FLO Bangalore, led by Mrs. Deepa Bhoopesh Reddy, through its Social Impact Circle, led by Mrs. Neelam Agarwal, organised the STEM Roundtable titled “Education to Enterprise: Advancing Women in STEM” in collaboration with RV College of Engineering on 11 September 2026. The initiative brought together academic leaders, students, women entrepreneurs, technology professionals and industry experts to create a meaningful dialogue on the evolving opportunities and challenges for women in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics.
The roundtable was designed to bridge the gap between education and enterprise, providing students with exposure to real-world career journeys, emerging technologies, entrepreneurship and leadership opportunities. The discussions highlighted that women’s participation in STEM must extend beyond education and employment to include leadership, innovation, entrepreneurship, research and decision-making.
The session featured distinguished academic and institutional leaders, including Dr. Shyam Meda, President, Rashtreeya Sikshana Samithi Trust; Mrs. Sharmila Shyam, Philanthropist and FICCI FLO Member; Dr. K. N. Subramanya, Principal, RV College of Engineering; and Dr. Geetha, Vice Principal, RV College of Engineering. Ms. Deepa Bhoopesh Reddy, Chairperson, FICCI FLO Bengaluru, moderated the session.
The panel brought together Ms. Dekyi Yangtso Chawla, Founder, Reward 360 and FLO National AI & Digital Head; Ms. Sonia Singh, Founder, SHE Pays; Ms. Aditi Khedkar, Product & Engineering Leader; and Mr. Syed Nayeem Pasha, Director, TAC / Global Customer Services, Palo Alto Networks.
The conversation explored the importance of technical competence, continuous learning, confidence, professional visibility, mentorship, networking, and industry exposure in building successful STEM careers. Panelists shared practical perspectives on overcoming self-doubt, adapting to technological change, developing leadership capabilities and identifying opportunities in emerging fields.
Students were encouraged to view themselves as future engineers, innovators, entrepreneurs, researchers, founders and technology leaders. The event also created opportunities to explore sustained mentorship and industry-engagement initiatives connecting young women with experienced professionals and role models.
With 200 beneficiaries and a social media footprint of approximately 20,000, the roundtable reinforced the importance of collaboration among educational institutions, industry and women-led networks in building stronger and more inclusive pathways for women to enter, advance and lead in STEM.