ThoughtWorks’ ‘Vapasi’ initiative encourages women techies to return from career break to active programming

ThoughtWorks, global software consultancy, recently concluded its fourth edition of the Vapasi programme, which aimed to encourage women developers currently on a career break, to return to active programming. The 2018 edition of Vapasi at Bengaluru was a three-week long intensive technical boot camp on Java and object-oriented programming.

This year, 22 participants enrolled for the programme with nine of them bagging a two-month internship with ThoughtWorks. Post the internship, these women will be eligible for full-time positions at the Company.

“We recognise that an inclusive work environment built around driven professionals is the answer to sustainable organisational growth. We are happy that the Vapasi programme is empowering women technologists to re-enter the workforce and continue their careers,” says Savita Hortikar, head-recruitment, ThoughtWorks India

According to Savita Hortikar, head of recruitment, ThoughtWorks India, “ThoughtWorks has always been passionate about diversity. We recognise that an inclusive work environment built around driven professionals is the answer to sustainable organisational growth. We are happy that the Vapasi programme is empowering women technologists to re-enter the workforce and continue their careers.” She further added, “Vapasi is also a platform for women technologists to network, connect with role models and become active members of the tech community.”

This year, the Company successfully completed two editions of the programme for a total of 44 women, 22 each in Bengaluru and Pune respectively. In the Pune edition, five participants were offered internship with ThoughtWorks, with three already being absorbed as full- technologists.

“I rediscovered the ‘coder in me’ and was given both the opportunity and guidance to get back on track with my career,” says Elizabeth Nisha James, a ‘Vapasi’ participant. 

Elizabeth Nisha James, a technologist for over six years, who returned from a four-year career break spoke about her Vapasi experience— “The programme has been a life-changing experience. I rediscovered the ‘coder in me’ and was given both the opportunity and guidance to get back on track with my career.”

“We recognised that every candidate had excellent problem-solving skills and confidence was the issue only because they had been away from work for a few years. Vapasi has been designed to bolster candidates’ confidence within the first week, and the following two weeks are dedicated to hands-on experience of working with new technologies,” Sethuraman Ramasubramanian, lead consultant, ThoughtWorks.

Sethuraman Ramasubramanian, lead consultant,ThoughtWorks and Vapasi trainer, shared his thoughts on the programme, “We recognised that every candidate had excellent problem-solving skills and confidence was the issue only because they had been away from work for a few years. Vapasi has been designed to bolster candidates’ confidence within the first week, and the following two weeks are dedicated to hands-on experience of working with new technologies.”

Vapasi is part of #TalkTechToHer, a ThoughtWorks campaign directed at women in technology with over six years of work experience. The campaign aims to elevate conversations around inclusivity and drive an important message that women can achieve as much as men, or more, when they are presented with the opportunities, without biases.