From Equity to Equality: Women Who Are Setting Examples With Their Business Leadership Skills

Do women have any frontiers they can’t cross? Female leaders are dismantling gender barriers and demonstrating that they can flourish in historically male-dominated fields by setting an example with their corporate leadership abilities. Their distinct viewpoint and a cooperative problem-solving strategy that is frequently characterised by empathy, ingenuity, and resilience are the keys to their success. In their leadership styles, women are also more inclined to value diversity, equity, and inclusion, which can result in more creative and sustainable business practises. The same is seen in the capable leadership of these women leaders, who are always challenging the status quo in business.

Anupama Katkar, Quick Heal Technologies Limited

Mrs. Anupama Katkar is the driving force and chairperson of Quick Heal Foundation, which is the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) arm of Quick Heal Technologies Limited. Her vision is to make a positive impact on the lives of millions of Indians by empowering them in the areas of healthcare, cybersecurity awareness, and education through various initiatives of the foundation. For more than 25 years, she has been dedicated to the mission of “Securing Futures” that is forward-looking, sustainable, and driven.

Quick Heal Technologies Limited, a home-grown organization that has simplified security for millions, is the parent company of Quick Heal Foundation. With a goal to bring positive change to communities from within, the foundation led by her has been inspired by the impact of corporate social responsibility initiatives. Recently, under her visionary leadership, the foundation launched ‘Arogya Yan,’ a unique initiative aimed at improving healthcare services in India’s rural heartland. Mrs. Anupama Katkar is passionate about social work and philanthropy, and she believes in giving back to society through meaningful initiatives.

Zaiba Sarang, iThink Logistics

Zaiba Sarang is the Co-founder of iThink Logistics, managing the sales wing of the tech-enabled courier aggregation service that simplifies shipping and tracking by providing multiple courier partners on a single platform. Additionally, she represents iThink Logistics as the brand’s face. Zaiba’s motivation to create a business based on tech-powered solutions was inspired by her academic qualifications in two distinct fields: technology and business. Her computer science degree from Nagindas Khandwala College equipped her with an understanding of technology, while her diploma in entrepreneurial studies from the Indian Institute of Management, Bangalore, under the Goldman Sachs Women’s Executive Education Program, boosted her business acumen. Furthermore, the Indian School of Business awarded her a certificate upon completion of the Goldman Sachs 10k Women Ambassador program.

Zaiba’s experience and knowledge in technology and business have been significant assets. Prior to co-founding iThink Logistics in 2017, she successfully co-founded Depasser Infotech, a company that delivers digital transformation and technology services to other firms. Her leadership at Depasser equipped her with the confidence and expertise required to operate a tech-enabled business. iThink Logistics has received recognition from YourStory as one of the Tech30 Startups in India, which named Zaiba a “go-getter” who believes in taking charge of her destiny. Through the platform, she adds innovative value to the logistics ecosystem by supporting e-commerce companies in India. Her goal is to lead iThink Logistics in the right direction and encourage her team to develop and maintain a high-quality logistics brand. Zaiba enjoys public speaking and shares her knowledge to motivate others to grow. She is an advocate for women’s empowerment and wants more women to be involved in the logistics ecosystem, leading the different departments and verticals at iThink.

Saroja Yeramilli, Melorra

Melorra is a D2C brand that specializes in designing lightweight, affordable, and fashionable jewelry for everyday wear. It was established in 2016 by Saroja Yeramilli, who is the company’s CEO and founder. Her passion for innovation and the desire to create modern, fine jewelry that meets the changing needs of today’s women led to the birth of Melorra. Saroja’s leadership has been instrumental in securing one of India’s largest seed fund rounds (5 million) and achieving a revenue of Rs 360 crores in just five years. Through her efforts, Saroja has transformed the perception of jewelry and made Melorra a symbol of elegance and sophistication.

