As part of Veritas’ commitment to empower women and foster their growth and success, Veritas is proud to participate in the TechWomen mentorship program for the third consecutive year. An initiative of the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, the mission of TechWomen is to empower, connect, and support the next generation of women leaders in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) by providing them with the access and opportunity to advance their careers, pursue their dreams, and become role models for women and girls in their communities.
Six female technical employees were selected as mentors in this year’s TechWomen program, which kicked-off in Mountain View and Santa Clara on October 1st and runs through October 23rd. Those selected include Dnyanada pramod Arjunwadkar, Chandra Chezhian, Vallari Mehta, Madeleine McNally, Ramya Mula, and Meetali Vaidya.
A group from Veritas' TechWomen program, including, from left to right in the 1st row: Gina Kadri and Fatima Abdulaziz. And from left to right in the 2nd row: Ramya Mula, Chandra Chezhian, Greg Hughes, and Mark Dentinger.Alongside the technical mentors, two Veritas employees were selected to be cultural mentors for the program – Pavana Chitti and Vidya Deshmukh. These two support the Emerging Leaders’ professional and personal growth by helping them acclimate to life in the Bay Area and inspiring them to make the most of their time in the United States. Veritas' WAVE Bay Area representatives, Shalaka Prabhune and Sireesha Nekkalapudi, are also lending a supportive hand.TechWomen brings 100 emerging women leaders from Africa, Central Asia, and the Middle East together with their professional counterparts in the U.S. for a mentorship and exchange program. This year, Veritas employees are mentoring two emerging technical leaders: Fatima Abdulaziz from Nigeria and Gina Kadri from Palestinian Territories. The emerging leaders are spending three weeks with their Veritas mentors, learning about the company, working on projects, and enhancing their skills so that they have additional opportunities to succeed upon returning home to their countries.
When asked why she decided to participate in the TechWomen program, Gina Kadri said, “By participating in the TechWomen program, I will learn about a new culture and experience a different work environment, strengthening my capability to be an agent of change in my community where opportunities for women are few.”
