IEEE Returning Mothers Conference 2025 Champions Women’s Workforce Reintegration

The two-day event served as a global platform for dialogue and collaboration on inclusive reintegration, emphasizing structured returnship models that integrate mentorship, re-skilling, and flexible hiring. Participating organizations included the World Bank, Silicon Labs, Beyonique Planners, Priyonix, and GeneInsight, which also extended recruitment opportunities to returning professionals.

Workshops such as “Leveraging LinkedIn and Naukri for Effective Job Optimization,” “Cybersecurity Career Paths for Returners,” and “Returning Mothers – Rebuilding with Purpose and Possibility” offered participants hands-on guidance for career revival and progression.

Highlighting the broader impact of caregiving on women’s careers, Ms. Tanushree Bhowmik, Social Development Specialist at The World Bank, said, “Across South Asia, women’s labour-force participation in sectors like energy and infrastructure remains as low as 8–23%. Initiatives like the Returning Mothers program and WIPAR network aim to help women rejoin without penalty, advancing equitable caregiving norms for both men and women.”

Prof. Takako Hashimoto, Director of IEEE Region 10 and Deputy President, Chiba University of Commerce, Japan, reflected on her own journey as a returning mother, stating that “transitions can become launchpads for leadership if supported by flexible systems and inclusive mindsets.”

Dr. Padma Sai Yarlagadda of VNR VJIET described the conference as “a sustained dialogue on career identity, caregiving, and inclusion,” adding that returnship must be viewed as a national workforce priority rather than a gender issue.

Supported by IEEE India Philanthropy, Quest Global, Ricoh IT Solutions, and The World Bank, the conference concluded with a shared commitment to building resilient, equitable, and innovative workplaces through inclusive returnship programs.