South Asian Women in Tech (SAWiT) is making waves with its groundbreaking initiative aimed at training 10 million women across India in generative AI. This ambitious programme, set to kick off on September 21, 2024, in collaboration with the ed-tech startup GUVI, promises to reshape the landscape of technology education for women in the region.
The initiative is being rolled out in three distinct phases: the SAWiT.AI Learnathon, SAWiT.AI Hackathon, and SAWiT.AI Festival. This strategic approach is designed to provide comprehensive training and engagement opportunities in AI.
As part of its nationwide rollout, SAWiT has focused significant attention on Hyderabad, a prominent tech hub, to spearhead its efforts. Partnering with T-Hub and the Hyderabad Software Enterprises Association (HYSEA), SAWiT hosted a pivotal event aimed at training 500,000 women in the first phase. The event drew influential figures from the tech world to discuss strategies for closing the gender gap in AI and fostering a supportive environment for women in technology.
Notable attendees included Sri Vidya Reddy, Chairperson of CII IWN Telangana; Srinivas Rao Mahankali, CEO of T-Hub; Priya Gazdar, Chairperson of FICCI FLO; Alexander McLaren, Public Affairs Officer at the US Consulate in Hyderabad; Sita Pallacholla, CEO of WE Hub; and Jit Putcha from LTIMindtree, among others. A key panel discussion, “Advancing Skilling and Support for Women in AI,” addressed the need for increased gender diversity in AI and the creation of supportive networks for women in the tech industry. Participants also benefited from a practical workshop led by Google, focusing on deploying generative AI models and exploring their real-world applications.
SAWiT.AI’s flagship programme is poised to be a game-changer, supported by an advisory council featuring prominent figures such as Roshni Nadar Malhotra, Samantha Ruth Prabhu, and Farzana Haque. With a goal of unlocking India’s USD 550 billion economic potential, SAWiT.AI aims to build a robust ecosystem for women in technology, providing essential resources such as networking, mentorship, skill development, and recruitment opportunities.
Through this initiative, SAWiT is setting a new standard for gender diversity and empowerment in the technology sector, driving forward its mission to build a thriving community of women tech leaders.