The Indian arm of 100 year old US-based technology major, IBM, is all set to launch custom-made training programmes for its potential women leaders in technology and sales to create an accelerated leadership pipeline in these two segments traditionally dominated by men. As a matter of fact IBM last month elected Virginia M Rometty as the firm's first woman chief executive officer who will succeed Samuel J Palmisano as president and chief executive officer from January 1, 2012. IBM India aims to increase the leadership pool of women in technology by 20 percent and in sales by 15 percent in the next 18 months by taking help of programmes such as TechAcme and SalesElan. The move has been prompted by the attitude of young women who are becoming more adventurous in moving to new roles. The decision to increase the leadership pool is more critical given the fact that more and more decision makers among IBM’s clients are women.

The two programmes will complement IBM India’s succession programme for women in general management that started in 2009. In fact more than 6,000 women have participated in the firm's leadership programmes since 2006.

Source: The Economic Times