Draft:Avtar Group
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Last edited by Jeraxmoira (talk | contribs) 3 seconds ago. (Update) |
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Human resources |
| Founded | 2000 in Chennai, India |
| Founder | Saundarya Rajesh |
| Headquarters | , India |
Area served | India |
Key people | Saundarya Rajesh (president) |
| Brands | myAvtar.com, DigiPivot |
| Services | Recruitment services, DEI consulting, Skill development, job portal |
| Subsidiaries | Avtar Career Creators Flexi Careers India Avtar Human Capital Trust |
| Website | www |
Avtar Group is an Indian human resources consulting company founded in 2000, based in Chennai, Tamil Nadu. It was established by Saundarya Rajesh[1] and focuses on promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in the workplace, with a particular emphasis on second career opportunities for women.[2]
The company conducts and publishes research, studies, and surveys on human resource practices and runs initiatives such as DigiPivot, a skill development program for women in collaboration with Google,[3] and myAvtar.com, a job portal for women and other underrepresented groups, including the LGBTQ community.[4]
History
[edit]Avtar Career Creators was established in 2000 by Saundarya Rajesh.[5] In 2005, Avtar launched Avtar I-Win (Indian Women Professionals Interface Network), a platform aimed at supporting women re-entering the workforce after a career break.[5] By 2016, the network included 42,000 women professionals.[6] Avtar I-Win has partnered with organizations such as Accenture, Deutsche Bank, Genpact, HCLTech, Hindustan Unilever, IBM, IFB, Kraft Foods, PepsiCo, Naturals, Standard Chartered, and Vodafone to develop workshops that assist women in transitioning back to the workforce.[7]
As part of Avtar Group, Flexi Careers India was established in December 2011 to support women's participation in the workforce.[8] The company conducts research on women re-entering the workforce and has developed the Segue Sessions, a program that supports skill development for employment.[7]
In 2018, the company launched Bruhat Insights Global, a talent acquisition company that utilizes artificial intelligence and big data analytics to provide insights to reduce ghosting and improve offer-acceptance rates.[9]
In 2020, Avtar Group established a partnership with Google India and the Indian School of Business to launch DigiPivot, a free skill development program to help women acquire digital skills for modern careers. The DigiPivot initiative is a 22-week virtual course that equips women with digital marketing skills to support their entry or re-entry into the workforce, regardless of their career stage.[10] As of 2024, the DigiPivot programme has completed five editions.[11]
In November 2020, Avtar launched a job portal called myAvtar.com for women, the LGBTQ community, people with disabilities, and army veterans.[4] Avtar holds annual job fairs for women, with participation from companies in industries such as finance, technology, healthcare, and consumer goods.[12][13]
Research
[edit]Avtar Group annually publishes several reports, including the 'Best Companies for Women in India' (BCWI) list,[14] the Most Inclusive Companies Index (MICI), and the Top Cities for Women in India (TCWI) index.[15] The BCWI and MICI reports are published in collaboration with the research firm Seramount.[14][16] In the past, they were released in partnership with the U.S.-based Working Mother magazine.[17]
A study by Avtar revealed that the attrition rate for women at senior levels is 4%, compared to 8% for men at the same level. The study also found that while promotion rates for women and men at senior levels are similar, men are more likely to be promoted to mid-management positions. Additionally, it noted a 2.5% decline in the hiring of women between 2017 and 2018.[18]
In January 2022, Avtar's Status of Women's Workforce Participation in India report indicated that the pool of employable women jobseekers increased to 7.6 crore, up from 5.7 crore in 2016, with companies advancing gender diversity through career development, male allyship, and second career programs.[19]
In January 2024, a study by Avtar found that flexible work arrangements, such as remote work and flexible hours, are important for increasing women's workforce participation. The second edition of the 'Top Cities for Women in India (TCWI)' index indicated that while workplace enablers are beneficial, sustained employment for women also requires significant investment from local and state governments.[20]
The third edition of the TCWI study, released in January 2025, analysed 120 Indian cities. It reported that South Indian cities ranked highest in gender inclusion and women's career opportunities, with Bengaluru securing the first position, followed by Chennai in the second position. The other cities in the top five were Mumbai, Hyderabad, and Pune.[21]
Philanthropy
[edit]The company has engaged in various social causes especially empowerment of women through Avtar Human Capital Trust, a not-for-profit arm of Avtar Group which was launched in 2008.[22] It works on issues related to gender equality, poverty eradication, and provides employability workshops for underprivileged women in Tamil Nadu and Puducherry to support inclusive economic growth.
