership dynamics. “The stigma around women in leadership has not just changed. It has been challenged by women who refused to accept the notion that they did not belong. This shift has not been a single sweeping revolution but a series of quiet and persistent actions. A woman speaking up in a meeting despite being interrupted. Another negotiating her salary without apology. One balancing ambition with empathy without feeling the need to justify either. These everyday acts, multiplied across millions, have reshaped leadership.”

She continues, “Yet, progress remains slow. Women lead only 1.6 per cent of companies listed in the Fortune India 500, despite businesses with diverse leadership teams being 25 per cent more likely to outperform their peers in profitability. The numbers tell a clear story. When women lead, companies thrive. But leadership is not just about economic success. It is about reimagining workplaces where women do not have to fight twice as hard to be heard, where ambition is not mistaken for aggression, and where success is defined by impact, not outdated expectations.”

So, the million-dollar question: when does the stigma finally disappear? Women are already etching history-it’s society that’s dragging its feet catching up. 

Because the future isn’t female-it’s equal. And if you’re still debating that, you’re already in the past.