Progressive tech innovators like HCL clearly understand that diversity is a driving force of competitive business - now and into the foreseeable future. Celebrating and supporting women's achievements is a key aspect in forging greater inclusivity in the technology sector and making visible the long term value and impact of women's contributions.

HCL presented its Wave Maker Awards at the HCL Pavilion in Davos at the World Ecomomic Forum. The awards commemorate global goodwill champions from around the world and celebrates organizations and individuals passionately committed to such noble causes as diversity & inclusion, education & community upliftment, environment & sustainability, and technology for change.

A special guest at the awards was Australian cricket legend Glenn McGrath, who is also founder of the McGrath Foundation, which provides support for Australian women diagnosed with breast cancer and their families.

Among a number of winners were two very impressive women using technology for good to better enable an equal world.

Lauren Woodman, Chief Executive Officer of NetHope

Lauren Woodman, Chief Executive Officer of NetHope, a consortium of nearly 60 global nonprofits, empowers committed organizations to change the world through the power of technology. 

For over 17 years, NetHope and its members have united with technology corporations and funding partners to design, fund, apply, adapt, and scale innovative approaches to solve development, humanitarian, and conservation challenges. With the launch of The Center for the Digital Nonprofit, NetHope leads its members and the sector on a path of digital transformation that will yield exponential impact. The Center provides the guidance, resources and tools, and grantmaking needed for nonprofits to achieve the efficiency of tomorrow today. Together, the NetHope community can build a platform of hope for those who receive aid and those who deliver it.

Lauren’s career has been defined by the intersection of technology, development and policy. Prior to assuming the leadership role at NetHope in 2014, Lauren held a variety of high-level positions, including: managing Microsoft Corporation’s global education and government programs for more than a decade; serving as an executive at the Software and Information Industry Association; and shaping policy at the United Nations. Currently, she is a Stewardship board member of the World Economic Forum’s System Initiative on Digital Economy, and Society Stewardship board member, World Economic Forum’s Trustworthy Data Collaboration. Lauren holds a master’s degree from the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies and a bachelor’s degree from Smith College.

Njideka U. Harry, President & CEO of Youth for Technology Foundation

Njideka U. Harry, President and CEO of Youth for Technology Foundation, an innovative international education technology non-profit organization that is focused on using the power of technology to transform the lives of youth and women living in developing countries. YTF’s strength lies in its ability to access market demands, design developmental programs, provide linkages that accelerate business opportunities and administer customized information and communications technology (ICT) and entrepreneurship training programs that uplift youth and women from poverty.

Njideka also serves as a consultant to several social enterprises, for-profit businesses with a social mission and international agencies on matters related to technology for development, entrepreneurship, gender/impact investing and corporate social responsibility. She has moderated and served on hundreds of panels in international forums and her work has been featured world renowned journals, books on ICT and development and in Forbes and the Huffington Post.

Njideka earned her BBA from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst and an MBA from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University. She completed her post-graduate studies at Stanford University were she was a Reuters Digital Vision Fellow. Mrs. Harry is an Ashoka Fellow and a Schwab Foundation Fellow at the World Economic Forum.

Celebrated for their positive influence and unique transformation in their communities

Each award recipient was evaluated through the lens of HCL’s values and chosen based on the positive influence and unique transformation made in their communities over the past year. In addition, the recipients were commended for bringing a level of entrepreneurship to their endeavors.

“HCL is committed to developing a better world for the future and advancing the ways that organizations harness innovation to improve lives and experiences for global citizens,” said C. Vijayakumar, President & CEO, HCL Technologies. “This goal can best be achieved through lasting relationships and partnerships between like-minded organizations and visionary global leaders. Those recognized by our Wave Maker Awards are fantastic examples of the positive impact that goodwill champions are having on delivering the change that the world needs, and it is our great honor to recognize their achievements.”The awards fit into HCL’s history of philanthropic endeavors and commitment to its core belief in touching lives in a positive way. In addition, the awards reflect the overarching theme of the HCL programs at WEF, which address how business leaders can support global, regional and national initiatives that generate positive environmental, social and economic impacts for all. HCL leads the discussion between leading innovators and future leaders, around the convergence of innovation, human ingenuity and critical thinking to create sustainable, inclusive business models - and at HCL women are very much a part of these crucial and exciting narratives.

Using technology for a higher purpose and global good

As a leading global technology company, HCL forges technology for good. Learn more about on how the company is fulfilling this critical goal.

Want to work with a progressive employer? Search and apply for HCL's latest job opportunities.

Find out more