In November 2019, Avtar Human Capital Trust received grant from the Government of Tamil Nadu to implement a career guidance program in 1,000 schools across the state, in collaboration with private sector partners through CSR funding.[23]
Project Puthri
[edit]In 2017, Avtar Human Capital Trust initiated the 'Project Puthri' campaign on National Girl Child Day, January 24. This project aims to encourage career awareness among girls from corporation schools, helping them to overcome challenges such as poverty, early marriage, sexual abuse, and domestic violence, and to prepare them for potential roles in corporate India.[24][25] The program provides training in 40 different skills to enable girl students between the age group 13 to 18 to pursue careers following their tertiary education.[26] In May 2023, as part of Project Puthri, it awarded scholarships totaling ₹2 lakh to girls studying STEM, Arts, and Commerce at various colleges in and around Chennai, Tamil Nadu.[26]
Project Nipuni
[edit]In November 2024, the company launched Project Nipuni, a career readiness programme that aims to equip college girls with skills required for the corporate workforce.[27]
Project MITR
[edit]In 2022, Avtar launched MITR (Men Impacting Trust and Respect), a program designed for boys in Tamil Nadu government schools to promote respect and support for girls.[28] The initiative educates students in classes VIII to XII[29] on topics such as adolescent changes, women's historical progress, awareness of stereotypes and biases, gender inclusion in the workplace, and aspects of the Prevention of Sexual Harassment Act.[30][31]
Udyog Utsav
[edit]Since 2018, Avtar organizes Udyog Utsav, an annual two-day Career counseling event for girls from corporation and government-aided schools.[32] By 2024, ten editions of the event had been held.[33] In 2018, Udyog Utsav took place at Dr. MGR Janaki College for Women with 1,000 participants,[34] while the 2019 event, conducted in partnership with the Government of Tamil Nadu, saw participation from 800 girls.[23]
Awards and recognition
[edit]In 2008, Avtar I-Win was listed as an 'India Innovation' in Outlook Business's Top 10 niche services.[35] In 2011, Avtar received the Chinnikrishnan Innovation Award from CavinKare.[36] On January 22, 2016, Saundarya Rajesh, founder of Avtar Group, received the '100 Women Achievers of India' Award from President of India, Pranab Mukherjee and Minister of State for Women and Child Development, Maneka Gandhi, at Rashtrapati Bhavan.[37] In September 2017, the company received the TiE Stree Shakti Award from The Indus Entrepreneurs.[8]
In 2022, Avtar was included in The Straits Times's "Steward Leadership 25" listing for the Southeast Asia Pacific region, recognized by the Stewardship Asia Centre (SAC) and the INSEAD Hoffmann Global Institute for Business and Society.[38]
References
[edit]- ^ Ramakrishnan, N (June 30, 2014). "Helping women manage different avatars". Archived from the original on May 18, 2018.
- ^ Dey, Debjeet (September 25, 2019). "Helping women take a new 'Avtar' in their career re-entry". Asian Age.
- ^ Mathai, Kamini (June 18, 2022). "Avtar launches mentorship programme for women". The Times of India.
- ^ a b Khetarpal, Sonal (November 6, 2020). "Avtar launches exclusive job portal for LGBTQ community, army veterans". Business Today.
- ^ a b Ravindranath, Sushila (October 18, 2018). "How employers can create right atmosphere to get women into employment". The Financial Express.