Sakshi Vij, Myles

Myles, India’s pioneer self-drive service, was launched in November 2013 by Sakshi Vij, who serves as its Founder and CEO. Leveraging her more than 13 years of experience in the personal mobility industry in India, Sakshi has transformed her expertise into a thriving business venture. In her current role, Sakshi leads Myles’ strategy, planning, and direction. Sakshi is a graduate of several prestigious institutions, including the Harvard Business School, ESSEC Business School in Paris, IIM-Ahmedabad, and the SP Jain Center of Management in Dubai-Singapore. Equipped with these distinguished educational credentials, she explored various career options before launching Myles.

Krutika Lal, Aretto

Krutika Lal is the co-founder and CMO (Chief Marketing Officer) of Aretto, a kid-focused footwear brand deep-rooted in technology. In her current capacity, Krutika is responsible for leading the marketing division and managing the brand’s marketing and sales initiatives, including budgeting, planning, development, and execution. Throughout her nearly decade-long career, Krutika has held senior leadership positions at both startups and established brands, including GroupM, Backpacker Panda, and Play Design Labs, before co-founding Aretto with Satyajit Mittal. Krutika is known for her entrepreneurial spirit, which is reflective of her goal-oriented approach to life from an early age. At Aretto, Krutika aims to create a community of millennial parents who are aware of, appreciate, and embrace the brand’s innovations. She plans to focus on millennial parents and Gen Alpha children as Aretto’s target audience and establish multiple brand intellectual properties that will continue to evolve over time.

Jyoti Dabas, FITTR and INFS

Jyoti Dabas is the Co- Founder of Fittr, one of the world’s largest online fitness & nutrition platforms and communities and CEO at INFS – India’s largest Online Fitness Certification Institute. As a founding member, her role is to uphold the quality of the courses offered by INFS and to ensure the company lives up to the expectations of the stakeholders. She aims to increase the number of quality Fitness Professionals in the country and create opportunities where these professionals can earn at par with other service industries.

An IIM-Calcutta alumna, Jyoti always knew that she is an entreprenur at heart. Having served more than seven years in the field of Banking and Consulting in London and India, she stepped out of her comfort zone to explore her interests in the Fitness Industry. Her short stint with a startup and as a freelancer in Corporate Wellness somehow connected the dots and led her to like-minded individuals to set the foundation for Fittr – The world’s largest online fitness & nutrition community. Leveraging her years of professional experience in analytics, critical thinking, problem solving, building consensus, and managing teams, Jyoti went ahead to set up INFS in 2016.

Vidhya M, Collabera Digital

Bold decision-making and result-oriented mindset are two core qualities that define the journey of Vidhya M, who is currently at the helm of Collabera Digital, serving as its Vice President and managing Digital Solutions and Global Delivery. With a passion for mentoring and developing future leaders, she is a role model for women in the tech industry, inspiring others to pursue careers in technology and break down barriers. As a seasoned 25-year experienced leader in the IT industry, Vidhya is known for her strategic mindset and ability to drive business growth and success. Throughout her career, Vidhya has demonstrated a unique ability to think beyond the present and anticipate future trends, allowing her to make informed decisions that drive results.

Her dedication to delivering innovative solutions and ensuring employee and client satisfaction has made her a sought-after leader in the tech industry, and her ability to balance long-term vision with short-term goals has earned her a reputation as a true business builder. She strongly believes in corporate social responsibility and has been an active participant in various diversity programs and communities. Her unwavering commitment to giving back has earned her recognition as a leader who not only drives business results but also positively impacts society.

Aanchal Chaudhary, mFilterIt

A seasoned human resources leader, Aanchal Chaudhary currently holds the position of Human Resources Manager and has taken progressive steps to establish exceptional HR policies and practices. Her efforts have significantly contributed to the enhancement of employee engagement and retention within the organization. Aanchal’s role as the Human Resources Manager involves the formulation, execution, and supervision of HR strategies, policies, and programs. She possesses expertise in diverse HR functions, such as talent acquisition, performance appraisal, compensation, and benefits management.

By optimizing HR procedures, she has assisted mFilterIt in decreasing expenses while simultaneously elevating productivity. Aanchal’s contributions to mFilterIt’s positive work culture have been vital. She has implemented a range of initiatives such as employee well-being programs, training and development sessions, and employee engagement events, leading to elevated employee satisfaction and retention. Her dedication towards providing an enriching employee experience is evidenced by her constant endeavor to improve the work environment.

