Payal Mujumdar | Student
I am Payal Mujumdar, a Computer Engineer (June 2014) from Pune. I have worked as a System Engineer in Infosys for 1.5 yrs followed by job as a Physics lecturer for 1 yr & currently preparing for Civil Services exam.
Since last 10.5 years, I am working as Founder-Director of an NGO named Approach Helping Hands Foundation in Pune, which is a strong youth based social organisation with 70+ volunteers.
Work of Approach is divided into 3 parts: Financial Donations, Activities and Social Awareness using Digital media.
Funds are collected through pocket money of volunteers & utilised for genuine needy cases. Until now, we have extended help up to 117 cases across Maharashtra, making a total of approx 2.25 lac INR. Also we have financially adopted two kids.
Various domains of activities are environment conservation, Education & health issues of under privileged kids, Women Empowerment & Digital Kranti.
Also we assertively promote the use of Facebook & WhatsApp for social work & conduct various successful drives using the same.
I believe in the principle of "United we stand, divided we fall" & thus envisage driving Approach Foundation successfully with a motto of "Together We Can!" even in future.
Aparna Vedapuri Singh | Women's Web
Aparna Vedapuri Singh is the Founder and Chief Editor of Women’s Web – India’s leading website for women and the most authentic community for women in India to express themselves and connect with others.
Aparna graduated in Journalism, English Literature and Psychology from Mount Carmel College, Bangalore and went on to do a post-graduate diploma in Communications (PGDC) from the prestigious Mudra Institute of Communications, Ahmedabad (MICA). Since 2000, she has worked in Marketing & Business Development at global organizations such as AC Nielsen, Symrise, and Frost & Sullivan.
In 2010, Aparna decided to return to her first interest: the business of words, and started Women’s Web, perceiving a need in the Indian market, for an authentic market that served all of women’s interests, beyond classically ‘feminine’ subjects alone.
Since then, she has grown Women’s Web to become an integral part of Indian women’s daily reading, and a community that now boasts of close to 600 high quality, vetted contributors.
Women's Web has a unique vision: To be the best resource for Indian women looking to empower themselves, by offering useful and interesting resources of direct relevance to their own lives, both online and in the ‘real world’. To augment this vision Women's Web also hosts events, meets, workshops and chats to empower women in different walks for life.
Women’s Web’s work in this space and vision has been acknowledged by both mainstream and new media with coverage in publications such as The Hindu, YourStory, Indian Express, etc.
Hannah Viegas | Barclays
I am a working Mom with two children aged 8 and 11. I have been working with Barclays for the past 10 years as part of the Underwriting team and later on as a part of Risk and Control.
Prior to that, I worked with HSBC as a part of their Personal loans Underwriting team. I have around 22 years of experience, most of which has been in Banking.
Apart from my work at the Bank, I also have a passion for bringing about a change in the lives of the less privileged and those that need some help and support.
I have worked with Snehasadan, a charity that supports street and abandoned children for around 5 years and also lead a team which helps run sessions for college students helping them to enter the job world.
Anuja Kapur | Anuja Kapur & Associates Law Firm
Anuja Kapur is a famous Criminal Psychologist and a Criminal Lawyer who is an expert in Psychology, Victimology and Criminal Law.
She is also known as a Social Activist who is the founder of "NIRBHIYA EK SHAKTI" Ngo.
She is also appointed as a resource person of DSLSA, Patiala House where she has been sensitizing various school and college students on legal rights, fundamental rights and making them aware of various social issues of the society.
She is also appointed as Honorary Special Police Officer (HSPO) from North West District Delhi for 2 years. As a Special Police Officer she sensitized the school students on the sensitive topic on "Good Touch and Bad Touch".
She also gave a lecture To DANIPS on gender sensitization issue. Recently, she was invited by the IIM, Ahmedabad and MIT Manipal University for a Guest Lecture to their students and staff. She was also the part of 3 TEDx Talk which were held at Jaipur, Ahmedabad and Mumbai. She is a regular feature from last 6 years as a Guest Panelist in various leading News Channels and all the leading News Papers and Magazines takes her inputs on various topics. She is an awardee of various Excellence and Iconic awards.
Shweta Sarfare | Foundation for Mother and Child Health India
I’m Shweta Sarfare, 29 years old, married to Vilas and have a beautiful 6 year old daughter.
My family wanted to discontinue my education after 10th standard due to family financial crisis and strong gender discrimination and wanted me to get married at early as 15 years.
I was determined and didn’t lose hope, just than I found my guardian angel in my aunt who supported me financially to pursue 12th std and then Nursing course. After competition of Nursing course from Sumeet Academy in 2005, I wanted to pursue graduation in Nursing but again due to family objection I took up nursing job to save money for college fees.
