How to Integrate Flexi-Hours and Mentoring Programs to Support Women Entrepreneurs in Tech

ṄThis article has been contributed by Neena Dasgupta, CEO & Founder, The Salt Inc.

Imagine a young software engineer, Meera, who has spent years building her tech career. She dreams of starting her A.I.-driven venture but, while raising a toddler with limited help at home, the rigid 9-to-5 work culture seems an impossible hurdle. Across the city, Riya, a data scientist, has the skills and ambition, but she does not have the right mentors to guide her on her entrepreneurship journey. Their stories aren’t unique. They represent thousands of women in India who have the potential to lead the next big innovation in tech but are held back by systemic barriers. What if we could change that? And more importantly, how do we create an ecosystem to support that?

Flexibility: A Necessity, Not a Perk

Flexibility in work hours and structured mentoring programs are not just perks, they are essential tools that can empower women entrepreneurs in tech. Digital platforms allow work to happen anywhere, anytime and it’s time the entrepreneurial ecosystem catches up with this change. The Indian government is even drafting policies to support flexible work for women, recognizing its potential to boost female participation in the workforce.

However, flexibility alone is not enough. Flexibility is needed, as well as discipline and structure to succeed. That would require a well thought out plan to manage the expectations at home and from work. Being an entrepreneur, time is an owned commodity that needs to be used well to ensure business growth. There are a few things that always help to navigate this flexibility - 

1. Draw clear space boundaries. Make sure you have an office space designated at home that has all things needed to ensure uninterrupted work
2. Calendar work hours and personal hours very clearly. This is specially critical when there are young children at home who need attention. Planning work around their schedule becomes important to ensure productivity, but most importantly growth.
3. Build a strong support system at the home/work space to maintain the sanctity of the defines spaces.
4. Always make a quarterly plan to track progress, map expectations and make the right adjustments needed to remain efficient and stay the course.

The Power of Mentorship

The next step is to ensure you have a good mentor - a guiding force helping navigate the transition to entrepreneurship. The mentor ensures that one comes to terms with the obstacles and constraints and doesn't lose vision of the goals and plans. Structured mentorship programs have proven to be game-changers. Take the Accenture Women Founders Program, for example.

This initiative is specifically designed to support women in tech, providing them with mentorship, industry connections, and resources to develop deep-tech innovations. Google’s 'Women Will' program has been instrumental in providing digital literacy, business training, and leadership guidance to aspiring women entrepreneurs. 

One needs to follow the three basic principles to ensure one gets the most out of the mentorship.

1. Make a plan together and schedule fixed calls (possibly bi-monthly)
2. Review the plan weekly by self and mark out the challenges, the triumphs
3. Review the plan progress with the mentor and update it to add new wins, new challenges

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Visibility: Building a Personal Brand

Beyond mentorship and flexible work policies, one more crucial element that often gets overlooked is visibility. Focus on building your brand. A great idea can only make an impact if people know about it. Apart from funding, women entrepreneurs need to be seen and heard. A strong personal brand, built through storytelling, media presence, and thought leadership, can open doors that traditional networking cannot.

Whether through podcasts, articles, or speaking engagements, sharing real struggles and wins can inspire others and create stronger support systems. When one woman shares her journey, she lights the way for many more. Collaboration is another powerful tool. When businesses, investors, and industry leaders join forces with women-focused ventures, they amplify efforts to level the playing field. It's critical to become part of communities where one can meet, discuss and share thoughts and ideas. This peer connection allows for great collaboration ideas and also ensures that community support is available at all times. 

Policy & Financial Support for Women Entrepreneurs

Of course, none of this can be sustained without policies that actively support women in tech. Financial incentives, grants, and targeted funding for women-led startups can also remove significant barriers to entry. While government-backed schemes such as the Stand Up India initiative are already helping bridge the gap by providing easier access to funding for women entrepreneurs, ensuring that lack of capital is no longer a limiting factor, there needs to be a stronger policy ensuring that these women founders get the support needed to apply for these funds. 

The Future of Women in Tech Entrepreneurship

The shift towards a more diverse entrepreneurial ecosystem benefits not only women but also the economy as a whole. Diverse thinking generates superior solutions, and when women succeed, industries benefit. This further emphasizes the need to establish a strong support mechanism for women in the technology landscape. The tech industry's future in India depends on how well it can empower women entrepreneurs with flexibility, mentorship, and adequate resources.

Archaic work patterns must change, mentorship must be available, and more effective policies must be put in place to make it a conducive environment for women-owned startups. The next Meera or Riya must not have to sacrifice ambition for pragmatism. With proper support, more women will start and grow businesses, and with that, new ideas and innovation will bolster India's tech industry.

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