March 8th is celebrated as the International Women’s Day across the world, to pay tribute to women, and their critical role in making this world a better place to live.
We asked leading women entrepreneurs, founders and CEOs about their expectations on Women’s Day, and here are some interesting replies:
Harshvendra Soin, Global Chief People Officer & Head – Marketing, Tech Mahindra
“Every year on March 8th, we celebrate International Women’s Day to honor the numerous sacrifices, struggles, and successes of women throughout history. While women and people of all genders are consciously defying stereotypes and are actively contributing to break barriers, I truly believe that we have a long road ahead in overcoming conscious and unconscious biases. Having said that, we can all come together to bridge the gap by being supportive allies and creating a sense of, not just inclusion, but belonging at work for women.
While our quest of creating a diverse, equal, and inclusive world will take time, what we can collectively do today and each following day is to sow the seeds of change that will bear fruit in the future. On the occasion of International Women’s Day, I urge every woman to stay true to their purpose, stand tall, and march ahead to lead the world and bring about a positive change.”
Sqn Ldr Dimple Rawat (Retd), Director HR at Barco India
“As more and more women make their mark in technology, we have also seen remarkable growth in the innovation quotient, leading to better and more advanced solutions and output. The Indian IT industry has shown tremendous improvement in bridging the gender gap and empowering women in technology. Gender parity remains essential to a resilient future, and there is a strong need to provide adequate mentorship and equal opportunities to women in the global STEM ecosystem. Moreover, organizations need to implement a consistent strategic approach to strengthen equality and foster an appropriate ecosystem with policies aimed at enhancing women’s career paths and unlocking innovative upskilling possibilities and technology-based education, starting at the grassroots.”
Adetee Agarwaal, Founder – PinkAprons
“Women are the backbone of our society, and when we empower them, we empower the world. As an entrepreneur, I believe that investing in women’s education, health, and economic independence is not only the right thing to do, but it’s also the smartest investment we can make for a better future. We strongly support this year’s Women’s Day theme of #EmbracingEquity. As entrepreneurs, it is not only our moral duty but also a business necessity to embrace equity. To foster truly groundbreaking and thriving enterprises, we must strive to provide everyone with equal access to opportunities and resources. We should take it upon ourselves to confront biases, dismantle obstacles, and foster inclusive communities that inspire positive transformations for everyone.
Rituparna Mandal, General Manager, MediaTek Bangalore
“According to the UN, more women in the technology space results in more advanced solutions and has greater potential for innovations that promote gender equality. It is imperative that the global STEM ecosystem step up and provide women and girls with innovative upskilling opportunities and technology-based education, starting from the grassroots, to unlock a sustainable future for the planet and humankind. Additionally, organizations need to deploy a strategic and continuous approach to strengthen equality and equity by creating appropriate ecosystems and policies to grow their career path and to assist them in building long-term careers in tech.”
Anjali Sharma, Director, Global Head of L&D, Fulcrum Digital Inc
“Fulcrum Digital strongly believes in the power of DigitAll. For us, diversity and inclusion are at the forefront of every decision we make, as this helps in shaping the fundamental values of our organization. As a practice, we ensure that we hire, develop, and promote managers & leaders who nurture and support inclusivity at the workplace. Our teams help create a secure environment for everyone from all walks of life and who value each and every person, regardless of their age, gender, race, religion, sexual preferences, or background.
We create continuous learning interventions focused on removing unconscious biases, and promoting active listening which further strengthens assimilation and inclusion. Fulcrum Digital encourages better ties across levels and regions of the business, through a well-designed mentorship programme that helps contribute to the development of a more diverse and inclusive workplace culture. Our mentors facilitate the dismantling of organisational silos and promote greater teamwork and collaboration, which further improves problem-solving and innovation.”
Aastha Anand, Founder, The Bread Company
“Women Entrepreneurs have proven their worth and impact time and again. As a community, our biggest goal is to continue to strive to create an ecosystem more inclusive for women, the significance of having diverse leadership teams, especially with women in key roles, has become increasingly imperative. Such teams have been shown to make more effective decisions, solve problems more efficiently, and achieve better financial outcomes. Moreover, female leaders bring a unique perspective, set of skills, and experiences that can foster innovation and creative growth.
