AccelHERate Mumbai 2024 – HerKey Unveils Major Initiatives to Propel Gender Diversity in Corporate India

Neha Bagaria (Left), Founder & CEO, Herkey in conversation with Zia Mody (Right), Co-founder and Managing Partner of AZB & Partners

Mumbai, 13th June, India – AccelHERate Mumbai 2024, powered by HerKey, marked a significant occasion in fostering diversity and inclusion within the corporate landscape of India. The event successfully gathered over 150 senior delegates from top corporates, highlighting a collective dedication to enhancing gender diversity and empowerment across industries.

The day was filled with insightful roundtables, dynamic panel discussions, and expansive networking opportunities, all designed to propel the discourse on innovation and D&I policy progression. Attendees included industry leaders, change-makers, and advocates for corporate diversity, each contributing to the day’s vibrant atmosphere and meaningful exchanges.

HerKey’s flagship event witnessed the launch of the DivHERsity Benchmarking Report 2023 – 2024, powered by Herkey, an industry-standard report on women’s representation and diversity in Corporate India. Now in its sixth edition, this comprehensive report draws on data from over 300 companies, providing essential insights into the state of diversity from January 2023 to January 2024 with comparisons and trends from previous years.

Introducing a New Chapter for HerKey

The event also saw the launch of an enhanced HerKey platform, designed to bring a world of opportunities, support, and growth directly to women’s fingertips. Whether it’s career advice, mentorship, job opportunities, or community support, HerKey stands as a premier resource for women aiming to elevate their professional lives.

A Platform for Women (Her) and Allies (ForHer)

The HerKey platform will connect talented women with supportive companies, partners and allies committed to advancing women’s careers. The ‘Her’ role provides women with opportunities, resources, networking, and guidance, while the ‘ForHer’ role offers companies & leaders the tools to create a diverse and inclusive workplace, ensuring women can advance smoothly in their careers. HerKey is India’s largest career community for women – to nurture, support and elevate her career aspirations.

A key highlight of the event was a keynote address by Zia Mody, Co-founder and Managing Partner of AZB & Partners. “Early career stages are not particularly challenging for women, but returning to work after a break is. This is because they often have to juggle multiple responsibilities. Statistics show that 48% of women in India leave the workforce, often due to self-doubt about their ability to catch up and their adequacy. However, it’s important to remember that they can overcome these challenges. I believe platforms like HerKey are essential today. Twenty years from now, when we look back, we will see the significant changes we have achieved, particularly in advancing women’s career progression.” added  Zia Mody, Co-Founder & Managing Partner, AZB & Partners. 

Neha Bagaria, Founder & CEO of HerKey, remarked, “AccelHERate Mumbai 2024 showcased the remarkable commitment of companies dedicated to diversity and inclusion. It was inspiring to witness the power of networking and collaboration in action. This year’s event underscores our collective dedication to advancing gender diversity in the workplace. Together, we are turning challenges into opportunities for meaningful change, creating a future where women can reach their full economic potential and lead with confidence. These are true ambassadors who are pioneering the ForHer movement which is so needed if we want Her to succeed in the workplace.”

PwC, Deloitte, Cargill, Paypal and numerous other prominent corporations were in attendance. The event witnessed the participation of industry leaders such as A.K. Group, RBL Bank, 360 ONE Asset, HDFC Ergo, ForcePoint, and more.

AccelHERate Mumbai 2024 is a testament to the continuous strive towards narrowing the gender gap in the  industry, showcasing a commitment where inclusion and excellence converge.

HerKey is India’s largest career community for women – to nurture, support, and elevate her career aspirations. HerKey has been at the forefront of developing scalable solutions to increase women’s participation & performance in the Indian workforce. Founded in 2015, HerKey works with over 15,000 companies across India that prioritise diversity and inclusion and connects them to its user base of over 4.5 million women professionals.