Women leaders of the decade
Here is a brief on a few women who are high-performers making them outstanding leaders and influencers. They built their own businesses, a few at an early stage, a few later, setting their journeys as the best examples for the younger generation!
1. Ramin Grewal
Ramin is the founder of Innerpreneur, an online publication geared towards innerpreneurial stories of taking risks and creating inner capital. A former finance recruiter at Amazon and having an experience of more than 10 years in the field of Finance, Ramin wished to start the journey towards personal growth, fulfilment, peace, contentment, joy & self-realization, through her venture.
2. Sheela Kochouseph Chittilappilly
Belonging to a business family and being married to someone who foresaw the potential of business in Kerala, she built one on her own and popularised the promising brand of V Star. Thereby carving a unique space in the Kerala business sector with her confidence and hard work.
3. Sairee Chahal
Wearing her sneakers all the way and keeping a positive face to anyone who comes across, Sairee is a technology entrepreneur who is credited with building up platforms for women, who wish to find all the resources that provide tangible work satisfaction and a perfect work-life balance.
She is the founder of SHEROES, a community platform for women, offering support, resources, opportunities and interactions. Having a wide range of interests including Entrepreneurship, Investments, Gender, Media and Economies of transition, she is an Aspen Fellow and built her first start-up Newslink Services in 1999.
4. Vaishali Kasturae
Vaishali currently heads the ISV business for AWS in India, helping B2B start ups achieve scale and global impact. She is part of the AWS India leadership team.
She has held different positions like Asst. Vice President of Citibank, Managing Director at Goldman Sachs and worked with a number of organisations like Deloitte and Experian. She is also an avid Marathoner and the first Indian woman to complete all 6 world major marathons. She is passionate about gender diversity and is the co-founder of Sonder Connect, a not-for-profit organization that mentors women founders.
5. Akanksha Hazari
Akanksha is the CEO and founder of m.Paani, world’s first AI-driven full-stack business automation and growth solution for MSMEs. m.Paani is a Google Studio Company (1 of only 10 globally), Google Launchpad 2018 Company (1 of only 24 globally) and has been awarded by both Hillary and Bill Clinton respectively and recognised in US Senate Resolution 418.
Akanksha worked as a consultant in a number of firms like Booz and Company and was part of the Founding team among the Board of Directors at YPFP (Young Professionals in Foreign Policy).
6. Shalini James
She is one of the most successful fashion designers the state has seen. Shalini James is the lead designer and founder of Mantra, a clothing line in Indian ethnic wear. She is the first designer from Kerala to be a member of the FDCI(Fashion Design Council of India). Completing her graduation in English Literature, she felt Fashion was her call and joined NIFT, Chennai. Her simple and exquisite works have gathered her a huge customer base all over India.
7. Aditi Gupta
Aditi Gupta started Menstrupedia comic, a guide to educate people around the world on menstruation. An NID alumni, Aditi wanted to spread awareness about a taboo subject like menstruation to young boys and girls in the most innovative and informative way. She worked alongside her husband Her work was initially criticised though it was positively received by the majority online and by the media.
8. Sukriti Chopra
Starting up at 50, Sukriti Chopra took a different turn from her career in teaching to fashion designing. A self-taught designer, she started small in her living room and her brand SYS by Sukriti, is said to be in its break-even. She is an ambitious woman who looks forward to expanding her brand all around the country and work towards making it a household name.
9. Marina Mogilko
Starting her own venture at 21, Marina is an immigrant entrepreneur in the United States. Originally from Russia, she pursued her master’s in marketing at Johns Hopkins University with a full-scholarship and then at the University of Florida to do MBA with a full-scholarship when she started submitting applications to different accelerators in the US. Her venture Linguatrip currently employs 75 employees and it is getting bigger by the day. She is known by her youtube name “Silicon Valley Girl” and posts content about linguistics.
10. Jessica Santana
Jessica is an entrepreneur, technologist, writer and philanthropist who is passionate about people, products and building community. In 2014, she co-founded New York On Tech (NYOT) with her best friend, which is an organization that creates pathways for students into degrees and careers in tech. Their work was featured in media outlets such as Forbes, CNN and Huffington Post and they have been able to forge partnerships that reach students in all five boroughs of NYC.
11. Suman Agarwal
Suman is the Co-Founder & Director of Image Consulting Business Institute. She has served more 8 years in the Jet Airways as a Grooming head. She wears many hats as an Image Consultant, however, her passion lies in being a Personal Branding advisor as well as Image advisor for individuals and organizations.
12.Nivedha R. M.
Nivedha has a truly inspiring story of becoming an entrepreneur. She is someone who believes that the skills and education one is bestowed with should be put across to the benefit of the society. Founder and CEO, Trashcon Labs Private Limited, she is an experienced Co-Founder with a demonstrated history of working in the non-profit organization management industry.
There a few among the number of women I have come across as exceptional leaders/entrepreneurs. Carving their own niche in their respective fields, they are role models for each of us!
