In a bid to address the gender disparity in India’s STEM fields, Olay‘s #STEMTheGap initiative has launched a new phase focusing on the critical role of female mentors and role models.

Despite India having the world’s highest number of female STEM graduates at 43 percent, only 14 percent of them join the STEM workforce, reflecting the urgent need for change.

A recent survey commissioned by Olay revealed that a lack of female role models is a key factor discouraging young girls from pursuing STEM careers. As part of their 10-year program, Olay India is introducing three initiatives to combat this issue:

A Powerful Film: Olay has released a poignant digital film highlighting the historic achievements of Indian women in STEM and emphasizing the importance of contemporary female role models.

AI-SHU Virtual Mentor: A web-based virtual chat mentor, created with the input of successful women in various STEM fields, will provide guidance and support to young girls aspiring to enter STEM.

Mentorship with vLookUp: Olay has partnered with vLookUp to connect female students in higher education with STEM mentors online, facilitating meaningful connections with experts in the field.

Furthermore, Olay continues to sponsor STEM scholarships for underprivileged girls and is committed to supporting girls in India to pursue STEM education and careers.

With this comprehensive campaign, Olay aims to challenge stereotypes and inspire young girls to break barriers and pursue STEM careers, working towards doubling the number of women in STEM by 2030. Olay’s commitment to gender equality and fostering change in STEM education is poised to make a lasting impact on the future of female representation in the field.

Priyali Kamath, Senior Vice President, Skin & Personal Care – Asia Pacific, Middle East & Africa, Procter & Gamble (P&G) said, “For decades, Procter & Gamble’s legacy skincare brand Olay has maintained a deep understanding of women’s changing needs through science. At Olay, we understand the critical importance of female role models in the STEM field, and our commitment to bridging the gender gap is unparalleled. This year’s theme, centered on the significance of role models and the introduction of the mentorship initiative, highlights our commitment to ensuring every young girl knows that she can be the next leader in her field. Through initiatives like #STEMTheGap and our commitment to gender equality, we are working hard to double the number of women in STEM by 2030 and create a more inclusive and equitable future. We’re proud to recognize and support the next generation of women in STEM who will one day be making history in their respective fields, and become role models for young girls in the future.”

Ajay Vikram, Chief Creative Officer of Publicis Groupe Southeast Asia said, “There are many accomplished women leaders in STEM in India today. Yet, a ‘lack of mentors’ is often cited as a big reason why so few women make a career in STEM. This got us thinking. How do we not just celebrate the achievements of women in STEM, but be useful to be there at the very moment when needed, a friend and guide to any girl or woman looking for answers as they stand at the crossroads of choosing their path forward? Technology came in handy as a way to help, but we can’t wait to see how much more AI-SHU can do to help women find their way to a future of their choosing.”