HerKey Hosts AccelHERate & DivHERsity Awards 2025 in Bengaluru

The 8th edition of the AccelHERate & DivHERsity Awards, hosted by HerKey, took place on February 28, 2025, at Vivanta by Taj, Whitefield, Bengaluru. Recognised as India’s biggest conference and awards of the year for companies committed to advancing women's careers, the event brought together industry leaders, HR professionals, and advocates to discuss workplace trends and honour organisations fostering women's growth.

With participation from 300+ companies, the conference featured fireside chats and panel discussions on key topics such as talent acquisition, retention, employer branding, and leadership development. Industry leaders and attendees explored strategies for aligning technology with human connection, retaining women in hybrid workplaces, and leveraging women decision-makers in corporate strategy—fostering meaningful dialogue on the future of workplaces.

Neha Bagaria, Founder & CEO of HerKey, stated, "The AccelHERate & DivHERsity Awards have always celebrated companies that move beyond intent to action in advancing women’s careers. This year, we’ve seen organisations make significant strides in creating workplaces where women at all levels have the opportunities, support, and recognition they deserve. Their commitment to building equitable workplaces is truly commendable and essential in shaping the future of work."

A fireside chat with Raja Vasudevan, Global Head, Talent Acquisition & Head of India, People & Communications, Finastra focused on the evolution of diversity, equality and inclusion (DEI) initiatives. He said, “Diversity and Inclusion is a journey, not a destination. It requires a shift from number-driven policies to a culture of belonging, psychological safety, and empowered teams. The key is to move beyond checking boxes and focus on personalised support, allyship and enabling women to turn their own tables”.

The event concluded with the prestigious DivHERsity Awards 2025, which celebrated companies that have made significant strides in fostering women’s participation in the workforce. The awards were presented across multiple categories. In the Large Enterprises category, the winners included Mastercard Incorporation, Cairn Oil & Gas Vedanta Limited, Verizon Data Services India Limited, Hitachi India Pvt Ltd, and Airbus India Pvt Ltd. In the SMEs and Startups category, the awards were presented to Material, Elanco Innovation and Alliance Centre (India), Zyoin Web Pvt Ltd, BlueRose Technologies Pvt Ltd, and PeopleStrong Technologies Pvt Ltd.

Adding to the recognition, HerKey introduced the ‘ForHer Awards’—a new category celebrating companies and allies that are making a tangible impact on women's career growth. Based on the highest votes on the HerKey platform, this category spotlighted organisations that have gone beyond policies to implement real change in fostering an inclusive and supportive workplace. Aditya Birla Capital, Cargill, Finastra, and Pluralsight emerged as some of the winners, recognised for their commitment to driving meaningful progress for women in the workplace.

The event was supported by renowned partners, including RBL Bank, Trust Group, Ericsson, Finastra, Mastercard, Lenovo, Sanofi, Global Foundries, Angel One, Sequoia, Corning Technologies, and ZF Group—all committed to advancing workplace equity and increasing women’s representation in the workforce.