As an entrepreneur and founder, I have come to realize that being a trailblazer is a prerequisite for success. When dreaming big and building a business, it is important to acknowledge that the traditional path may not be the best path to success. Therefore, I remind myself not to compare my journey with that of others, but to map my own course. There is no such thing as being too fast or too slow, for progress is measured by how far we have come from where we were a year ago, or even five years ago. As such, my guiding principle is to keep experiment until I achieve the desired outcome”
Vasanthi Ramesh, VP of Engineering for Manageability and Data Protection, NetApp India
“In the past decade, the emphasis on equal opportunities for women led to a higher representation of women in the IT industry. But we still have a long way to go. At this juncture, just equal opportunities are not enough. Organizations must create a non-prejudiced and thriving work environment to achieve a workplace driven by women. As a first step, within an organization, every leader should step up and be an ally in mentoring women and opening avenues to showcase their accomplishments. Further, organizations must invest in communication tools and networking platforms to help women upskill and build relationships with peers and industry leaders.”
Mrs. Kirti Kabra, Director, RR Global
Every woman is special. She is a creator, multitasker, capable, focused and sincere, you have the right to pursue your dreams. Take pride in whatever you are doing and wish to do, you have the power to achieve everything that you aim for just trust yourself, be confident and keep moving towards your goal. You deserve everything and more. Respect yourself and the women around you, inspire and support each other, and celebrate the spirit of womanhood every day. Wishing you all a very Happy Women’s Day”
Raksha Kothari, Co-founder, GO Desi
“As an entrepreneur, I have often pondered the significance of the term “women entrepreneur.” Despite the strides made in gender equality, women entrepreneurs continue to face challenges in the workplace, such as the gender pay gap, limited opportunities for career advancement, and cultural discrimination.To establish a more inclusive environment, it is essential to maintain authenticity while progressing toward more comprehensive, equitable practices and implementing measurable strategies to promote diversity, equity, and inclusion.
To exemplify this authenticity within my own company, GO Desi, I prioritize equal opportunities for all employees. As the head of sourcing, I am committed to creating a learning-based environment that empowers women to reach their full potential. By providing them with the necessary tools and resources to stay ahead in these competitive industries, we can foster their growth and contribute to the company’s success and innovation in the long run.”
Ms. Jyotsna Uttamchandani, Executive Director, Syska Group
Over the past decade, there has been a significant increase in the number of women leaders and entrepreneurs not only in India but around the world. Their impact on society has been remarkable, and we have also seen a change in people’s mindsets, making the process easier.
However, social issues and gender bias continue to inhibit growth, making the journey difficult. While it is important to ensure that women have the same opportunities as men, it is also crucial to address systemic issues that prevent women from fully participating and advancing in their chosen fields. This includes addressing issues such as gender bias, unequal pay, and lack of representation in leadership positions.
Women must recognize their potential and start believing in themselves to change the world. It’s essential to lead with a positive mindset and confidence. Today, women are far more capable than society acknowledges, and it is crucial to embrace this fact. I have come to realize that it’s important to embrace your true self and refrain from apologizing for who you are. Women, in particular, possess a strong sense of empathy, making them excellent mentors. It’s time we start believing in the impact we can make before India believes in us.
Nikita Bachani, Co-Founder and CEO of Alkymi Media
Women are proven multi-taskers, vigilant, kind, and formidable leaders. Our intelligence and wisdom can make a meaningful difference in our multilayered world. We are equally capable and should be valued as a powerful half. Actively talking about these issues sets an example for future generations of women and girls to chase their dreams and strive for success.
As women, we should reiterate our dominant right of our cerebral capacity being undermined, repressed, subdued, and challenged our growth in the professional Workspace.
When it comes to the PR industry, most senior-level positions are male-dominated. You have to make your opinions heard and feel free to pitch valuable ideas without letting other things and situations discourage you from adding value to the task at hand. This approach toward things will make you thrive in your professional life.
Tarini Malhotra, Founder, Nai Subah Foundation
“As India aspires to become a US$5 trillion economy, it is no secret that this goal cannot be achieved without deeper involvement of women in the workplace. Further, tapping into the entrepreneurial instincts of women will certainly make a huge difference not just to economic outcomes but changing women’s role in our Indian society.
