Breaking Barriers: Women in STEM Urged to Lead and Innovate at IIT Patna’s International Women’s Day Panel
Patna: Women in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) must embrace forward-thinking and resilience to break barriers and redefine their futures, panelists at IIT Patna’s International Women’s Day event have urged.
The Centre for Career Development and Counselling (CCDC) at IIT Patna hosted a virtual discussion featuring distinguished alumnae who shared their experiences navigating careers in STEM. Speakers encouraged attendees to adopt a data-driven and fearless approach, emphasizing that challenges are inevitable but surmountable with determination.
Among the panelists were Aradhana Kumari, staff engineer at STMicroelectronics, France; Puja Choudhary, senior software engineer at HSBC; Arundhati Gupta, software engineer at Uber; Anushka Chakraborty, analyst at Accenture Japan; and Dikshita Reddy, product consultant at Sprinklr.
Kripa Shankar Singh, IIT Patna’s training and placement officer, highlighted this year’s theme: “Redefining the Future: Women Pioneering Change in STEM.” Panelists reflected on their journeys from student life to corporate careers, underscoring the need for perseverance and leadership. They urged young women to take initiative rather than follow convention.
The discussion also acknowledged the increasing representation of women in STEM, where many are excelling and even outperforming their male counterparts. “Today, opportunities for women in STEM are abundant—what matters is the willingness to seize them,” a panelist noted.
Anushri Tiwari moderated the session, while Shubhashini Shekhar delivered a vote of thanks. Dr Ashwini Asaam, professor-in-charge of training and placement, and Dr N K Tomar, associate dean of resources at IIT Patna, lauded the success of the event and extended their best wishes to the speakers.
The panel discussion served as a call to action for aspiring women in STEM, urging them to challenge norms, push boundaries, and shape the future on their own terms.
