Empowering Women Through Innovative Returnship Program

In an ambitious move to foster inclusion and tackle gender disparity, the Mahindra Group has unveiled a groundbreaking 'returnship' program aimed at women who have taken a career break. This initiative, named SOAR (Seamless Opportunity for Amazing Returnships), is designed to reintegrate talented women into the workforce by offering them roles that match their pre-break experience, along with mentorship and training.

Ruzbeh Irani, President - Human Resources at Mahindra Group, emphasized the program's commitment to providing a comprehensive framework for these professionals to excel. Unlike other industry initiatives that may limit returning talent to short-term projects, SOAR aims to act as a talent accelerator, investing deeply in the professional development of women.

Addressing the Gender Gap in the Workforce

With urban female labor force participation in India significantly lower than that of urban men, initiatives like SOAR are critical. The program is part of a broader effort by the Mahindra Group to improve infrastructure and support systems in male-dominated environments, such as factories, to make them more inclusive for women.

On the topic of hiring policies, Irani stated, "We aim to hire the best talent, irrespective of gender. Our approach is to provide every individual with a fair chance to succeed." This philosophy underpins the group's strategy to address gender disparity and promote diversity within its ranks.