- Winpe, a non-profit focused on gender diversity, has launched the “Women on Boards” programme
- The initiative aims to tackle the underrepresentation of women on corporate boards in India
- It focuses on building a pipeline of board-ready women professionals
Winpe, a social nonprofit agency dedicated to promoting gender diversity, has initiated its "Women on Boards" program to address the long-standing underrepresentation of women on boards in India. The program plans to create a robust pipeline of board-capable women professionals and match them with private equity and venture capital-backed firms.
In order to cater to the demand side, Winpe has persuaded its network of international and local PE-VC companies and their portfolio firms to make a conscious effort to promote board diversity, appreciating the strategic benefits of inclusive leadership. On the supply side, the initiative will source and develop senior women—like entrepreneurs, advisors, and functional leaders—to join boards. It encompasses the creation of a specialized database, first-time director training, mentoring, screening committee, and peer networking sites.
Based on a 2023 EY report, as of 2022, women occupied only 18 percent of board positions in India, and almost 600 companies had only one woman represented on their boards. Winpe’s founder, Nupur Garg, highlighted that “true diversity begins when women are included for their expertise and leadership, not just to meet regulatory requirements”.
The initiative is supported by British International Investment (BII), the UK’s development finance institution and impact investor, which is helping Winpe scale its efforts. BII’s Shilpa Kumar emphasised that enabling women to access board opportunities strengthens governance and long-term value creation. The programme is advised by an advisory board which is formed by eminent leaders such as Deepak Kapoor, M. Damodaran, Naina Lal Kidwai, and Zia Mody.