- ^ Sampath, Janani (March 8, 2014). "Ushering in Second Career Change". New Indian Express.
- ^ a b Srinivasan, R. (November 8, 2012). "Segueing into a second career". The Hindu Business Line.
- ^ a b "Avtar bags TiE Stree Shakti award". The Hindu Business Line. November 17, 2017.
- ^ Saha, Prajjal (August 8, 2018). "Now technology to take care of 'ghosting'". HR Katha.
- ^ "Avtar Group launches second batch of its digital marketing program". The Hindu Business Line. February 19, 2021.
- ^ "Google DigiPivot programme is inviting applications from 400 women professionals, details here". Education Times. The Times of India. June 24, 2024.
- ^ "Avtar announces 6th edition of myAvtar job fair for women". The Hindu. September 24, 2024.
- ^ "myAvtar.com Draws Over 1000 Participants, Holds Over 250 Jobs In A Day". BW people. Business World. July 7, 2022.
- ^ a b "Gender Diversity: 100 Best Companies Add 3,38,000 women employees in 2023 Business". Deccan Chronicle. September 13, 2023.
- ^ S., Vidya (January 4, 2024). "Chennai is the best city for women in India, shows study". Business Today.
- ^ Basu, Sreeradha (September 25, 2024). "BFSI sector leads in women leadership, reports Avtar & Seramount Study". The Economic Times.
- ^ Ayyar, Ranjani (November 10, 2016). "Study reveals the best companies for women in India". The Times of India.
- ^ "Attrition in women is half compared to men". DT Next. September 18, 2018.
- ^ Phadnis, Shilpa (January 31, 2022). "Employable women jobseekers rise by 2 crore in 5 years: Report". The Economic Times.
- ^ Bhattacharyya, Rica (January 4, 2024). "Workplace, social enablers key to create sustained employment for women, says Avtar group study". The Economic Times.
- ^ "Bengaluru overtakes Chennai as India's top city for women: Study". The Hindu. January 9, 2025.
- ^ Warrier, Shobha (January 21, 2016). "She helps women find a career after a break". Rediff.com.
- ^ a b "Initiative to aid girls in govt schools achieve career goals gets go-ahead". The Times of India. November 4, 2019.
- ^ James, Merin (February 15, 2017). "Awakening the girl child Life". Asian Age.
- ^ Balaji, Kavya (June 16, 2017). "'Project Puthri a step towards women's development'". The Hindu.
- ^ a b Narayan, Vivek (May 23, 2023). "Avtar Trust provides scholarships to girl children in TN". The Times of India.
- ^ "Minister Anbil Mahesh Poyyamozhi launches 'Nipuni' career readiness programme for college girls". The Hindu. November 16, 2024.
- ^ "MITR initiative to train govt school boys launched by AHCT". DT Next. August 10, 2022.
- ^ S Krishnan, Madhuvanti (June 22, 2019). "Gender champions". The Hindu.
- ^ Poorvaja, S. (July 18, 2019). "Gender sensitivity and inclusion now brought into classroom". The Hindu.
- ^ V, Dymphna (August 9, 2022). "Tamil Nadu: Campaign to make 10,000 boys 'gender champions' launched". The Times of India.
- ^ "A launch pad". The Hindu. January 19, 2018.
- ^ "Project Puthri's 10th Edition of Udyog Utsav Charts Career Paths for Over 400 Girl Students in Coimbatore". Covai Post. September 2, 2024.
- ^ Murali, Aarthi (January 29, 2018). "Puthri makes girls career-oriented". New Indian Express.
- ^ "ConnectedWomen Leadership Forum" (PDF). Cisco. May 27, 2009.
- ^ "Awards for four budding entrepreneurs". The Hindu. October 8, 2016.
- ^ Sultana, Nigar (February 9, 2016). "Meeting Saundarya Rajesh, a woman entrepreneur who works for other women". The News Minute.
- ^ Khieng Yuit, Chor (November 30, 2022). "25 firms from Singapore and Asia-Pacific lauded for doing well by doing good". The Straits Times.