The Women Powering A New Bharat: Highlights From Mumbai Edition Of News18 SheShakti 2025
News18 SheShakti 2025: Voices from across India's most influential sectors came together to spotlight how women are reshaping the country's future every day
What happens when leaders from governance, business, sports, media, and diplomacy come together with one shared purpose? You witness change, not as a slogan, but in action.
That was the spirit of Lions International presents News18 SheShakti 2025, held in Mumbai on July 31. Now in its third edition, this marked the first-ever regional chapter of the initiative, a powerful expansion of a national movement into the heart of India's cities. Themed 'From Breaking Barriers to Building Bharat', the initiative didn't just talk about women's empowerment, it embodied it. Voices from across India's most influential sectors came together to spotlight how women are reshaping the country's future every day.
At the centre of this potent conversation was Ashwini Bhide, IAS, Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister of Maharashtra and MD of the Mumbai Metro Corporation. She spoke of strategy not as theory, but as a daily practice, one that impacts millions of lives by improving how they live and move through the city.
Adding a global and diplomatic lens were Chavanart Thangsumphant, Ambassador of Thailand to India, and Mateja Vodeb Ghosh, Ambassador of Slovenia to India. Both shared insights on the power of representation in diplomacy, the need for women to assert themselves at the decision-making tables, and the shared responsibility of the nation to create space for such women in leadership roles.
In the financial arena, leading voices like Lakshmi Iyer, Group President Designate, Bajaj Finserv, Roshi Jain, Senior Fund Manager, Equities, HDFC MF, and Harsha Mundhada, Partner, Inflexor Ventures, shared insights on managing capital, navigating market volatility, and challenging old structures in a still male-dominated sector. Their conversations showed that finance, when reimagined by women, becomes a tool for wider inclusion.
The entrepreneurial energy came in strong with Priyanka Salot from The Sleep Company, Priti Rathi Gupta from LXME, and Naiyya Saggi from Edition. Each brought a story of innovation, disruption, and building businesses that solve real problems; not just scale metrics. Their journeys reflected grit, market intelligence, and the ability to lead with empathy and sharp execution.
Along with the stories of empowerment, grit and success, the importance of focusing on oneself was brought to attention by Dr. Neerja Birla, Founder & Chairperson of the Aditya Birla Education Trust. She drew attention to the often overlooked crisis of mental health, especially among women and children. Her advocacy for holistic well-being, combined with education reform, is changing the narrative around what support systems should look like in today's India.
This very idea of inner strength resonated further through the lens of sports with Anjali Bhagwat, Three-time Olympian, former world no.1 shooter, Khel Ratna and Arjuna awardee, and Trupti Murgunde, Indian Badminton champion. Both added a layer of inspiration drawn from years of dedication and excellence. They spoke not just of medals and rankings, but of resilience, built through discipline, failure, and getting back up again. Their stories resonated beyond sport, touching on consistency, focus, and confidence under pressure; qualities essential to any leadership journey.
The conversations further flowed into the world of storytelling with actors such as Renuka Shahane, Shriya Pilgaonkar, and Nimrat Kaur exploring how cinema is increasingly reflecting empowered female narratives. Adding to the potential of storytelling and transformation were the vibrant voices of RJ Malishka, Actor and Radio Host at RED FM, RJ Stutee, Head Of Programming, Fever FM, Mumbai, and RJ Prerna, Radio Mirchi, Mumbai, on how radio remains a powerful, intimate tool for shifting public narratives and celebrating everyday wins.
Bringing the event to a close, Chief Minister of Maharashtra Devendra Fadnavis, acknowledged the transformative potential of women's leadership. He emphasised the government's role in building environments where women don't just participate, but lead, inspire, and thrive.
News18 SheShakti 2025-Mumbai edition, in partnership with Lions International, left behind not just memories, but a blueprint for generations to come. The message was clear: When women lead, Bharat rises. Click here to know more.
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