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'Career Choices Factor In Role At Home'

What does it mean to be a woman engineer in India? Some answers from the Intel veteran who moved back to India to start her company's new lab in Bangalore

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'Career Choices Factor In Role At Home'
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Having joined Intel Corp in Oregon in 1991, Vasantha Erraguntla moved back to India in June 2004 to start Intel’s new lab in Bangalore. The 40-year-old talks to Outlook on what it means to be a woman engineer in India. Excerpts:

Is being a woman engineer tougher?

Not a whole lot. Yes, the market does have fewer women engineers compared to men, but equal opportunity employers do encourage women across positions. I just kept in mind that performance must be on par and never to expect concessions.

At 40, you must have a young family. Does your job come in the way?

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Not at all. Today, for instance, I’m working from home because the person who takes care of my young son did not show up. But that is not a problem for my company, and at the same time, I am mindful of my responsibility towards work.

Do you think younger generations of women employees, particularly skilled workers, are more demanding of workplace facilities?

I wouldn’t say they’re demanding. For instance, good creches for children are rare in Bangalore as are other services to assist women. Organisations are stepping in to fill the gap.

Why didn’t take up an engineering floor-shop position instead of the IT industry? Is this an easier option?

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As long as women are primary caregivers at home, their career choices will take this into account. Worldwide, the factory shopfloor is dominated by men because of more rigid rules on physical presence. The IT industry is flexible because technology gives you independence—though within some limits.

Did your family support your engineering ambition?

Yes, always. They hesitated when I wanted to go to the US to study at the age of 20. But since I had a scholarship, it was understood I would go.

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