FICCI Ladies Organisation (FLO) hosted an inspiring session titled ‘Growth Code’ at District 150 by Quorum, Knowledge City, Madhapur. The keynote speaker was Kirthiga Reddy, former Managing Director of Facebook (Meta) India, who shared her journey, leadership lessons, and her vision for women in the age of Artificial Intelligence.
Future Skills for Women Leaders
Opening the session, Ms. Prathibha Kunda, Chairperson of FLO, said the event was built around two questions:
- What will the future demand from women leaders?
- Who has already lived that future?
She explained that by the end of the decade, 75% of the global workforce will need new digital skills. However, women currently hold only 18% of leadership roles in technology. According to her, the issue is not capability but opportunity and awareness.
Kirthiga Reddy’s Journey: From Nanded to Silicon Valley
Kirthiga Reddy spoke about her childhood across Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu, shaped by her father’s transferable job.
She said, “People who know me may not know that I am a Telugu woman. Moving between states early in life taught me adaptability.”
She traced her journey from Nanded to the United States, where she graduated from Stanford University and later became Chair of the Stanford Business Management Board.
She also shared why she joined Facebook when it was still young in India:
“It was a futuristic product with huge potential, so I grabbed the opportunity.”
Stories of Facebook’s Impact
Kirthiga shared real stories that showed the platform’s influence.
A woman once told her, “I don’t use the internet… but I am on Facebook.”
Another was of a domestic worker who used Facebook easily despite not knowing how to read or write.
“These stories reminded me that people care about what technology does for them,” she said.
Entrepreneurship and AI Leadership
After leaving Facebook, Kirthiga entered the world of entrepreneurship. She is now:
- CEO & Co-Founder of Verix,
- First female investing partner at SoftBank’s $130B Vision Fund,
- Founder of AI Kiran, an initiative to empower women in AI.
AI Kiran aims to reach 1 million women in the next year through mentoring, learning programmes, and leadership opportunities. The initiative is supported by organisations like NASSCOM, Aspire For Her, Youth Ki Awaaz, Karya, AnitaB.org, SheTO, and others.
Women, AI, and the Future
Speaking about AI, Kirthiga said the technology can transform the future.
Her advice was clear:
“Use AI. Rely on it. But always double-check it.”
Qualities She Looks for in Founders
When asked what she looks for before investing in a startup, she listed three traits:
- A bold vision,
- An obsession to solve a real problem,
- Something uniquely Indian in the solution.
She added that although many see her as a role model, her mother has been her biggest influence. Her daughter once reminded her that “inspiration must come from within.”
Summary
The FLO ‘Growth Code’ session highlighted the importance of digital skills, AI confidence, and leadership mindset among women. Kirthiga Reddy’s journey and insights offered a roadmap for aspiring leaders in a rapidly changing world.