Paving the way for future generations of women, female business leaders of today are inspiring others to challenge gender norms and pursue their ambitions. Their success is a testament to the fact that gender should not limit one’s potential and that the world can benefit greatly from the full participation and leadership of women.

Hwa Choo Lim, Vice President, Human Resource, Equinix Asia-Pacific

“Observing the theme “DigitALL: Innovation and technology for gender equality”, this year’s International Women’s Day is an opportunity for us to recognize the achievements of women who forged their own path no matter the obstacles thrust in their way. Whether it’s dispelling stereotypes, speaking up for themselves and their peers or achieving beyond what was expected of them, we celebrate their accomplishments and courageous perseverance. At Equinix, we place great importance on making women feel “I’m safe, I belong, I matter.” Through long-standing communities for empowerment like the Equinix Women Leaders Network (EWLN), women are able to mentor, connect, belong and nurture one another through ongoing programs that encourage professional growth.

Going the extra mile this year, Equinix Foundation, our employee-driven global charitable organization, has committed a $100,000 grant to World Pulse to support its work accelerating digital inclusion and closing the gender digital divide. In order to close the digital divide for women, we will continue to empower women specializing in technology roles, giving them the support and confidence they need to succeed and thrive in the field.”

Keerthana Venkatesh, Director & Head of Marketing | Engaged Strategy

“About five years ago I made a decision to become a work from home mom temporarily – and this at a time when I was on the high-growth curve in my career. I was aware that this decision could hamper my career growth and even push me towards a lower salary spectrum. But I knew my priorities at that moment and took the plunge, joining Engaged Strategy.

However, Engaged Strategy has literally been a game changer. Not only does the organisation preach employee engagement, but practices it to the T. For beginners, the organisation modified my employment contract and even adjusted working hours to my preference such that it gave me the leverage to work efficiently.

Since then, I not only grew to become a functional head, but have also been provided with the flexibility to grow as an individual. Even as I fulfil my leadership at Engaged Strategy, I have been seamlessly able to pursue my passion for writing as an author and a freelance journalist; I’ve been able to travel and document my experiences in my blog; and I’ve also been able to champion awareness about adoption, striking that perfect balance between managing my personal growth and professional growth. That’s the pinnacle of employee engagement that encourages all staff at Engaged Strategy, women and men alike, to go above and beyond at every stage with pride in what we do.”

Sheena Sakhuja Deputy Vice President, Head – Corporate Impact Aye Finance P Ltd

A Six Sigma Black Belt and certified ISO Auditor, Sheena restarted her career after a sabbatical, as the custodian of the Brand Aye Finance. Aye Finance is a fintech lender transforming microenterprise lending in India and in a few months ‘shy of 3 years Sheena had not just built a positive image for the brand but positioned Aye as a thought leader in the MSME lending space. Her design of the narrative for the brand was so impactful that it earned respect for Aye amongst internal and external stakeholders, including the media, along with winning almost all the coveted industry award. Along with leading the internal and external communication strategy for Aye, Sheena is also responsible for creating and implementing the CSR Strategy for Aye. She leads the teams at FAME, the “Not for Profit Arm” of Aye Finance and oversees its operations to ensure that the philanthropic and micro-entrepreneur development programs executed under FAME are in line with the CSR objectives of Aye. She is an alumnus of SRCC and is pursuing a Programme in Management of Social Initiatives from IIM, Kozhikode. Prior to taking her sabbatical Sheena has worked with Max Life Insurance and PricewaterhouseCoopers.

Sailaja Devireddy Senior Director, Head of Fund Marketing Services, Acuity Knowledge Partners

“Women in the financial services industry are driving innovation, breaking barriers, and creating new opportunities. They possess the resilience to rise above adversity and strive towards creating an equitable workplace. In fact, the journey towards equity and inclusion begins with empowering women and giving them a voice in society. This International Women’s Day, let us celebrate their achievements and empower them to continue their crucial work in shaping a more inclusive and sustainable future for all of us.”

