Bridging the Digital Divide: Shreya Krishnan of AnitaB.org India on Inclusive Tech Leadership

In today’s rapidly evolving digital landscape, the intersection of technology, ethics, and inclusion has become a defining challenge for global and Indian enterprises alike. Shreya Krishnan, Managing Director – India at AnitaB.org, shares her insights with Faiz Askari, Founder-Editor of SMEStreet, on how businesses, governments, and communities can work together to bridge the digital divide and ensure inclusive growth for women and underrepresented groups in technology.

Faiz Askari: How can today’s business and technology leaders adopt ethical practices while addressing the digital divide, especially for marginalised communities and Gen Z entering the workforce?

Shreya Krishnan: Ethical leadership today means making technology work for everyone, not just a few. Leaders can start by investing in digital literacy and affordable access to technology so that marginalised communities aren’t left behind. Accessibility to digital tools and skills creates real opportunities for growth.

Workplaces must also become inclusive, transparent, and aligned with Gen Z’s values — fairness, openness, and purpose over profit. This generation seeks impact-driven organisations. By fostering inclusive environments, companies attract and retain talent that genuinely cares about purpose.

True ethical leadership goes beyond compliance. It’s about empathy, fairness, and responsible innovation — engaging diverse perspectives to address algorithmic bias and ensuring that AI and data systems promote inclusion rather than inequality.

Empowering Women in Technology: Breaking Barriers and Building Inclusion

Faiz Askari: AnitaB.org has been a strong advocate for advancing women in technology. What are the biggest systemic barriers that women in India still face, and how can organisations overcome them?

Shreya Krishnan: India has one of the largest pools of women STEM graduates, yet our tech ecosystem suffers from a ‘leaky pipeline’. Women’s participation drops sharply at mid-career levels — from about 51% at entry level to just 8–10% in senior leadership.

This decline is driven by multiple factors — the care penalty, where women spend over seven hours daily on unpaid care work, nearly ten times more than men; the benevolent bias, which assumes women prefer less demanding roles; and the hostile hybrid environment, where women constantly need to prove their competence.

At AnitaB.org India, we work through mentorship, policy advocacy, and community-building to change this narrative. But true change requires organisations to embed equity into their systems, invest in leadership pathways for women, and support shared caregiving and flexibility. Empowering women in tech isn’t just ethical — it’s a strategic necessity for innovation and resilience.

Faiz Askari: With 2.6 billion people still offline globally, what steps can governments, corporates, and social impact organizations take collaboratively to ensure Gen Z and future generations do not inherit the same inequities?

Shreya Krishnan: The digital divide is both an access and skills challenge. In least-developed countries, only 30% of people use the internet, compared to over 90% in developed nations. Even when access exists, digital skills are often missing — a UNICEF report shows that only one-third of young people globally have adequate digital skills.

To bridge this, governments, corporates, and NGOs must collaborate on inclusive infrastructure, affordable connectivity, and digital literacy programs that promote critical thinking. The goal isn’t just connecting people — it’s empowering them to participate confidently in the digital economy.

Ethical Leadership and the Role of Corporates in Bridging the Digital Divide

Faiz Askari: What role should corporates play in creating inclusive technology ecosystems? Is CSR alone enough?

Shreya Krishnan:CSR is only the beginning. Real transformation happens when inclusivity becomes part of a company’s core business strategy. Inclusive design isn’t a checkbox — it’s a strategic advantage. When companies intentionally design technology for diverse populations — women, people with disabilities, LGBTQIA+ communities, and rural citizens — they uncover unmet needs and open new markets.

Inclusivity must be woven into a company’s DNA — how it thinks, builds, and leads. That’s when purpose and profit truly align.

Faiz Askari: How do you see emerging technologies like AI, cloud, and digital platforms playing a role in bridging — not widening — the digital divide?

Shreya Krishnan: Technology can be the great equaliser — if used intentionally. For example, cloud computing has democratized access to infrastructure. A decade ago, a woman entrepreneur in a tier-2 city needed huge capital to start a tech business. Today, pay-as-you-go cloud models make this accessible.

Digital platforms, too, can empower — from connecting women artisans to global buyers to creating dignified gig-economy opportunities. When designed with fairness and inclusion, these tools don’t just connect people — they change lives.

Faiz Askari: As remote and hybrid work redefine workplaces, what opportunities and risks do you see for women and underrepresented groups?

Shreya Krishnan: Remote and hybrid work have been game-changers. They’ve opened global opportunities for women from tier-2 and tier-3 cities and enabled flexible, inclusive participation. Tech hiring from smaller cities grew by nearly 50% post-pandemic, allowing women to join global teams without relocating.

However, challenges remain — proximity bias, microaggressions in virtual spaces, and digital burnout. The future of inclusive work will depend on intentional design — creating workplaces that value trust over visibility and empathy over efficiency.

AnitaB.org India’s Vision for a More Inclusive and Equitable Digital Future

Faiz Askari: What is your long-term vision for AnitaB.org India in shaping inclusive digital ecosystems?

Shreya Krishnan: Our vision is to ensure that women and underrepresented groups are not just participants but shapers of technology. Over the next five years, AnitaB.org India will focus on research, community programs, and leadership development tailored to India’s tech landscape.

We aim to scale our flagship Grace Hopper Celebration India (GHCI) — Asia’s largest gathering of women technologists — and establish an AnitaB.org India Advisory Council to guide region-specific impact.

For us, success goes beyond numbers — it’s measured by how many women advance into leadership, how many organisations build inclusive cultures, and how many girls see themselves as future technologists. As India’s economy grows, inclusivity must be at the heart of progress.