CII initiative reaches over 10,000 women students across 19 colleges

Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), Mysuru Zone, has reached 10,162 undergraduate women students across 19 colleges through its SHE Leads-2026 initiative, aimed at equipping young women with industry-relevant skills and preparing them for the evolving world of work.

Titled “SHE Leads: 10,000 Dreams. One Movement.”, the initiative was conducted over a month, featuring 45 sessions led by 28 industry leaders and subject matter experts. It was organised through CII Mysuru’s HR/IR and Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Panel.

The programme sought to bridge the gap between academic learning and industry expectations by building students’ confidence, enhancing their professional skills, and providing practical insights into career opportunities and workplace requirements.

The sessions covered leadership and career growth, artificial intelligence and emerging technologies, corporate etiquette, communication and soft skills, financial literacy, workplace safety and rights, health and wellbeing, prevention of sexual harassment at the workplace (POSH), entrepreneurship, and job readiness.

Students also interacted with industry experts to understand professional expectations and explore career development opportunities.

Preet Kushalappa Kodira, convenor of the HR/IR and DEI Panel, CII Mysuru, and AVP and head of diversity, equity, and inclusion at Infosys Ltd., said the initiative was conceived to help young women enter the workforce with greater confidence, awareness, and ambition.

Reaching more than 10,000 students in a month was a significant milestone, she said, adding that the initiative’s impact lay in the opportunities it helped open up for young women. She credited educational institutions, industry leaders, and speakers for their collective contribution.

CII Mysuru plans to expand the initiative through continued collaboration with educational institutions and industry experts, providing more young women with industry exposure and relevant learning opportunities.

The programme is part of CII Mysuru’s efforts to empower women, strengthen industry-academia partnerships, and develop a confident, skilled, and future-ready workforce.