Sunitha Chandrasekaran, Sr. Manager – Software Engineering, Sabre India

“Why do we need a specially marked day like International Women’s Day? I reckon just as we need New Year’s to look back and reflect on the year gone by, we need Women’s Day to raise awareness, examine the challenges and focus on opportunities. Why do we have a theme, every year? Well, we need to determine the areas that need improvement, re-focus and align appropriate resources to make sure there is progress.

This year’s theme – ‘Embrace Equity’, takes into account that different people come from different circumstances, and in order to achieve equal outcomes, a variety of resources need to be allocated appropriately. This is important because simply providing equal opportunities to women is not always enough. To truly level the playing field, we need to understand where women are coming from and what’s their path for the future, so that they can be supported, as per their individual needs.”

Ciara Harrington, Chief People Officer, Skillsoft

“While more women these days start their careers with an ‘equal’ ratio of men to women in the workplace, this decreases significantly once you get to the Executive, C-Suite, and Board levels. It’s important for companies to identify when and why women are falling behind and implement better policies and practices to correct it, all with measurable outcomes. For example, introducing policies promoting equality in hiring and promotion, mentoring and coaching programs specifically for women, and market-leading parental leave policies.

On that last point in particular, access to longer parental leave is key – longer leave means fewer women will leave the workforce or take a career break during those early years. Equal parental leave also creates a ‘new’ normal where the standard is that both men and women will take time off with their kids and removes the existing ‘stigma’ or more traditional view where this ‘time off’ applies only to women. As individuals, I believe we should all have the freedom to choose our own path without stereotypes or judgement. Just like women should be able to choose to work full time, men should be free to decide to be ‘stay at home’ dads. As a mom of two sons, it is my hope that they grow up in a world without many of these more ‘traditional’ norms that created the broken system we have today, and that this next generation can start to experience true equity.”

Deepa Kuppuswamy – Director, Security, ManageEngine

“Many women are now in the driving seat when it comes to spearheading technology capabilities. International Women’s Day provides an opportunity to celebrate their successes and appreciate their efforts. We see tech women being global advocates for gender equality and sharing the experience of solving problems by making a positive impact using technology. At ManageEngine, women are leading engineering initiatives for several of our IT management products. We have women who are architects of cybersecurity and women who are responsible for designing and ensuring successes for security and privacy measures for the organization and customers. That’s the impact of the gender-inclusive culture. Women are becoming more visible, and they are not just behind the scenes anymore when it comes to technology.”

Srividhya Deshpande (HR Head and Sr. HR Director, SpringML, Inc.

“It’s time to adopt a progressive perspective on gender, rather than a narrow one, to help young girls achieve their dreams and grow into women with vision. The DigitALL initiative aims to use innovation and technology to create a world where diversity and inclusion are fundamental principles of the industry, not just buzzwords. As a woman in the tech industry, I have personally witnessed the potential of innovation and technology to break gender barriers and create new opportunities for women.
However, the tech industry has traditionally been male-dominated, and women remain underrepresented in technology-related fields. The lack of visible role models can dissuade young women from pursuing careers in technology. SpringML recognizes this issue and is committed to recruiting and supporting more women in technology. Women bring unique perspectives and experiences to the industry that can lead to innovative solutions.
SpringML provides opportunities for women to learn and develop with mentorship programs, skills training, and leadership development programs. McKinsey Global Institute estimated that closing the gender gap in the labor force could increase global GDP by $12 trillion by 2025. Overall, the focus on women in technology is critical to creating a more equitable and prosperous industry and a more inclusive and diverse society.”

Rejitha Nair, Head of Software Development, Skillveri

“XR VR in Welding painting is a male dominated industry. However, our simulators have been breaking this norm and we would like to share some anecdotes on how they are breaking gender stereotypes:
1. In Pune, our customer Ador Welding Academy was training welders (including women) for their client. From the batch that started using the simulators, women started topping, as the simulator scoring had no inherent bias, and scored higher for steadier hands.
2. In Kochi, our customer Berger iTrain was conducting a training program in spray painting, and a lady painter who was hitherto afraid of handling the intimidating spray-painting equipment, saw the simulator training which piqued her interest. She then tried her hands at the simulator training and topped the next day.”