As a young Indian social entrepreneur, I encourage all women to shape their own destinies and join the growing community of women leaders and business owners. The world knows that Indians make great entrepreneurs. Now it’s time for Indian women. Our daily struggles, resourcefulness and adaptability, command over English, and work-life balancing skill makes us uniquely positioned to become trailblazers. Today, around 20% of all enterprises, big or small, are owned or run by women in India. The time has come to forever change this dynamic and make this 50% or even higher”.
Shalu Juneja, Co-Founder and Director of Uno Lona Academy
A few days ago, I happened to view the statistics about women artists all around the world. In terms of saleability and audience. We still are way way behind men. Ironically many male artists have themes related to women which are auctioned at extremely high prices. We, women artists, stand very low in the graph. And this is just the art world. We have to realize that this is an infinite fight for equality in all walks of life.
As a woman, I have been lucky to have made my own identity and taken my freedom as a natural thing in my life. I know many who aren’t and are conditioned to believe that there is a limit to what they can wish for in life, be it ambition or freedom. I also believe that one can retain the softness of a woman’s heart, yet be a leader that brings big bold changes.
We need to consistently and relentlessly strive for equality. And for that, I believe education and skill-building is the way forward.
Vaishnavi Shukla, HR Head, Comviva
“With the wave of digital transformation across sectors, it is also crucial to bridge the digital gender divide and create a future that is inclusive and equitable for all. The past few years have magnified the existing gender digital gap, but it has also presented an opportunity to accelerate our efforts towards digital as well as financial inclusion for women, enabling them to achieve their maximum potential. As women leaders, I believe it is our responsibility to advocate for policies and initiatives that will help close this gap and guarantee equal access to education, training, and job opportunities. We need to find more ‘STEM girls next door’ and encourage them to innovate, fail and most importantly, fuel the growth mindset. The government and policymakers can help address this issue by investing in digital infrastructure and skill development and promoting gender equality. Let’s aim to work together to create a world where diversity and innovation are encouraged and where all women have equal access to technology. We at Comviva have a strong culture of encouraging growth mindset and challenge the stereotypes. We believe that inclusiveness is the only path to sustained success.”
Ms. Niroopa Padmanabhan – Vice President Design, Smartworks
“Women are breaking gender stereotypes and stepping into this sector, which was once perceived as male-dominated. But that’s not the case anymore; there is a change in perception, and the unwavering determination, hard work, and honed talent have pushed the influx of women upwards in real estate in the last few years. The hiring conversations have moved from gender to experience and meritocracy. From entry-level or mid-manager roles, women today lead functions such as Sales, all-men-led Operations teams, Projects, and more.”
“Leading a team of 50+ people have its challenges, but when you know you are trusted and supported by the higher-ups, it makes all the difference- showcases that your skills and perspectives are recognized.
What’s worked well for me over the years is my continued investment in reskilling and upskilling, keeping up with the trends and industry updates. The organization has been instrumental in my growth by providing me with the resources and opportunities to grow, such as leadership training, involvement in key projects, mentoring, and networking opportunities.”
Preethi Srinivasan, Director of Innovation, Druva
The Software as a Service (SaaS) industry provides me excellent opportunities to innovate rapidly and get these innovations in the hands of our customers quickly. Furthermore, SaaS provides the levers to harness the power of data using state-of-the-art technologies such as Cloud, Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, Big Data Analytics, etc., to bring the value of data to our customers. SaaS is an effective business model that helps scale the business fast alongside recurring revenue. SaaS provides fast lane access to grow one’s career in technology, product, and business. We need more women in SaaS.”
Dr Priyanka Goyat, Co-Founder, Rejove Aligners
“Women’s advancement in the medical technology profession is addressing the crucial and long-overlooked need for improved gender equity within the healthcare industry. More women are pursuing graduate degrees in technology, science, and math (STEM). The development of technologies today gives gender and race more consideration. Women are redefining the health technology sector by creating innovative, individualised healthcare solutions. the use of software that strongly includes artificial intelligence and machine learning. At Rejove, 90% of the employees are women, including healthcare professionals. Every action we take opens the door for more women to follow in our footsteps, encouraging a new generation of women to follow their passions and have a profound effect on the world. At Rejove, we utilise 3D Intraoral scanners, 3D printers, microscopic endodontic treatments, and dolphin software, which predicts surgical outcomes in orthognathic situations”.
