Women's Day: People Leaders tell us How Indian Inc is Prioritizing Women Professionals' Growth

By: WE Staff

Mukta Nakra, Head - Human Resources & Sustainability, Marks and Spencer Reliance India.

M&S Empowering Women’s Career Growth through STRIDE SPARK & more 

At M&S, equity is at the heart of our talent strategy ensuring that opportunities are accessible to all, based on potential and performance. With 30% gender diversity at the Store Manager level, we are committed to expanding women’s leadership within our business. Our STRIDE (IJP) program fosters internal mobility, with 26% of promotions going to women colleagues, enabling them to take charge of their growth through a transparent, merit-based system. Meanwhile, SPARK, our leadership development program with 40% women participants, provides structured learning, mentorship, and business exposure to accelerate career progression. From gender-diverse hiring to unbiased performance evaluation and equitable compensation, we ensure that every colleague, regardless of gender, has a fair and equal opportunity to advance.

Impact Created: Advancing Women in Leadership Through Inclusive Growth

The impact of these initiatives speaks for itself 63% of our top leadership roles, 59% of senior management, and 37% of our workforce are women. Our 46% gender hiring ratio over the past year further reinforces our commitment to building an inclusive workforce.

Sumedha Katoch’s journey at M&S is a testament to this vision. She joined as a Buying Manager and transitioned into the role of Chief Manager – E-Commerce through an interdepartmental move via STRIDE (IJP). As a participant in the SPARK Leadership Program, she honed her leadership capabilities and was later selected for BUILD, M&S’s Global Leadership Program. Through structured development, mentorship, and hands-on experience, she expanded her business acumen, refined her skills, and now leads a high-performing team.