Parul Goel, Vice President, Client Management, o9 solutions

“There are many studies that say that 5 out of 10 women leave their tech jobs by age 35.
This could be due to a variety of reasons. To start with, in Indian society, it’s a common notion that women bring in only secondary income and are not the bread winners. When there are disruptions in family – spouse’s transfer, child’s welfare etc; its mostly the women who leave their jobs.

Secondly, the nature of work in tech industry is such that it doesn’t confine to a 9-5 job, especially for multinational corporates. For entry-level positions, there are a lot of good initiatives that bring women into IT. The challenge happens when it comes to growing up that ladder. A lot of women get exhausted with balancing personal commitments and work; and gravitate towards less stressful jobs which gives them more power, flexibility and satisfaction at the same time.

Thirdly, human tendency to gravitate to people like oneself leads powerful men to sponsor and advocate for other men when leadership opportunities arise. The resulting underrepresentation of women in top positions and limited networking among women outside of work hours, reinforces and supports men’s bids for leadership, and thus maintains the status quo.

Lastly, women are often left out of groups like being a smoke pal, or a golf-pal or a cricket pal, because of their personal interests or priorities. Managers promote people in their inner circle, the people they’ve spent time with, and have done some socializing with. Whether this is conscious or unconscious, it is a bias that sometimes make women fall back in the race.

Having part-time work policy, flex hours, return to work program after a career break, counseling sessions for mothers, child-care centers inside office campuses, rotation between onsite and offsite opportunities, conscious and unconscious bias training can go a long way in encouraging these accomplished and experienced women, to continue their careers in STEM.

o9 solutions has always been supportive of returning mothers and takes measures to upskill them in new skills and has flex hours. There are also women leaders in every department who invest in mentoring younger women to express themselves and feel confident in the profession they have chosen.

While progress has been made in women’s empowerment in the workspace, we still have a long way to go and it is essential that businesses, governments, and society as a whole work together to promote women’s participation in technology. By doing so, we can create a more inclusive and equitable society, benefiting everyone in the country.”

Kavita Desai, Head – Corporate Communications & CSR – Covestro India

“On International Women’s Day 2023, as the Corporate Communications and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Head of Covestro India, I strongly believe that digitization has the potential to bridge the gap and create a more inclusive society. The theme of DigitALL is a timely reminder that women have an equal right to access digital resources and participate in the digital economy. We need to ensure that women from all walks of life are given the necessary training and opportunities to harness the full potential of digital technology. Let us strive towards building a society where every woman can benefit from digitization and realize her aspirations. Let us celebrate the power of women empowered by technology and work towards a brighter future where everyone has equal chances and opportunities to better their life.” 

Muthumari S, Head of Data Science, Brillio

“We have all discussed gender diversity as an industry defining topic before. Today, the discourse has shifted significantly from a focus on gender diversity toward empowerment and inclusion. While equal opportunities lay the groundwork, organizations need to ensure they create an inclusive workplace culture where careers can thrive. Working women often must choose between family and work responsibilities which leads to them quitting their jobs, this is despite equal opportunities being provided.

The organizations now must evolve their diversity initiatives and take a step forward to bring in a flexible work schedule that allows women to build their careers. The primary step would be to look at flexible working hours, continuing remote-first roles, improved autonomy on work, childcare support during transition, and a well-defined career path. Solving the diversity gap through balanced diversity representation in the boardroom and exclusive diversity-focused roles at the executive leadership levels is a solution for the long run. While we train our women leaders in dealing with uncertainty and ambiguity to “Proptimise [Prioritise & Optimise]”, it is essential that we coach our colleagues and leaders to lead with empathy through challenging times. The tech industry as a male-dominated space lacks female role models and leaders that young women can look up to. While we see a rise in equal opportunities, structural barriers still exist at some levels. Proper mentoring and accessible career development programs can help in kick-starting their careers and market their skills.”

