With 45 finalists from 20 countries, this year’s awards shine a spotlight on inspiring female technologists and future tech trailblazers and those championing greater diversity and inclusion in tech.
by Suman Gupta
Mumbai,February, 2020: Booking.com, one of the world’s largest online travel companies and a digital technology leader, announced the finalists of the 2020 Booking.com Technology Playmaker Awards. In its third year, the awards recognize and celebrate women who are transforming businesses, industries, and communities through technology and inspiring the next generation of female tech leaders. This year’s shortlist consists of 45 finalists across nine categories, representing 20 countries including Argentina, Australia, Bolivia, Japan, Israel, India, Nigeria, Singapore, United Arab Emirates, and the United Kingdom. Recognized as current or up-and-coming trailblazers in technology, each finalist was selected for their pioneering advancements in technology, disruptive use of technology for business and society, or unwavering commitment to pushing the diversity agenda. Collectively, their contributions range from technology innovations in MedTech and female health, renewal energy, fintech and digital payments, to creating opportunities for women tech entrepreneurs and women-impact startups, and elevating the discussion surrounding diversity and inclusion in tech to new levels. Among the inventive tech minds shaping business and society today, this year’s finalists include 3 Indian women across unique award categories.
Indian finalists at 2020 Tech Playmaker Awards:
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Siddha Ganju, NVIDIA for ‘Technology Innovator’
This award recognizes an established female tech professional who has three (and above) years of experience working in the tech industry or an IT-based role. She will be developing, designing, implementing or integrating technology in novel ways, or has driven innovation in her company or organization through new technology. This award will be judged on the originality, creativity and innovative use of technology. A prize of €5,000 will be awarded to the winner.
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Preethi Guruswamy, Lean in Women in Tech, India for ‘Role Model’
This award recognizes an inspirational woman working in a technology role who is acting as a role model, and leading by example. They are inspiring the next generation of technology leaders, either by teaching new skills, acting as a mentor, providing support or guidance, encouraging more women or diverse communities to pursue careers in technology, or similar activities. A prize of €5,000 will be awarded to the winner.
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Shwetal Shah, MediaCom for ‘Champion of Change’
This award recognizes an agent of change (for everyone, not just women) who is tackling the under-representation of women or promoting diversity and inclusion within the IT and Technology workforce by championing women, changing company cultures, shattering glass ceilings or challenging the status quo. A prize of €5,000 will be awarded to the winner.
Started in 2017, the awards recognize and celebrate women who are transforming businesses, industries and communities through the innovative use of technology, while inspiring the next generation of tech leaders. The awards also honor champions of change who are challenging the status quo to help make the tech industry more welcoming, diverse and inclusive.
“Each of this year’s Technology Playmaker Award finalists has demonstrated outstanding achievements in technology, whether through innovation and an entrepreneurial spirit, business leadership and community impact, mentorship and inspiration for the next generation, or the pursuit of greater inclusivity. Whether from emerging economies or more established tech epicenters, these women technologists and advocates for diversity, are joined together by a remarkable talent and optimism for what the future of the tech sector will bring,” said Gillian Tans, Chairwoman of http://Booking.com.
The full list of finalists can be found on the Technology Playmaker Awards website. Winners will be announced at an awards ceremony on Thursday, March 26, 2020 in London, UK. The nine distinct award categories were designed to recognize the weight and breadth of the contributions that women are making across the technology sector. Each category winner will receive a prize of €5,000 (INR 3 lakhs), which they can opt to donate to a chosen charity or cause. The Technology Playmaker of the Year 2020 will be selected from one of the eight eligible individual category winners and will receive an additional €10,000 (INR 7 lakhs) prize.
The keynote speaker at the award ceremony will be Rana el Kaliouby, pioneer in artificial emotional intelligence (Emotion AI), co-founder and CEO of MIT spinoff and category-defining company Affectiva, and author of the forthcoming book, Girl Decoded. Attendees will also hear from http://Booking.comChairwoman Gillian Tans and the Technology Playmaker of the Year 2019, Linda Liukas, founder of Rails Girls, a global movement teaching girls to program.
Winners will be chosen by an esteemed 14-member judging panel comprised of global technology executives, entrepreneurs, founders and leading advocates of diversity and inclusion. The panel includes Sheree Atcheson, Head of Diversity and Inclusion at Monzo; Kimberly Bryant, Founder and CEO of Black Girls CODE; Ruth Chandler, Chief People Officer at Skyscanner; and Julien Codorniou, Vice President of Workplace from Facebook as well as Gillian Tans.
“We introduced this awards program to highlight the achievements of women in technology and celebrate the diversity of talent across the industry with the hope that it will inspire more to pursue a career in tech. We are proud of our progress, but also aware that more work needs to be done to create a more welcoming environment in tech for everyone,” continued Tans. “Global research by Booking.com reveals that one in five women working in tech feels that her contributions are under-appreciated, marking a clear obstacle to reaching true gender parity.[1] We need to continue to challenge existing culture, processes and mindsets if we are to further diversify the technology industry and make it a more appealing and inclusive space for people of all kinds to thrive.”
Beyond the award categories celebrating women’s achievements in various aspects of technology, this year the Champion of Change category honors an individual (everyone, not just women) who is tackling the under-representation of women or promoting greater diversity and inclusion within the IT and technology workforce.
About Booking.com: Founded in 1996 in Amsterdam, Booking.com has grown from a small Dutch startup to one of the world’s leading digital travel companies. Part of Booking Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ: BKNG), http://Booking.com’s mission is to make it easier for everyone to experience the world. By investing in the technology that helps take the friction out of travel, Booking.com seamlessly connects millions of travelers with memorable experiences, a range of transportation options and incredible places to stay – from homes to hotels and much more. As one of the world’s largest travel marketplaces for both established brands and entrepreneurs of all sizes, Booking.com enables properties all over the world to reach a global audience and grow their businesses. Booking.com is available in 43 languages and offers more than 29 million total reported accommodation listings, including more than 6.4 million listings alone of homes, apartments and other unique places to stay. No matter where you want to go or what you want to do, Booking.com makes it easy and backs it all up with 24/7 customer support.
