8 APRIL2025In the midst of continuous global debates regarding diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), CEAT -- RPG Group's, CEAT is reinforcing its allegiance to women-centric and inclusive policies in the otherwise male-dominated manufacturing industry.CEAT, the RPG Group flagship, is making ambitious goals to enhance gender diversity within its workforce with a target of 25 percent female representation on the shop floor and 20 percent in leadership positions (general manager and above) by 2027--well ahead of the industry average of 6-8 percent , says CHRO Somraj Roy in an interview with TOI recently. Women currently constitute 17 percent of CEAT's workforce, 9 percent in senior leadership.In order to achieve these objectives, CEAT has pursued an active hiring strategy, sometimes creating talent pipelines even before they have vacancies. The organization is broadening its talent pool by recruiting women from defense backgrounds, economically weaker sections (EWS), and underrepresented areas like Dharavi, Ladakh, and the Northeast. Their DEI efforts also emphasize educational and economic diversity, not only gender and disability.Since 2019, CEAT's gender balance has increased from 11 percent to 17 percent due to consistent policy reforms and inclusive measures. With approximately 8,000 employees, CEAT continues to blaze new trails with innovative initiatives such as a pre-Covid work-from-anywhere policy, five-day workweeks for shop floor supervisors, and flexible working rules for returned women professionals.One of its standout efforts includes the `Shakti' menstrual wellness leave policy, which allows women to take time off without prior approval. CEAT also prioritizes employee wellbeing, shifting focus from external benchmarks to internal happiness metrics like culture, growth, value, job satisfaction, and work-life balance. Feedback from these evaluations directly shapes policies such as unconscious bias training and wellness support, helping ensure inclusivity and employee-centric decision-making. 30-year-old entrepreneur Lucy Guo has been named the world's youngest self-made female billionaire. One of the co-founders of American annotation startup, Scale AI, Lucy entered the billionaire club owing to the company's recent tender offer valued it at $25 billion. The valuation saw an 80 percent jump from May 2024.While Lucy is no longer part of Scale AI since 2018, her ample stake (just under five percent) in the company has boosted her net worth to $1.25 billion.Lucy co-founded Scale AI in 2016 with Alexandr Wang. The AI unicorn has grown to become one of the key players in the artificial intelligence boom.In a conversation with Fortune, she commented on the recent development and said, "I don't really think about it much, it's a bit wild. Too bad it's all on paper haha," she told Fortune.Lucy is one of the only six self-made women billionaires under 40 globally. So far American pop sensation Taylor Swift has held the crown of the youngest self-made female billionaire. She achieved a net worth of $1.6 billion in 2023 October.After exiting Scale AI, Lucy founded Backend Capital, a venture capital firm backing early-stage startups.She went on to launch Passes, a creator-centric platform in 2022. With an aim to help celebrities and influencers monetise their fanbase, the platform has partnered with major names such as Olivia Dunne, Shaquille O'Neal, and DJ Kygo.Lucy was enrolled at Carnegie Mellon University but dropped out to join the prestigious Thiel Fellowship. She has previously worked in product design at Quora and Snapchat. IN FOCUSCEAT REAFFIRMS COMMITMENT TO WOMEN-CENTRIC POLICIES TO SUPPORT WOMEN IN MANUFACTURING AMERICAN ENTREPRENEUR LUCY GUO OVERTAKES T SWIFT TO BECOME YOUNGEST FEMALE BILLIONAIRE· CEAT, a part of RPG Group, is making serious efforts to make its factory spaces more inclusive· These programs are an expression of an increasing sensitivity to diversity and equity in the workplace· Scale AI Co-founder Lucy Guo named as World's Youngest Self-made Billionaire· 30-year-old Lucy Guo surpasses pop star Taylor Swift with Company valued at $25 billion
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