Nithya Cadambi, Director of Finance, APJ & India, Commvault

“As we become a more digitalised society, gender gap in accessing this digital sphere increasingly widens. Technology in today’s form act as a reason as well as a solution to the exiting gender parity. While women and girls remain underrepresented across the multiple facets of technology, they also remain hesitant towards using digital services or pursuing a career in tech. According to a recent survey, only 27% of female students surveyed would consider a career in technology as compared to 61% of male.

Organisations today need to go above and beyond the minimum requirements if they want to achieve real, long-lasting progress towards gender equality. Businesses must focus on strengthening the foundational pillars such as access to digital skills, availability of high-quality, affordable childcare, social safety nets, flexible work schedules, and unprejudiced societal norms. This is the time for organisations to foster an equitable environment where young women can interact with successful women leaders and create meaningful opportunities for the younger generations.

Whilst there is a lot that businesses can be doing to ensure a diverse and equitable workplace, one of the biggest obstacles women faces is the lack of self-belief. Many don’t think that they can conquer challenges that they may face in senior positions, but I know that women are more than capable of taking on difficult positions, tasks, and responsibilities.

Self-belief is a major factor to drive yourself towards success. When faced with a challenging situation, I tell myself “Don’t give up just yet!”. With faith and perseverance, anything can be achieved. The sky’s the limit!”

Neha Akhouri, Director of Engineering, Akamai Technologies

“Equal opportunities help ensure that everyone has access to the same opportunities and resources, and more is being done now to ensure that everyone is being treated fairly. However, providing equal opportunity is not an end in itself. In fact, it is a starting point. Organizations will have to go above and beyond to address the gap that exists today. They must implement measures that give all an equal opportunity to succeed too. In order to do so, the ecosystem has to be open and supportive. Companies must develop policies and practices that embrace diversity and reduce bias. An inclusive environment where all employees feel welcomed, valued, and respected, can build a more positive workplace experience for everyone.”

Triveni Rabrindraraj, Head of Sales at GoTo, India

“Around 36% of the five million employees in the tech industry are women, according to the latest NASSCOM data. While we come a little closer to fostering gender equity every year, the gender-based gap in skill development remains a top concern today. This is why it should also be addressed as a key priority because I believe that women in tech are integral to sustaining a digital future. It is imperative we rethink how to balance the skill deficit on a larger scale, like the Mission Shakti announced in this year’s union budget highlights the importance of women’s education.

Getting more women in STEM careers requires creating a foundation for them to hone digital skills needed in today’s professional world, like promoting skill development through industry-oriented training, and establishing frameworks that attract, hire, and retain women across all levels. According to an Indeed survey, 58% of the women in the Indian workforce had left their employment to focus on like childcare, 21% for health issues and maternity leave accounted for 13% previously. We must also address these challenges women face while balancing family with their career progression. To enhance autonomy in work culture, organisations must evolve their diversity initiatives such as integrating flexible work policies including flexible working hours, hybrid/remote-first roles, childcare support during maternity transition to support women in defining their career. To build a resilient workforce with equal representation we must start thinking beyond gender equality. The focus should be on continuously investing in and promoting women to upskill and learn the futuristic technologies that will make them ready for the digital era.”

Monica Tomar, Regional Marketing Manager, South Asia Pacific, Axis Communications

“Women’s representation in tech is important from a diversity and equity standpoint, and equally crucial for building an inclusive and innovative digital future. Despite efforts to close the gender gap in STEM fields, there is still a dominant perception of these careers being male dominated. Therefore it becomes important for businesses and organizations to continue their efforts to promote diversity and inclusion in the workplace. This can include initiatives such as mentorship programs, leadership development programs, and outreach efforts to encourage more women to pursue careers in STEM. Additionally, imbibing a gender inclusive culture in tech can have positive effects on the broader economy. Several studies have shown that companies with more diverse teams tend to be more profitable and innovative, as they are better equipped to understand and meet the needs of their customers.

At Axis Communications, we currently have a 40:60 ratio of women to men across South Asia Pacific. We are very proud of this diversity and we continue to work hard to challenge the status quo to bring about a positive transformation in terms of women representation in the surveillance sector.”

