Advancing Gender Diversity: A Holistic Approach at Tata Advanced Systems (TASL)

In today's corporate landscape, fostering gender diversity is not just a moral imperative but a strategic necessity. Companies that prioritise gender diversity tend to outperform their peers in various aspects, including innovation, employee satisfaction, and financial performance. As a leading player in India’s defence manufacturing sector, Tata Advanced Systems Limited (TASL) stands at the forefront of this movement, showcasing a robust framework designed to Enable, Empower, and Engage its women employees.

Enablement lies at the heart of our approach to gender diversity. With an overarching gender diversity rate of 9.5%, TASL is committed to elevating this figure further. In the fiscal year 2023-24, 13.95% of new hires were women employees. The campus program has been one of the key platforms to bring diversity in the organisation, signifying a concerted effort towards inclusivity from the onset of careers. In fact, the 2024 campus hire batch has a gender diversity of ~44%.

The "Wings for Women" program exemplifies TASL's commitment to enabling women at at the shop-floor thereby promoting the theme of “Women in Manufacturing’. By recruiting 10th and 12th class pass-outs and providing them with rigorous training, TASL is creating pathways for women to carve out a technical career for themselves in a cutting edge Aerospace & Defence Sector.

Empowerment is not merely a buzzword at TASL; it's a tangible commitment to nurturing women's career trajectories. Recognising that approximately 80% of women are engaged in manufacturing and allied roles, TASL has implemented targeted initiatives to foster their professional development. Mentoring programs for women at the shop-floor and junior management levels wherein they are mentored by women colleagues at mid-management levels, provide invaluable guidance and support. Moreover, TASL actively promotes career advancement by sponsoring long-term educational opportunities with premier institutes. To date, around 30 women have seized this opportunity, furthering their academic pursuits and enhancing their skill sets with professional degrees in B.Tech, M.Tech and MBA.

Engagement is essential for sustaining momentum and fostering a vibrant workplace culture. TASL recognises the importance of continuous learning and networking opportunities for women employees across all levels. Periodic interventions, tailored to address specific needs and challenges, ensure that our women talent group remains engaged and motivated. The flagship "Breakthrough Series," orchestrated by the Tata Group DEI team, has empowered over 15 women from mid to senior management, equipping them with the tools and insights needed to navigate their career paths successfully. Besides, programs like "Flying Lessons" cater to junior and mid-management women, instilling a sense of aspiration and confidence by exposing participants to strategies for maximising their personal and professional potential. In 2023, 25 women seized the opportunity to spread their wings through this transformative initiative that imparted first-hand knowledge of the aircrafts on flight-mode.

Our 3-E framework—Enable, Empower, Engage—serves as a beacon of inclusivity and empowerment in the corporate realm. By fostering a culture of diversity and inclusion, TASL not only enhances its competitive advantage but also fosters a more equitable and prosperous future for all stakeholders. As CXOs, it is imperative to recognise that gender diversity is not just a box to check but a journey towards organisational excellence and societal impact. TASL's holistic approach underscores the transformative power of diversity, setting a precedent for industry leaders to follow suit. In the pursuit of progress, let us emulate TASL's commitment to enabling, empowering, and engaging women, ensuring that every individual has the opportunity to thrive and contribute to a brighter tomorrow.