Beyond conversations, what concrete actions can organisations take to truly elevate women in leadership?

Amazon India recently hosted ElevateHER 2025, an event bringing together over 100+ women professionals and company leaders for mentorship sessions and career discussions. The Bangalore-based gathering, which coincided with International Women's Day, featured an array of compelling sessions aligned  with the IWD theme of “Accelerate Action”.

Opening the event, Shantanu Chakraborty, Director (HR) People eXperience and Technology, Amazon talked about the mindset that helped the company become inclusive. “Whatever programmes we run or policies we roll out, they must be born inclusive. For us, “born inclusive” means focusing on equity in every stage of product development and making our efforts more sustainable and integrated. When inclusion is built in right from the start, it becomes a natural, organic part of how that initiative plays out everywhere else. That’s the mindset we bring into everything we do, and it's what brings us together today .” he said. 

Speaking about the culture in the company, Deepti Varma, VP of HR/ People eXperience and Technology, Amazon India, Japan and Emerging Markets said, “At Amazon, we're building a culture where everyone can thrive. Our approach has evolved from mentorship to allyship and sponsorship, creating a support system for career advancement. Our leaders champion initiatives for employees, associates, and partners that foster growth within Amazon. ElevateHER 2025 aims to equip women from diverse backgrounds with skills and the network they need to achieve their career goal.”

Speed Mentoring: 15 Minutes That Could Change a Career

The centrepiece of Amazon's ElevateHER 2025 was a series of rapid-fire mentoring sessions where aspiring professionals engaged directly with Amazon executives about real-world challenges and opportunities.

"The various sessions including the group mentoring one at ElevateHER 2025 created a powerful multiplier effect. As Amazon leaders engaged with multiple talented women professionals, the collaborative space encouraged authentic conversations, shared learning, and collective problem-solving. Through these group interactions, Amazon ElevateHER has helped build a stronger, more connected community of women professionals who can continue to support and elevate each other in their career journeys.” said Rajeev Sharma, Director-Talent Acquisition, Amazon.

Participants received actionable guidance on leadership development, career advancement strategies, and building professional resilience—all compressed into focused conversations designed to spark meaningful change. "The mentoring session was more than just advice," reflected participant Astha Pant. "It encouraged me to reassess my professional goals, set clearer objectives, and approach my career with greater confidence."

From Bollywood to Corporate Leadership

Actor and author Sonali Bendre joined Deepti Varma, VP of HR at Amazon, for a candid fireside chat on "Guiding Light: Sponsorship, Resilience, and Empowering Women to Rise."

"Empowering women in the workplace isn't just about opportunity, it's about creating an environment where confidence, leadership, and growth thrive," Bendre observed during the session. This fireside chat brought a fresh perspective to the event, bridging entertainment and business leadership. 

Deepti shared compelling examples from her own journey, offering candid insights into managing various challenges as a working mother and wife. Deepti's personal anecdotes about balancing family responsibilities with professional ambitions resonated deeply with the attendees. 

“To all the women out there who’ve made sacrifices for their families, who’ve said no to themselves in order to say yes to others — I want to say this: whatever you’re doing in your career, whatever choices you make, you don’t need to teach your children anything. They’re watching you. They will simply emulate what you do.

So the next time you’re feeling guilty — wondering whether to attend that networking event, take that work trip, or accept that new role — remember, you’re setting an example. You’re not just raising children; you’re shaping future leaders, inspiring your family, your nieces, nephews, and everyone around you,” she said. 

Building Resilience

Apart from boosting the individual outlook, the sessions also focused on action steps that companies can take. A thought-provoking panel discussion - "Accelerating Action: Building Resilient Careers" brought together Amazon leaders Gitanjali Bhutani, Director - Software Development, Amazon India; Zeba Khan, Director, Consumer Electronics, Amazon India; Rajeev Sharma, Director-Talent Acquisition, Amazon, and moderated by Neha Gupta Mahatme, Director – Amazon Pay. The panel delved into actionable strategies to accelerate women’s professional growth and strengthen inclusive workplace practices.

"Building resilient careers isn't just about individual growth – it's about creating an ecosystem of support. When we combine strong mentorship with active sponsorship and intentional allyship, we unlock unprecedented opportunities for women leaders. The key is to move beyond conversation to concrete action - whether that's advocating for women in crucial decisions, creating visibility for high-potential talent, or ensuring equitable access to career-defining opportunities. This is how we build not just careers, but transform workplace cultures," Sharma emphasised.

What distinguishes Amazon's approach is its evolution from traditional mentorship programmes to more comprehensive development pathways.

"Our approach has evolved from mentorship to allyship and sponsorship, creating a support system for career advancement," explained Varma. This subtle shift represents a significant change in corporate thinking—moving from advice-giving to active advocacy for women's advancement.

The recently piloted "Sponsor for Success" programme embodies this philosophy, matching high-performing talent with skip-level leaders who serve as advocates throughout the leadership chain, providing tangible feedback for navigating promotions and strengthening critical skills.

Building a Pipeline of Women Leaders

ElevateHER 2025 is just one component of Amazon India's multi-faceted approach to gender inclusion. The company has implemented an impressive array of programmes targeting women at different career stages:

• Catapult: Developed in partnership with Harvard Business Publishing Corporate Learning, this programme focuses on mid-level women managers.

• Women in Leadership: Helps women in mid-management roles strengthen their professional networks and develop broader enterprise mindsets.

• Ask Me Anything: Provides fresh women leaders an opportunity to seek guidance from senior women leaders through one-on-one sessions, fostering mentorship and knowledge sharing.

• Listening Circles: Creates a safe space for women employees to engage in open conversations with leaders, fostering a sense of community and providing valuable feedback.

• Amazon Catalyst Program: A developmental initiative that enables Amazon women leaders to leverage the knowledge, experience, learnings, and guidance of senior Amazon leaders via 1:1 mentoring to accelerate their growth and professional development.

Beyond Corporate Walls: Building Community Impact

Amazon's commitment extends beyond its employee base, with initiatives like the Amazon Future Engineer Scholarships focusing on providing equitable opportunities in computer science education for underprivileged students, with special emphasis on enabling women's access to technology careers.

Amazon WoW: Supports career readiness for women in tech and other career paths.

Amazon Saheli: Empowers women entrepreneurs by providing them with a marketplace platform, fostering economic independence.

AmazeWIT (Women In Technology): A unique networking and learning event for women in the technology space to connect, engage, educate, and prepare them for successful careers in technology.

As corporations worldwide continue to grapple with gender disparity in leadership positions, Amazon's comprehensive approach demonstrates that meaningful change requires more than annual celebrations—it demands systematic, multi-level interventions that address both immediate barriers and long-term career development.

For the hundreds of women who participated in ElevateHER 2025, the event wasn't just a day of inspiration—it was potentially the beginning of a transformed professional journey with newly found allies at the highest levels of corporate leadership.

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