Devyani Jaipuria, Chairperson Dharav High School, Pro- Vice Chairperson- DPS International Gurugram, DPS 45 & DPS Jaipur. 

As an entrepreneur, I faced challenges that were not typical. Initially, my primary challenges were related to hiring the right people, selecting the best leaders, and training my team for growth. However, my mentor’s wise strategic involvement enabled me to quickly resolve several of these challenges. In my opinion, confidence, awareness, and staying ahead of the game are key to succeeding in entrepreneurship.

Finding the right balance between my family and career was a significant hurdle in my journey. Nevertheless, with the support and determination of my family, I overcame these difficulties and focused my efforts in the right direction. As a woman entrepreneur, I believe that taking a stand and being vocal can bring about change over time.

My message to all women out there is to listen to your heart. We often have a desire to pursue our dreams, but fear holds us back. Even if we take the first step, continuing to take the second and third steps can be challenging. It is essential to keep listening to your heart and pursuing your goals, no matter what obstacles you face. The ultimate goal should be to create a business that adds value to society, brings about necessary changes, solves problems, and creates a supportive ecosystem for all women entrepreneurs.

Shaily Mehrotra, CEO and Founder, Fixderma

Setting up a business is never easy. Apart from effective allocation of resources, vision and mission, it always requires undivided attention and dedication. One of the key factors of success which is also a key challenge I have come across as an entrepreneur is to find the right people to form the right team. The market is full of talented workforce but finding the right fit with the right attitude and approach is a challenge.

Being an entrepreneur also requires the practice of delegation of responsibility. One might try to look at every aspect but this is not humanly efficient and productive. Therefore, my advice to women entrepreneurs is to delegate the right set of responsibilities with apt resources and focus your attention strategically on decision making areas instead of just operations.  Multitasking is always our strength but it is always good to share responsibilities with your team.

Nidhi Banthia Mehta Business coach and founder of Self Achievers

“As the founder of SelfAchievers.com, I am committed to helping women discover their passions and unique talents, turning them into successful businesses and pursuing the lives of their dreams.

With an entrepreneurial experience of over 20 years, I am successfully started and exited from companies in Silicon Valley, Singapore, and India, and carved a niche for myself in the service and product sectors. In 2020, we  launched SelfAchievers, a social enterprise that provides consulting services, training, and development to startups, MSMEs, and family-managed business

With a training development boot camp, “IdeationToManifestation,”I am aiming to assist 10,000 homemakers in becoming entrepreneurs by the year 2030. This program focuses on teaching individuals how to develop a business idea, learn the methods and techniques of running a business, create a business plan blueprint, and launch it in just two weeks.

The vision of empowering women and creating opportunities for them through entrepreneurship is not only commendable but also essential for the growth and development of society. Through the work, I am creating a platform for women to showcase their talent, creativity, and business acumen, which will benefit them and aid in nation-building.”

Ms. Akshi Khandelwal, Founder & CEO, Butterfly Ayurveda

The prime source of empowerment comes from drawing a woman’s focus towards herself. Inwards;  towards her own self care and needs. This can be referred to as her own well being.

Butterfly Ayurveda has always taken initiatives to encourage women participation at all levels within the organisational  processes, and also had multiple women leading departments and teams, while also taking care of their wellness needs  through organising women’s wellness events and workshops.

 A woman’s participation in decision making is very important, since it contributes towards a holistic development of  the society. A woman’s perspective, opinions, ideas and vision naturally tend to carry a quality of compassion, and  nurturance which is very much required in building – strong foundations for any kind of process to flourish, long lasting  relationships , a sustainable business and a healthy work environment.

Women leadership must be encouraged at all levels while retaining the essence of what a woman can authentically  contribute towards. Her contribution brings about an immense amount of growth, empowerment and transformation  within the society. ‘

Jaya Mehrotra, Leadership Coach and Founder of Women Leadership Circle

“Women leaders in business are setting examples by demonstrating their skills, capabilities, and resilience in the face of adversity. Their success is a testament to their hard work, determination, and unwavering commitment to their goals. By leading with empathy, authenticity, and inclusivity, they are driving positive change and creating a more equitable future for all.