But at 22, my parents got me married against my will because of cultural pressure of being eldest daughter and fear of most nurses remaining single throughout their life. I continued working in hospital but was passionate to work in NGO and that’s when social worker friend shared her experience of working in NGO and offered job opportunity.
Without thinking much, I grabbed the opportunity and joined Foundation for Mother and Child Health NGO in 2013 as Nurse. Initially it was challenging to work in community, juggling with family responsibilities and travelling for 4 hours to reach work but determination and will to impact lives of underprivileged community made it easy.Today, at FMCH I’m not just a Nurse but also actively involved in community mobilizations, project implementations, influencing young nursing students and other NGO activities.
Ramya Rao | Reliance Industries Limited
A Naval officer’s daughter, a republic day parade NCC cadet, my beliefs are strongly driven by these experiences created in my younger days.
While people complain of how they fall short of time, I come with a belief that 24 hours is good enough to achieve anything and everything. Why choose only one career option when you can do two? Successfully managing time by being a corporate trainer in the Learning and Development space, I also take time out to pursue my passion in Dance by creating fusion choreography of Belly dancing and Kuchipudi , having introduced belly dancing on a kuchipudi plate.
With the help of my brand KALANECA, along with my sister and mother, I promote the handloom of Uppada, Andhra. Dance and Sarees keep me closer to my roots. While doing all of this, I take time out during weekends to compere corporate events as a hobby.
My colleagues at work call me the ambassador of ‘Life beyond work’. I aim to inspire the thought that we are all born to create something extraordinary, let us not settle for anything less.
We are all superhumans, we don’t need only one superman or one wonderwoman.
Avantika Wankhede | Santra Legal
Avantika is a practicing member of the Bar Council of Maharashtra and Goa. Avantika has consistently been recognized by clients and peers for representing clients with zeal, compassion, integrity and timeliness.
Having been actively involved in real estate sales and acquisitions for almost 12 years, Avantika has consistently been recognized for her accomplishments. She expanded into the practice of law to provide clients seeking representation in acquisitions and dispositions, real estate finance and workouts, equity investment, leasing and asset management, construction and development.
In addition to her association with Santra Legal Avantika serves as both general and special counsel to non-profits, advising them on corporate, tax and transaction matters. Avantika is a serving director of Transforming Lives Foundation an Anti-Trafficking Organization that has rescued over 600 women and children from Slavery. In addition to her community and civic involvement, Avantika is invested in family, raising her son.
Mamta Khemani | Ernst & Young
“Don't be afraid to start new or stand alone. It's always a brand-new opportunity to build what you truly want” is that what I believe.
I am Chartered Accountant and Company Secretary by profession and working with Ernst &Young since 2010.
Working in EY is itself challenging especially for a married girl with conservative background, as my job involves late working hours and excessive outstations.
My situation became tougher, as my new-born became my topmost priority. But if you believe in yourself and have zeal to achieve you can achieve anything. After extended maternity leave, I have re-joined my professional career with greater responsibilities at office as well as home.
The word “Balance” plays a very vital role in my life I went slow in professional life when my baby needed me most. I believe one should not give up at any moment, if the situation is tough, we can manage our speed and can move slow till the time things become again favourable. I have created an example in our society that one should not give as if it wasn’t hard, everyone would do it, it’s hard that makes it great.
My hobby is to play with my child.
Sushmita Belde | Mita's Thread Bangles
Sushmita is a Financial Consultant and also an Event Planner (Owner of Drishti Events) n also into handmade jewellery Mita's Thread Bangles.
Life has put her through many trying moments but nothing has ever deterred her from achieving her goals. An amazing and inspirational mom, Sushmita is endowed with talents; Painting, handicrafts (knitted and embroidered) and Saree designing are some areas that she excels in.
Bhawna Chawla | BlackRock
Bhawna Chawla is an HR professional with over 12 years’ work experience. She is associated with BlackRock for the last 5 years, and is currently responsible for driving the talent, diversity and engagement agenda in India. This includes managing talent practices such as Performance Management, Talent Reviews, Promotions; delivering learning initiatives including management and top talent development; and driving employee engagement. She also leads key Inclusion and Diversity initiatives in the Asia Pacific region for fostering an inclusive culture and supporting development of women talent through targeted sponsorship programs.
Prior to BlackRock, Bhawna worked at EXL Service, across a variety of roles in learning and talent development. She spearheaded various strategic initiatives such as a co-branded top talent program with a premier B-School, established leadership and domain academies, to name a few.
Bhawna has completed her Bachelors & Masters in English Literature. She has also completed the SCP Certification by SHRM (Senior Certified Professional by Society for Human Resource Development), in addition to being certified in psychometric instruments. Bhawna is currently pursuing Executive Management Education from Cornell University, New York.
In her personal time, she enjoys traveling, reading and spending time with her family.