Agendra Kumar, MD, Esri India
“Advancements in technology are rapidly reshaping the world, and the contribution of the women workforce in this dynamic scenario is phenomenal. At Esri India, we are proud of creating an equitable work environment for all and attaining an industry-leading women representation of 37% in our workforce. Esri India recently got recognized by The World Geospatial Industry Council as a trailblazer for building an equitable and inclusive culture in the geospatial ecosystem. This, I believe, is an excellent testimony of our increased focus on Embracing Equity. Also, as part of our CSR initiatives, we focus on making rural women technologically adept so that the digital divide is reduced.”
Tarusha Mittal, COO and Co-Founder, Dapps and UniFarm
Creating an environment that encourages and supports women in leadership is crucial. This means breaking down systemic barriers that hinder women’s progress and providing them with the necessary resources to succeed. By celebrating the achievements of women leaders and striving for gender equality in all spheres of life, we can pave the way for a more inclusive and equitable society.
Moreover, women’s unique perspectives, life experiences, and ways of thinking can offer valuable insights that drive innovative solutions to complex problems. A diverse group of leaders fosters creativity and creates an inclusive environment that leads to better decision-making. We must recognize and embrace the value that women bring to the table and actively work towards increasing their representation in leadership positions.
Priya Kanduri, CTO – Senior Vice President- Infrastructure Management & Cyber Security services, Happiest Minds Technologies
“There has never been better time than now for women to be in IT & tech in India. Ratios of women employed in the IT industry in India have risen constantly over the past 20 years. Women represent 50% of the graduates in STEM field now while they make up over 30% of IT workforce in India. Western world is in total contrast with this, where women representation in tech fields is far less & declining. Indian Tech firms are encouraging women empowerment and introducing numerous women friendly policies to promote workplace diversity & women leadership”
Raisa Kazi, VP of Marketing at Liminal
Investing and building wealth has always been portrayed as men’s domain. Women are primarily dependent on their male counterparts in the family or friends circle to guide them in taking investment decisions. Wearing a thinking hat on investments has never been a women’s forte, and this is what society has been telling her. But this isn’t true, given the current scenarios. Women are taking charge of their financial standings as they are getting exposed to information and learnings via all the channels and opportunities that are available. Globally 21% of crypto investors are women, in fact, most finance influencers are women, and this says the time has already changed.
Women have excellent decision-making skills, the ability to hold and keep patience in difficult situations, and access risks and build for their loved ones. These innate skills come in handy while investing too. Real estate saw massive growth of 50% in 2022, and women investors were buying homes as governments offered lucrative interest rates. Women are investing in stocks and growing by over 70% year-on-year, and their portfolios are performing even better than their male counterparts because of the capacity to stay invested; not only this, but even in crypto, women have shown fierce attitudes and invested and built wealth, riding the wave as and when needed. I too invested in some digital assets after doing my research, and post last year’s dip, I saw a remarkable recovery in my portfolio at the start of this year. My portfolio is up by 30%, and I also earned staking rewards, a passive income that adds further value to my investments.
Mayurakshi Das, Founder, Elixir AI
“Women today are forging ahead in areas that were considered unconventional for them earlier . Be it tech , politics or entrepreneurship, women have shown that no area is beyond their reach . As a homemaker and an entrepreneur I have personally seen that Multitasking is a Concept that women are better at as compared to men . We need to play on our strength and he each others strength”
Sujendra GS, VP, Human Resources, Creative Synergies Group
“What counts as equity? In a workplace, do women have the same opportunities to rise up as men? Will giving them equal opportunities without considering their needs count as equity? Not in most cases. The first step to embracing equity comes from recognizing the fact that differences exist.
Post pandemic, as we slowly transition from remote work to hybrid work model, organizations need to uniquely support women – especially mothers and caregivers who are juggling multiple roles in their workday. Their outside obligations are different than some of their male co-workers and they need to be given the flexibility and support to get their work accomplished without looking at quitting as their only solution. Businesses thrive in their DE&I initiatives when they make efforts to provide a level playing ground to their employees, despite the differences.
