‘Women aren’t just breaking ceilings, they are redefining boundaries’

Team L&M

This International Women’s Day, we spoke to some women to know their views on the day.

Prachi Kaushik, Founder & Director, Vyomini Social

Women empowerment is not just about policies—it’s about action. While numerous initiatives support women’s entrepreneurship, financial independence, and menstrual hygiene, the harsh reality is that crimes against women remain alarmingly high. This stark contrast highlights the urgent need to accelerate our efforts. Self-help groups (SHGs) and Anganwadis have shown the power of collective strength in transforming women’s lives. Yet, progress remains slow. Why are we still lagging in women-centered development? If we truly believe in empowerment, we must act now—ensuring safety, dignity, and equal opportunities for every woman.
This Women’s Day, let’s move beyond discussions and take real action. Strengthening grassroots movements, ensuring access to education, and building safe spaces are not just goals—they are necessities. Women are ready to lead, innovate, and thrive. The question is—are we ready to support them?

Neha Sampat, Founder & CEO at Contentstack

Technology has the power to level the playing field, and women are already leading its transformation across industries. To sustain this progress, businesses must go beyond symbolic representation and ensure that women have real influence in leadership, decision-making, and innovation. Diversity is not just about hiring—it is about creating environments where different perspectives shape the future of technology in meaningful ways. In an era of rapid change, the organisations that thrive will be those that recognise inclusion not as a concession, but as a strategic advantage that drives better outcomes for everyone.

Neha Bagaria, Founder and CEO at HerKey

Women in India are not just breaking ceilings; they are redefining the very structures that once held them back. The future of work is inclusive, and it is time for organisations to actively champion women’s leadership, not just as a goal but as a necessity for business success. By fostering a culture of mentorship, flexibility, and equal opportunities, we can unlock the immense potential of women in the workforce and drive meaningful progress for the economy. True empowerment comes when women are supported at every stage of their career journey, from entry to leadership, creating a cycle of growth that benefits all.

Kavitha Ramachandragowda, Co-founder & Executive Director, Routematic

According to the World Economic Forum, at our current pace, full gender equality may not be achieved until 2158. Women’s Day 2025 serves as a crucial reminder that we must accelerate progress. Encouragingly, more women today are breaking barriers in entrepreneurship, leadership, STEM, and mobility—proving that opportunities should be based on talent, not gender. However, systemic challenges persist, and meaningful change requires more than just policies or statements—it calls for consistent, everyday actions. Intentional hiring, fair promotions, and creating workplaces where women can thrive are vital steps forward. At Routematic, we are dedicated to building an inclusive workforce, enhancing mobility safety, and leveraging technology to create equal opportunities. While India has made significant progress, the journey is far from over. Gender equality should not be an exception or a distant goal, it must become the norm.

Kavita Ghai, Marketing Head, The Metropolitan Hotel & Spa

I feel womanhood should be celebrated every day. There should be a continuous and conscious social effort to work towards women’s right, safety and empowerment. We should give attention to issues like gender equality, reproductive rights, violence, abuse etc against woman on a regular basis and not one day to make someone feel special.  International Women’s Day is more than a celebration, it talks and highlights various woman supporting causes, diverse achievements of women, reminder of their struggles, helping female focused charity, fundraising, supporting woman led businesses, sending personal Thank You e-cards, holding high-tea for your women employees and more. We should collectively put efforts for equal rights, power, opportunity and make this our day. This International Women’s Day, let us acknowledge the ‘She’ in our lives. Let’s do our bit to empower women in whichever way we can and serve as a powerful inspiration for future generations.”

Joyshree Das Verma, National President, FICCI FLO

Accelerating action for gender parity isn’t just the goal but a necessity. Instead of waiting for change, we must step up and be the change. Women have talent, resilience, and vision to drive national growth, yet they continue to struggle with access to finance, skill development, and leadership roles. Having experienced the power of financial independence, I believe empowering women is not just fair but essential for economic progress. At FICCI FLO, we are committed to driving this change through impactful skilling initiatives across levels, like the recent 100 Girls Empowerment Program and the Women Directors Program. Strengthening these efforts, recent MoUs with ICA Eduskills, Yes Bank, and Support a Skill Care Foundation further support women’s skill development. With projects like India’s first 100% women-owned industrial park in Hyderabad, we are setting new benchmarks. Progress happens when we take action, and the time to act is now.

Simmi Dhamija, Chief Operating Officer at AIonOS

At AIonOS, we believe progress starts with equal opportunities for all. Equality is not just a goal—it’s essential for innovation, stronger economies, and a better future. When women are empowered with skills and leadership roles, industries transform, and society thrives. As we align with the theme “Accelerate Action,” we recognize that real change requires commitment. We are driving this transformation by promoting an inclusive environment where diverse talent can thrive, lead, and shape the future of AI. Together, we can build a world where everyone has the opportunity to succeed.