Bengaluru: The two-day IEEE Returning Mothers Conference (RMC) 2026 was inaugurated at Nitte Meenakshi Institute of Technology (NMIT), Nitte (Deemed to be University), Bengaluru. Organized in association with IEEE, the iExplore Foundation, WePOWER, and industry partners, the event brought together global leaders, academicians, and industry pioneers to empower women re-entering the workforce after career breaks.
Inaugurating the conference, Dr. Ramalatha Marimuthu, General Chair of RMC and Director of the iExplore Foundation, reflected on the genesis of the initiative in 2014, noting that the reluctance of women on career breaks to return to work represents a significant loss of talent for the nation. She emphasized that with backing from organizations such as the World Bank and IEEE, the platform seeks to help women overcome personal insecurities and look beyond domestic boundaries to contribute to a shared future. "Working together with supportive mentors and communities, every unique individual has the power to achieve greatness, but we must first have the courage to ask for support and believe in what we are doing," Dr. Marimuthu stated, urging participants to embrace networking opportunities and step forward with confidence.
Addressing the gathering, Dr. Srikanth Chandrasekaran, Country Head and Senior Director, IEEE, highlighted the intersection of technology and societal progress. Shifting focus from purely technical standards to the human impact of technology, he observed that the rapid, non-linear pace of modern change demands a community-driven approach to solve deep-rooted social challenges. He encouraged attendees to leverage IEEE platforms to exchange ideas, access resources, and advance their professional journeys.
The event was graced by Guests of Honor Dr. Prasant Misra, Chair, IEEE Bangalore Section; Dr. Chengappa Munjandira, Chair-Elect, IEEE Bangalore Section; Tanushree Bhowmik, World Bank Coordinator; and Dr. Bozenna Pasik Duncan, Professor, University of Kansas, USA. In their remarks, the dignitaries underscored that supporting returning mothers is vital for workplace diversity and economic momentum. They noted that mothers bring invaluable resilience, emotional intelligence, and time-management skills honed through parenthood, and that reintegrating them helps close the gender leadership gap while proving to the next generation that career ambition and family life can successfully coexist.
The two-day conclave featured dedicated sessions on reskilling, upskilling, and community building led by prominent industry leaders, including Urvashi Vaid Chibber of Fortinet, Satyam Khandelwal, Ashoka Vittal, and Rakshit Jain.
Among those present at the inaugural ceremony were Dr. J. Sudheer Reddy, Vice Principal, NMIT; Dr. Parameshachari B.D, Head, Department of Electronics and Communication Engineering; Dr. Lakshmana, Head, Department of Artificial Intelligence and Data Science; along with faculty members from institutions across the country and students.
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