With the ongoing economic uncertainties, the demand-supply gap in India has increased, with a supply rate of 21%, which is the lowest among top tech locations such as the US, China and UK. However, there is a large untapped resource that can help companies address the skill gap: women. This is an opportunity for Indian businesses to reassess their investment in skill development, equip women within the organization with high-demand skills, and look into hiring more skilled women professionals. A recent report from Skillsoft found that more than work-life balance, and other organizational incentives, 52% of women in IT value learning and development. Empowering them with equitable opportunities can allow decision makers to redress the balance, and wholeheartedly embrace equity.
We at Creative believe that upskilling during a break is a great way to learn and stay relevant. Our Sabbatical policy is specifically designed to ensure that “Creative” women can utilize the break to reskill/upskill themselves. Creative also has policies in place for reimbursement of professional career development costs. We are exploring newer initiatives to renew our commitment to “Creative” women in a more concrete and meaningful way,”
Meghna Agarwal, Serial entrepreneur and Co-Founder of IndiQube
“Digital empowerment today is not a question of ‘whether’ but a question of ‘how soon’. Technology and Innovation are the main pillars for economic progress in the modern world and women need to embrace this shifted focus in order to make substantial contributions to the economy. This will equip them with the innate ability to seize new possibilities and ascend the ladder of success in the near future. Women in the workforce who are digitally empowered can influence the hardware, software, and other layers of applications in commercial real estate, paving the path for the development of an ecosystem of smart buildings.
In the world of technology, very few women hold positions of high leadership. While it is true that
women are adept at handling functional positions, there is a common misconception that they are less skilled at handling core technical roles. Along with developing their technological skills, women today must fight this stereotype and establish themselves as being capable of managing diverse resources including tech architects, coders, developers, and UI specialists, among others. This will enable women to become sector and industry agnostic, and pave the way for a generation of women to venture into unconventional sectors alongside fostering an ecosystem of mentors for future generations of women. A digitally empowered woman workforce can thus have an immense impact on any industry and even more so in commercial real estate.”
Subhashini Ponnappa, Head HR & Administration, 75F, APAC region
“Women are important societal pillars that are crucial in paving the way for constructive change. Despite facing significant barriers, they have been making incredible strides in the fields of science and technology and other unconventional sectors.
Even though women have begun challenging the status quo by entering the otherwise male dominated industries, the percentage of women assuming leadership positions, especially in fields like IT, is very small. According to Entelo’s “Quantifying the Gender Gap” report, women hold just 10% of executive roles and 16% of high-level IT employment. However, as time progresses, women are seen to continue their unwavering pursuit of gender equality through their sheer grit and resilience.
We, at 75F, firmly believe that women are one of the crucial building blocks of all our big achievements. At 75F, we endeavour to include as many women as possible and ensure enhancing their skills in developing a culture that accords them respect and equal opportunities to progress in their professional lives. This International Women’s Day, we celebrate their outstanding accomplishments across the world and in our industry”.
Dr. Deeksha Sikri, Associate Professor in the Department of Pathophysiology at St. George’s University
“It’s very heartening to see women today breaking stereotypes by choosing branches based on their interests. Women are currently occupying top decision-making positions in healthcare and medical institutes. Moreover, I am pleased to see that more chances are being created to equip women with both the skills for a successful career and the opportunities to pursue what interests them. It’s a reflection of how far we’ve come – women in medicine are a reflection of how women in society are changing”.
Manjari Sharma, Co-Founder and CPO, FreightFox
“ Well informed customers and their evolving choices are making logistics and supply chains complex and ripe for digital innovations. The logistics today is one of linking pins to the customer delight and half of or more customers today are women. If we are working constantly to achieve that delight, the same representation must also be there in the domain of logistics and supply chain. Over the years this domain has been operational and field heavy and hence looked at Gentlemen’s club, having said that the complexity and competition compelled the intersection of this industry with technology and digital transformation where the gender diversity dividend can unearth immense untapped potential. We at FreightFox truly believe in this and our endeavour is to innovate and deliver augmented logistics capabilities for the manufacturing industry driven by passion, diversity and inclusion.
At present, the logistics industry is undergoing significant transformation, with the rise of automation, artificial intelligence, and other technological advancements. We are also seeing more women being employed in leadership positions as their detail-oriented and collaborative approach helps to identify and solve problems more efficiently. However, women are often underrepresented in the industry, and there is a growing concern about the digital divide that exists between men and women in logistics. Addressing this digital divide in logistics is crucial for promoting gender equality and creating a more inclusive and innovative industry. Women bring unique skills and perspectives to logistics, and by empowering them with the digital tools and resources they need, we can unlock their full potential.
