Godrej DEI Lab, the diversity, equity, and inclusion arm of the Godrej Industries group, has launched Gateway, a structured returnship programme designed for experienced women professionals re-entering the workforce after life transitions such as motherhood, caregiving, or marriage.
The initiative aims to strengthen Godrej’s retention and promotion efforts for skilled women. Currently, women represent 30% of Godrej Industries’ workforce, with the group committing to achieving a 40% inclusion rate across women, LGBTQIA+ individuals, and people with disabilities by 2031.
Gateway was unveiled at the Grand Finale of the second edition of India Included on Campus, Godrej’s DEI-focused case study competition for top B-schools. The 2026 tour visited eight premier campuses—including IIM Lucknow, IIT Delhi, XIM Bhubaneswar, ISB, IIT Bombay, SIBM Pune, TISS Mumbai, and IIM Trichy—challenging students to solve barriers surrounding female workforce participation.
The team from XIM Bhubaneswar—comprising Kamalpreet Singh, Anushka Duttagupta, Soumya Yadav, and Peehu Deshwal—won first place and a cash prize of Rs 1 lakh for their proposed returnship pathway. Other finalist teams included IIM Lucknow, IIT Delhi, and SIBM Pune, all presenting before a jury of senior Godrej leaders.
Recent research indicates that 74% of educated women in India take a career break, often facing steep hurdles when seeking re-entry. Gateway addresses this through structured onboarding, coaching, and cohort-based learning.
“A career break can change the course of a career, but it should not determine its end,” said Sumit Mitra, Group Head – HR and Corporate Services, Godrej Industries. “Returnships give experienced professionals the structure needed to re-enter with confidence while giving organisations access to talent that is often overlooked.”
Parmesh Shahani, Head of Godrej DEI Lab, highlighted that Gateway translates campus ideas into action by building a sustainable pathway back to work and making returnship talent a permanent fixture in mainstream hiring.
