Nurturing women CEOs for a balanced future
Supria Dhanda
Executive Board Member at ABS India Pvt. Ltd.
Supria Dhanda is a seasoned business leader with over 25 years of experience in technology companies such as Western Digital, SanDisk, Alcatel-Lucent, and General Electric. She has held executive leadership roles in business and people functions, anchored mergers and acquisitions, and has been an entrepreneur. Her expertise lies in driving high-performance culture and strong growth through a fusion of Business Acumen, Corporate Strategy, and Organizational Development.
Supria is a Board Member for ABS India, a leading System Integrator in the Telecommunications Industry. In addition, she is a Ph.D. doctoral student at XLRI and an ESEMP fellow with AIB (Academy of International Business). Her research focus is on Entrepreneurial Strategy and International Business, particularly on new, young, and innovative born Global Firms and their post-entry performance in emerging markets. She is a thought leader in the Engineering R&D industry of India and serves on the NASSCOM Engineering R&D Council, NASSCOM Regional Council for Karnataka, and is a TIE Charter member for Delhi NCR. At Western Digital, she was instrumental in increasing the number of women from a mere 10 in 2012 to almost 400 plus by 2020.
Social commitment
Among the many social causes, a few are noteworthy. During her tenure, She has supported various scholarship programs for deserving and underprivileged women to pursue the Vedica Fellowship program and be absorbed in leading corporates. She has sponsored OSAAT programs for creating schools for underprivileged girls and boys. She has been a regular sponsor for SOS homes during her corporate tenure. She is a founding member of Rise against hunger, India chapter and has supported many a fundraising for mid-day meal schemes.
Supria is passionate about technology and believes in nurturing relationships and forming win-win partnerships. She is equally passionate about working with tech start-ups and catalysing the start-up ecosystem in India. She is a TEDX speaker and co-author of ‘Wiley Innovation Black Book Enterprise 4.0’ with a chapter on ‘Unleashing the Transformative Power of Innovation: A Perspective on GCCs’. She is also leading Women@Work, a KDEM initiative for the Government of Karnataka, and is an ICF certified PCC level Executive Coach who has completed her Master’s level certification (MCLC) in this field and helps CXOs and senior women leaders develop future inclusive leadership for a balanced world. In her next chapter of life, she would like to serve the cause of women through her foundation – BAGGGEL foundation – which stands for creating women leaders of tomorrow and empowering them across generations and geographies.
