Women Achievers Awards 3.0 Champions Gender Equality & Leadership

The Women Achievers Awards 3.0, hosted on March 14, brought together distinguished leaders, industry experts, academicians, and students to celebrate women’s leadership and social impact. The event was spearheaded by Secret Sauce Communications, Union Bank of India, and the MET Institute of Management to foster an important dialogue about women’s access to opportunities and support systems.

Closing The Leadership Gender Gap

A defining highlight was the keynote speech by Shaili Chopra, founder of SheThePeople and Gytree, who set a powerful tone for the day with a thought-provoking question. “If not you, then who? If not now, then when?” she asked, urging more women to step forward and claim the space they deserve.

This was followed by a panel discussion on ‘Closing India’s Female Labour Force Gap through Entrepreneurship and Leadership Changes.’ Madhura DasGupta, Founder and CEO of Aspire For Her, highlighted that India ranks 142nd out of 146 countries in women’s economic participation, emphasising the need for stronger support systems for women’s careers and entrepreneurship.

Meanwhile, Divya Sampath, VC Sponsor and Partner, Angel Investor, and Innovation Strategist, spoke about the challenges women entrepreneurs face in accessing capital. Next, Swati Mohan, Founder of The Brink and former CMO of Netflix India, highlighted the importance of equal pay and more leadership opportunities for women to foster genuine workplace equality.

Swati Lodha, Director of MET Institute of Management, Founder of Swash, and author, concluded the session by encouraging women to confidently use their voices and become mentors for future generations. The panel was moderated by Shalini Gupta, Founder of Secret Sauce Communications Ltd.

Another keynote address was delivered by Deepali Naair, Global Head, Brand and Corporate Communications at Biocon. She emphasised the importance of building a strong personal brand and embracing continuous learning in a rapidly evolving professional landscape. Encouraging students and young professionals to remain future-ready, she highlighted the need to understand emerging technologies such as large language models.

The event also featured insights from Sangita Marda Agarwal, Director of Marketing and Communication at Vibrant Experiences Network, and Rachita Choudhury, Technology Leader and Network Leader at Lean In Mumbai.

They discussed the “urban paradox,” noting that although cities offer greater professional opportunities, only about 25% of urban women participate in the workforce and barely 10% reach senior management positions. Choudhury also explained the concept of the “broken rung” funnel, emphasising the need for stronger institutional support and inclusive workplace cultures.

Women Achievers Awards

A special highlight of the evening was the Women Achiever Award presented to Vishakha P Bhujbal, Senior Management Representative, MET Institute of Management, in recognition of her visionary leadership, creativity, and commitment to social impact and empowerment. 

A social impact leader, educationist, painter, and changemaker, Bhujbal has been instrumental in promoting the heritage of Warli artists and empowering communities through the Janaki Bhujbal Trust. Her Yeola Kalakari Kendra initiative has contributed to reviving the renowned “Queen of Silks of Maharashtra,” while creating sustainable livelihood opportunities for artisans.

The award was presented by Anu Chaudhuri Ghosh, Head of Marketing at Star Union Dai-ichi Life Insurance, and Chetna Pandey, General Manager at Analytics & CRM at Union Bank of India, who congratulated Vishakha for her contributions toward social development and the preservation of Maharashtra’s artistic and cultural heritage.

The event also featured a guest session by Padma Shri Dr Mukesh Batra, Founder of Dr Batra’s Healthcare, who spoke about the role of homoeopathy in supporting women’s and children’s health through preventive and holistic care.

This was followed by a panel discussion titled ‘Navigating the Corporate Ladder as a Woman,’ featuring Roma Balwani, Swati Khandelwal, and Indrani Chatterjee, who shared insights on resilience, professional competency, and supportive workplace cultures that enable women to grow into leadership roles.

Another discussion titled ‘The Power of 3C’s: Circles, Communities and Collective Intelligence,’ moderated by Chaitali Chatterjee, featured Vandana Sethi, Khushboo Jain, and CA Sneha Patil, highlighting the importance of mentorship, collaboration, and strong professional communities.

The event also included a wellness session by Dr Mili Shah, President of the Ozone Forum of India associated with Bisleri International, on ‘Holistic Health with Ozone Therapy.’

Another special highlight of the evening was the unveiling of the campaign song ‘Aaj Ki Naari’ by Star Union Dai-ichi Life Insurance, presented by Anu Chaudhuri Ghosh, followed by a live performance by renowned playback singer Anweshhaa DuttaGupta.

The program also featured a celebrity interaction session titled ‘Smiles, Strength and Second Chances’ with actresses Delnaaz Irani and Khushbu Baid, moderated by Hazel Das, a first-year MMS student of MET Institute of Management. The speakers shared reflections on their journeys and emphasised the guiding values of Compassion, Consistency, and Conviction in overcoming challenges and pursuing one’s aspirations.

The event concluded with a Vote of Thanks by Shalini Gupta for the event, who expressed gratitude to the speakers, partners, organisers, and participants for making the event a meaningful celebration of women’s leadership and achievement.

SheThePeople is the official online media partner for Women Achievers Awards 3.0