Lenovo partners with TechnoServe Foundation to empower Women in Tech

Lenovo has partnered with TechnoServe International Foundation in aid to empowering women in Technology. With an investment of Rs.2,500,000, this partnership to provide holistic skill training to 100 female students from marginalised communities studying in colleges in Mumbai.

These students will have to undergo 120 hours of training over a 2.5-month period, which includes online training, one-on-one career counselling, assignment completion, workshops with industry experts, and employee volunteering engagements.

With its partnership with TechnoServe International Foundation, a non-profit, Lenovo and Motorola India are supporting to scale up the Campus to Corporate Careers Program (C2C) in India. As part of the Motorola Skills initiative, these students will be trained in the IT/ITES and BFSI sectors with a focus on soft skills to help them build their IT careers.

With the launch of ‘Make in India’, the manufacturing industry is reinventing and empowering women to be the future of the industry. As part of the Lenovo initiative in partnership with TechnoServe, 150 students will be trained in technical job roles like manufacturing and electronics in Puducherry. Lenovo will provide two-months of paid on-the-job training to a select number of students enrolled in the program at Lenovo Puducherry manufacturing plant. 75% of the students enrolling in the C2C program get a confirmed placement to post their training and certification.

“We at Lenovo believe that one of the most efficient ways to bridge the gender gap is by skilling and transforming India's women workforce. We are happy to be associated with non-profits like TechnoServe where we focus on skill training programs in the IT/ITES sector for women from marginalised communities. We are solely committed to uplift women by increasing access to such training programs thereby aiding communities in India with technology & the opportunity to improve their way of living. We believe that technology companies have the capability and the responsibility to stress diversity and inclusion. Lenovo has empowered 47(%) women from disadvantaged communities across India through its philanthropic initiatives. Technology can and should be a positive catalyst for change and evolution. Lenovo is channelling this capability to build a smarter future, where everyone thrives, together” said Rahul Agarwal, CEO and MD, Lenovo India.

On their partnership with Lenovo, Punit Gupta, Managing Director, TechnoServe, said, “We have trained over 13,000 students through our C2C program so far, 70% of whom are women. Apart from training students in 21st-century life skills for the workplace, we also help them to upgrade their technical skills, leading to a 75% placement rate in Mumbai, Bengaluru, and NCR. TechnoServe is proud to partner with Lenovo India to expand the reach of our program to more women in the technical field across different geographies in India. Together, we aim to empower youth with the knowledge, skills and confidence they need to create a better future and move their families out of poverty.”

Previously, Lenovo India has invested US$100,000 in the Lenovo and Motorola Skills Academy program. Lenovo-Motorola is working with Mumbai-based EduBridge, and Delhi-based Udyogini, a non-profit partner focusing on technology skill training, women empowerment and resource agency for micro-enterprises. The program has trained 1,428 female students in the field, positively impacting communities and the technology industry.

Additionally, Lenovo is committed to its women employees and provides a supportive environment that is inclusive and safe. This includes various initiatives such as Women in Lenovo Leadership (WILL), flexible working arrangement, Women’s Leadership Development Programme (WLDP), and D&I training to name a few. Lenovo also has a unique mentorship program called CATALYST where the senior leaders from WW, Asia Pacific, and India would mentor women employees from India.