On this Women’s Day, we’d like to appreciate the efforts of women who often go unnoticed. By empowering and supporting women in manufacturing and logistics, we can build a more resilient, innovative, and equitable industry that benefits everyone.”
Dr. Sara Varughese, Managing Trustee, CBM India
“Today, as we celebrate International Women’s Day, we are reminded that women still face significant barriers to achieving true equality. Women still lack financial autonomy and have limited access to healthcare and disability support. At CBM India Trust, our mission is to champion the voices of the underprivileged, and we believe empowering women is key to achieving that goal.
Through our work with state governments and the private sector, we have established women-led co-ops that provide gainful employment to rural women, helping to bridge the gender gap in the workforce. We also place special emphasis on our disability aid programs to ensure that women with disabilities receive the support they need. Additionally, we are committed to placing women in key leadership and supervisory positions to promote gender equality in all aspects of our work.
On this Women’s Day, we want to acknowledge the tireless efforts of rural business owners, educators, caregivers, and homemakers who work selflessly for the benefit of others. Their contributions often go unnoticed but are critical to building a more inclusive society. We believe that development is sustainable only when it is inclusive, and we are committed to ensuring that women everywhere have the same opportunities as their male counterparts. By breaking down systemic barriers and promoting women’s leadership, we can create a more just and equitable society for all.”
Shalini V Nair- Co-Founder and Board Director, Ennoventure Inc
‘’IT and science have been male-dominated fields for decades, excluding women from opportunities and progress. However, we at Ennoventure Inc are proud to be part of a growing number of women-led tech businesses in India. Although the percentage of women in IT in India is relatively high at 36%, there is still a long way to go to change perceptions about women’s ability to handle math and computers.
At Ennoventure Inc, we are committed to bringing more diverse talent into skill-intensive and leadership roles. We offer special skill-building programs for our women employees and spread awareness about careers in tech. It is crucial to have supportive leadership and more female role models in senior positions to correct the gender gap. We strongly encourage tech brands to appoint more women in leadership roles and establish guidance and training opportunities for incoming women.
As we celebrate Women’s Day, we would like to appreciate all the women in STEM who bring their intelligence and grit to design a better future, despite the obstacles they face. We also want to encourage young girls to pursue careers in STEM and not let anyone tell them they can’t. Women have always been capable of everything, and we hope to see more women taking up the space they deserve in 2023 and beyond.’’
Ridhhi Sanghi- Director and Head, People Success-TurboHire
‘’At TurboHire, we are driven to revolutionize the traditional hiring process, and a significant part of our mission is to eliminate the subtle gender bias that influences hiring decisions. Our AI-powered solutions allow candidates to be assessed solely based on their abilities, which benefits women who may have been subject to unconscious biases. This approach also ensures that every company gets the best candidate for each job.
We provide companies with greater visibility on hiring trends, which is essential because many organizations may not even be aware of the gender disparities that exist on their teams. Technology has immense potential to bring the transparency and neutrality that our economy needs, and startups today understand the importance of diversity, particularly in traditionally male-dominated fields like engineering and senior management.
As we celebrate Women’s Day in 2023, we want to reaffirm our commitment to empowering Indian women to achieve their highest potential. We appreciate the millions of women who are breaking barriers and building the careers they deserve. While we acknowledge that there is still a long way to go to achieve truly equitable representation, we believe that with the right technology and a sincere desire to be inclusive, companies can start making a difference today.’
Nina Nair, Senior Vice, President and HRD Head, India & Americas, [24]7.ai
“As an organisation, we have laid a strong focus on creating a gender-inclusive workplace. To enable this, our company hired over three thousand two hundred women employees during the year, taking the overall number of women in its workforce to over one-third. The company’s equitable and inclusive policies and initiatives have been lauded by the industry.
Our clear focus in the past years has been to make our organization gender diverse and inclusive. We strongly believe that a collaboration of unique individuals creates inventive solutions. This is why we at [24]7.ai aim to create an equitable workplace that is flexible, supportive, and rewarding so that our employees are happy at work. Our focus on gender diversity has helped us ensure that over a third of our workforce is women, and even our senior leadership team comprises women who hold key positions across varied teams.”
