Brands
Quest Global says 90 per cent of its women workforce is in engineering
Women make up 25 per cent of global workforce as leadership promotions and retention improve
BENGALURU: At Quest Global, the gender equation in engineering is being recalculated, and women are increasingly solving for X. Ahead of International Women’s Day 2026, the engineering services firm has revealed new workforce data showing that women are not only growing in number across the company but are also increasingly embedded in the organisation’s core technical and leadership pipelines.
Women currently make up 25 per cent of Quest Global’s global workforce, but the more striking statistic lies in where they work. Nine out of ten women employees, roughly 90 per cent, are in technical and engineering roles. In an industry where women globally account for about 28 per cent of the Stem workforce, the company’s numbers suggest a different narrative, one where female talent is not clustered in support functions but directly involved in solving complex engineering challenges.
The trend is visible across several delivery centres. At the company’s Trivandrum facility, one of its largest engineering hubs, women represent 46 per cent of the workforce, compared with 54 per cent men, making it one of the more gender-balanced technical environments within the organisation.
Beyond representation, Quest Global says the momentum is also evident in leadership mobility. The share of women promoted into managerial roles rose to 25 per cent in 2025, up from 20 per cent in 2024, marking a five percentage point year-on-year increase.
Retention metrics show an equally notable shift. Female attrition has fallen sharply to 6 per cent in FY26 year to date, a significant drop from 18 per cent in FY24, indicating improved career continuity and engagement. Across the organisation, voluntary attrition has declined between FY24 and FY26 year to date, with women consistently recording lower exit rates than men.
For Quest Global senior vice president, people and cultureSonia Kutty, the numbers signal more than incremental progress.
“At Quest Global, our focus has been to ensure that women engineers are not just represented, but meaningfully engaged in core technical roles and leadership pathways,” she said. “Seeing over 90 per cent of our women employees contributing directly to engineering reflects our commitment to creating an environment where technical talent can thrive.”
She added that the rise in managerial promotions and stronger retention figures demonstrate that inclusive growth is becoming embedded within the organisation rather than remaining a one-off initiative.
Quest Global co-founder and CEO Ajit Prabhu, said diversity is becoming increasingly critical as engineering challenges grow more complex.
“Engineering innovation thrives on diverse perspectives, and increasing participation of women in technical roles is essential to solving the complex challenges industries face today,” he said. “Our progress reflects a deliberate effort to build long-term careers for women engineers, from early talent development to leadership opportunities.”
The push for deeper inclusion is also supported internally through initiatives such as “together,” the company’s employee resource group focused on strengthening community and representation. Group executive sponsor and chief strategy officer Yumi Clevenger-Lee, said building engineering excellence and inclusive career pathways must evolve together.
“Enabling more women to participate and lead in core technical roles is essential to driving innovation and long-term impact,” she said, noting that sustained leadership development and performance-driven opportunities are central to how the company builds careers.
The company’s data arrives at a time when global industries are grappling with persistent engineering talent shortages and rapid technological change. Increasing the participation of women in technical fields is increasingly seen as a crucial lever for sustaining innovation and workforce resilience.
To mark International Women’s Day 2026, Quest Global has also released a three-minute video featuring two of its women leaders, highlighting career journeys and reinforcing the company’s broader focus on advancing women in engineering and leadership.
If the numbers are any indication, the company’s approach suggests that the future of engineering may not simply be about building smarter machines, but also about building more inclusive teams to design them.
Brands
Jubilant FoodWorks faces Rs 47.5 crore GST demand, plans appeal
Tax authorities flag alleged misclassification of restaurant services
MUMBAI: Jubilant FoodWorks Limited has landed in a tax tussle after receiving a GST demand of Rs 47.5 crore from the office of the additional commissioner of CGST and central excise in Thane, Maharashtra.
The order, issued under the provisions of the Central Goods and Services Tax Act, 2017, relates to an alleged incorrect classification of certain services under the category of restaurant services. According to the tax authorities, this classification resulted in a short payment of goods and services tax for the period between the financial years 2019-20 and 2021-22.
The demand includes Rs 47.5 crore in GST along with an equal amount as penalty, in addition to applicable interest. The order was received by the company on March 13, 2026.
In a regulatory filing to the BSE Limited and the National Stock Exchange of India Limited, the company said it disagrees with the order and believes its arguments were not adequately considered.
The company is preparing to challenge the decision and plans to file an appeal. It added that once the redressal process is complete, the demand is likely to be dropped.
Despite the sizeable figure attached to the notice, the company said it does not expect any material impact on its financials, operations or other activities.
The disclosure was signed by Suman Hegde, EVP and chief financial officer, who confirmed that the company received the order at 19:06 IST on March 13 and has already initiated steps to contest it.
The development places the quick service restaurant major in the middle of a tax debate that could hinge on how certain restaurant-linked services are classified under GST rules. For now, the company appears ready to take the matter from the tax office to the appeals desk.
