Veena Hiranand

Pioneered women's leadership in India's tech industry through her visionary startup

Veena Hiranand: Empowering Women in Technology

Veena Hiranand (born 1958) revolutionized India's tech sector as founder of Incedo, the country's first women-led IT services company established in 1993. Her groundbreaking work challenged gender norms in a male-dominated industry, creating opportunities for thousands of female engineers.

As a former software engineer at Tata Consultancy Services, she recognized systemic barriers facing women in technology. Incedo's innovative approach combined gender diversity with cutting-edge IT solutions, securing contracts with Fortune 500 companies like IBM and Microsoft. By 2000, the company employed over 500 women and generated $12M in annual revenue.

Hiranand pioneered mentorship programs that became industry standards, including the Women in Tech Leadership Academy. Her 1998 TEDx talk "The Future of Women in Tech" inspired global conversations about gender equity in STEM fields. She also co-authored the UN Women's Tech Sector Blueprint in 2001, influencing policy in 15 countries.