Dr Reema Nadig, Co-Founder and COO, KITES Senior Care
“On this International Women’s Day, let us celebrate the incredible strength, resilience, and achievements of women. Despite facing societal barriers and discrimination over centuries, women continue to break down walls and shatter ceilings to reach the sky in all aspects of life. Let us acknowledge the remarkable achievements made by women in the geriatric care sector in India. Their perseverance in the face of challenges, including inadequate resources and social biases, significantly enhancing the lives of their patients, and their efforts are critical to providing high-quality care to India’s senior population. We must commit to providing them with the resources and support they require to continue caring for the elderly so that they receive the care, respect, and dignity they deserve. Celebrating women hood this year and forever.
Niharika Raut, Founder of Around the City
In today’s day and age, I feel the sky’s the limit for women and I couldn’t be happier about it. It’s truly heartwarming to see women breaking so many stereotypes and choosing to do what they genuinely want to do based on their interests. The fashion industry has not been that kind in the past for women and there has been a lack of inclusivity and only a few of us felt a belonging there.
But as times have changed it has certainly become less hostile for us and more fashion and wellness brands have started the movement of inclusion for women in so many different ways. By breaking beauty norms and standards, women have finally started to feel like themselves and the pressure to match those standards set by society has by far reduced. This truly allows women of different shapes, sizes, colours, and backgrounds to truly feel empowered and most importantly, they feel emotionally safe and secured with themselves.
Positive conversations regarding body image issues or body dysmorphia have significantly helped women to believe that there is light at the end of the tunnel and this has also positively contributed to their better mental health. This is a win-win situation for women today. And as we are celebrating women’s day today, I hope, moving forward we continuously break gender barriers, and stereotypes still present in the fashion world and make it an overall healthy place for women to thrive.
Puja Issar, Managing Director of India, AnitaB.org India
“Empowering women is more than just a responsibility; it is a moral impetus for a better and more inclusive world. On this International Women’s Day, let us celebrate the incredible women who are breaking barriers and driving innovation in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM), despite the inherent gender bias and discrimination.
As we celebrate their achievements and strength, we must also work towards creating more inclusive and diverse STEM communities that breaks down barriers and offer support to aspiring young women. Let us also challenge the stereotypes that often hold women back in STEM and advocate for equal opportunities, pay and representation. By promoting gender diversity, we can unlock new perspectives that drives innovation and solve some of the world’s most urgent issues. Because when women succeed, we all succeed.”
Chaitali Pishay Roy, Founder, CPR Consultants
“Women have always been inherently shy and introverted when it comes to putting themselves out there and being considered a leader. As a woman entrepreneur, I can feel and understand the needs of women leaders and associate myself with the hurdles and problems they face. This is one of the reasons I started CPR, where we provide reputation management and PR services, to make it available to clients beyond just the metro cities. There is phenomenal work being done in tier 2 & 3 cities of India as well, and we want to help bring their stories to the forefront, tell them to everyone, and help them sail through their entrepreneurial journey.”
Tabir Rakhshinda Hussein, Head – Internal Operations, Leegality
“At Leegality, we are proud to say that we recognize and celebrate the contributions of women in our organisation. Across the hierarchy, women at Leegality have been at the forefront of innovation and growth and are leading teams for creative and impactful work. We strive to create a workplace that is inclusive, supportive, and empowers women from all walks of life. Our concept of how we work keeps evolving keeping into consideration what all our employees expect, and we work together to ensure a level playing field for all. On this Women’s Day, let us not be held back by what we have achieved at workplaces so far, but let us acknowledge the work that still needs to be done and be driven by it.”
Loco streamer, Kanika Bisht A.K.A Kani Gaming
“As a female gamer, I am proud to see the progress the esports sector has made toward inclusivity. Women today are breaking gender stereotypes and setting themselves up for success fuelled by their passion. As a female gamer, it is encouraging to see platforms like Loco provide women gamers with the right tools and resources to launch and grow their career to help shape this ecosystem admiringly.”
Loco streamer, The Bella a.k.a Anjali Atheya,
“It is delightful to witness the Indian esports industry progressing toward embracing inclusivity. Women are no longer shackled by gender bias and are able to follow their passion with enthusiasm. To see platforms such as Loco, support female gamers jumpstart their career and help them establish themselves in the gaming scene is inspiring.”
