Rekha Menon – The first women chairperson of NASSCOM | Life journey

IT industry body NASSCOM on Thursday 22nd April 2021, elected Accenture India Chairperson and Senior Managing Director Rekha M Menon. She was elected as its chairperson for 2021-22. Menon is the first woman to this position in the association’s 30-year history. She took the role of chairperson for the National Association of Software and Services Companies otherwise NASSCOM.

She succeeds Infosys CEO UB Pravin Rao who was the Chairman of NASSCOM for 2020-21. The IT industry body also selected President and Head of Business & Technology Services, Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) Krishnan Ramanujam, as its Vice-Chairperson for 2021-22.

On her election Menon she said, “I am honoured and humbled by this vote of confidence by the NASSCOM Executive Council at such a crucial time for our industry. The ongoing Covid-19 pandemic continues to test the resilience of our more than 4 million people, even as it has created new opportunities for growth with technology emerging as the lifeline for societies and economies across the world.”

“As we cautiously navigate the pandemic, I look forward to working with the NASSCOM Executive Council and its members to drive our industry’s long term growth by augmenting India’s position as the digital talent nation for the world, driving people first innovation, and working with the government to create a conducive policy environment needed for sustainable growth,” she said in a statement.

President of NASSCOM Debjani Ghosh stated, “With the industry re-aligning itself in the new normal, I am delighted to have the opportunity to work with Rekha and Krishnan to drive the industry through another uncertain but growth opportunity year. As a champion of future skills and inclusive growth, Rekha’s past contributions to NASSCOM have been invaluable, and we look forward to working together to take our industry to newer heights in this new normal where amalgamation and integration of technology is going to continue, and digital skilling is going to be the cornerstone for a collaborative development.”

She joined Accenture in 2004. Rekha opened the corporate doors to become the Chairman and Senior Managing Director at Accenture India. She is responsible for forming and maintaining Accenture’s relationships with key external stakeholders. Menon adhered different strategic and leadership roles there. She attained global exposure while overseeing operations for wide geographies. It included India, ASEAN and APEC delivery centres and human resources lead for Accenture’s growth markets.

Menon is actively knotted with Accenture’s inclusion, diversity and corporate citizenship initiatives. She is a promoter of giving back to society and humanity at large.

She was a student of prodigy through school and college. Menon went on to graduate with an MBA. However, her parents always supported and encouraged all through her journey. Although it was not an easy one. She found it terribly difficult to get a job. Even the biggest brands were hesitant to hire a woman at that point in time.

Finally she got a job at Eicher. It was on the shop floor where women are rare. Thereafter, she entered Ashok Leyland where Menon was the only woman among 3,000 men.

Even though she was conscious of inequality on the ground, she never felt personally uncomfortable while working with men. Menon has observed gender discrimination quite closely in the industry. But still she never failed to prove the ideas and dominate men wrong.

Taking a glance back at her journey, Menon once told a reporter that she would like to personally help each woman to bring the best out of her potential to help her scale the heights of personal ambition.

She is on the Board of Governors at the XLRI School of Business. She has co-founded a not-for-profit named Akshara Foundation. A non-profit publishing house named Pratham that seeks to assure an opportunity for every child to gain education. Rekha is a gold medalist from the XLRI School of Business. She has experienced more than 25 years as an entrepreneur at Talisma Corporation and Aditi Services; and on assignments with and on executive management teams of Levis, Akzo Nobel and Cargill.

Rekha has been featured by Fortune India and Business Today in their Most Powerful Women in Business list. She was also Outstanding & Financial Times Top 10 LGBT Ally Executives.

Menon is a representative of the National Council of CII, National Executive Board of AMCHAM and USIBC’s India Advisory Council. An energetic voice for social causes. She is a role model and a woman influencer for many along with young leaders in making.

A driving force behind Accenture’s social impact initiative under Skills to Succeed. Accenture has equipped more than 3 million people globally with the skills to get a job or build a business.

She is a passionate hiking and cycling lover, Rekha is also a keen reader. She lives in Bangalore, India. A woman who is perfectly fit for her new position.