Summary:

As part of our 10-Year Global Roadshow, Women in Big Data proudly hosted the Vadodara Summit on February 22, 2026, celebrating five years of community building in India. The event welcomed 280 participants for a powerful day of connection, learning, and forward-looking conversations on data and AI. From thought-provoking keynotes on inclusive data design and responsible AI to engaging panel debates, hands-on sessions like “Prompt to Prototype,” mentoring, career counseling, and a DataThon Hackathon, the summit highlighted both inspiration and action. With the strong support of sponsors, community partners, volunteers, and allies, the Vadodara gathering marked another meaningful milestone in advancing women’s careers in data and technology across India.

Details from the team:

We are celebrating 10 Years of Women in Big Data (WiBD) with a Global Roadshow, and we hosted our Vadodara Summit on February 22 2026.

Incredible energy at the event, as we marked 5 years of building the WiBD community in India! Over 200 passionate participants joined us, adding their own unique spark to a day filled with connection, learning, and conversation. It was a wonderful gathering, united by our shared commitment to advancing women’s careers in data and technology and we are thankful to our male allies for joining us in this mission. 

This milestone wouldn’t have been possible without our sponsors Collabera, Xylem India, Omnivance Learning Solutions, NetWeb Software, Fiscal Ox, Dhyey Consulting, Pardy Panda Studios, Concentric Analytics LLP, B&S Group, Mentza, INOXCVA Sustainable Industrial Packaging, CyberFrat and
and our committed community partners Women in Tech®India and AWS UG for Women In Tech India. Shout out to Thomson Reuters India team for your large participation.

Key Highlights:

Deepika Mogilishetty‘s keynote on a powerful lens on the data gap between women and men reminded us that data is not neutral, it mirrors society. Inclusive data design can truly bridge systemic gaps.

Rajalakshmi Srinivasan shared the foundational principles of data management from her product management experience at Zoho.

Divya Bhatt, Business Head ASIA L&T Technology Services, encouraged us to look beyond generic models and deeply explore sectors like manufacturing, reminding us that impactful AI is built on contextual understanding.

Our panellists sparked an honest debate in 2 discussions: “Will AI become the next Y2K bubble?” And “Impact of AI in Education & Industry Productivity” offering practical, forward-looking insights, encouraging critical thinking, and responsibility.

Anand Gopal Bhatnagar reminded us that the human layer will always remain at the core of technology with his incredible storytelling.

The hands-on learning through  “Prompt to Prototype,” WiBD India mentoring, career counselling, and the DataThon Hackathon sessions reinforced that learning must translate into action.

Check out media coverage of our Vadodara Event

Grateful to all our volunteers and participants for their collaboration and belief in our vision!

We are just getting started post the huge success of our summit events at Bengaluru and Vadodara! 

You can write to us at womeninbigdataindia@gmail.com to get involved with our community.

Event Insights Summary

Overall feedback from participants was highly positive, with many attendees highlighting the strong speaker lineup, practical learning opportunities, and the collaborative atmosphere of the event.

Key strengths identified by participants included:

• Inspiring and knowledgeable speakers – Attendees particularly appreciated the keynote, expert talks, and sessions from industry professionals who shared real-world insights and practical experiences in data and AI.

• Hands-on learning experiences – Workshops such as Prompt to Prototype and the hackathon were among the most valued elements, providing participants with opportunities to apply concepts and explore AI tools in practice.

• Networking and community engagement – Many participants valued the opportunity to connect with industry experts, students, and professionals from diverse backgrounds, strengthening the sense of community within the data and AI ecosystem.

• Strong organization and execution – The event was widely recognized as well-coordinated, with effective volunteer support and a well-structured program.

• Empowerment and inclusion – The event reinforced Women in Big Data’s mission by creating an inspiring environment focused on women’s leadership, career growth, and participation in the AI and data fields.

Areas suggested for further enhancement include:

• Expanding hands-on and technical workshop sessions and incorporating more interactive demonstrations.
• Increasing interactive elements such as live Q&A, panel discussions, and small group networking.
• Refining session timing and scheduling to maintain engagement throughout the program.
• Strengthening event promotion and outreach to reach a wider audience and additional organizations.
• Sharing post-event resources and learning materials to support continued learning beyond the event.

Overall, the feedback indicates that the event delivered strong educational value, meaningful engagement, and a positive community experience, while also highlighting opportunities to further deepen practical learning and participant interaction in future events.