Give to Gain: Empower Women, Uphold Rights, Justice and Action

Priyadarshini Nigam, Director and Head – CSR, Newgen Software

In the corporate world, and over the years, I have had a firsthand experience on how deeply women anchor our workplaces with empathy, humility, and quiet resilience. But too often, those very strengths may lead to their contributions being overlooked or taken for granted. Hard work alone isn’t enough if it isn’t visible.

My advice to women remains; own your voice unapologetically. Assertiveness shouldn’t be mistaken for aggression. But rather, it is a form of clarity, and clarity commands respect. One must learn to lead with empathy but make decisions with professionalism. And above all, one should never underestimate the power of financial independence. Your strength deserves recognition, and make sure the world sees it.

Dr. Monalisa Padhee, Bindi International

My work with Bindi International has been shaped by listening to many girls and women whose voices and needs as individuals are often overlooked. Our work focuses on sexual and reproductive health and rights, while also nurturing girls’ education, aspirations, and leadership. We create safe and brave spaces within communities and through digital platforms where girls can seek information, share their thoughts, and find their voice.

In these spaces, they begin to navigate difficult conversations with their families and communities, question societal restrictions / discrimination with courage and creativity, and slowly claim greater agency over their lives and choices. Alongside this, we work with different stakeholders to co- create enabling environments with an equity lens so more girls can dream, pursue careers, and make informed choices.

Within our own organisation, we practice this through inclusive policies such as menstrual health policy support, wellness leave, and expansive maternity provisions that help women grow and thrive in their careers.

Dhilsha Jubair Amaryil, Senior Programme Manager, Barefoot College

Across many communities, women possess immense capability but are rarely given the opportunities to use it. My journey into this work began nine years ago as an SBI Youth for India Fellow and has since continued through my work with Barefoot College, where I have seen women who were excluded from formal education become solar engineers and bring electricity to their villages.

Their stories show that rights and justice for women cannot remain slogans, they must translate into real opportunities to access skills, knowledge, and decision-making spaces. When women are trusted with opportunity, they do far more than change their own lives, they transform entire communities.

Dr Charvee, SBI YFI Fellow - Batch 2018-19

Women across the world continue to fight for equal opportunity, safety, dignity, and freedom. The true progress of any nation is measured by the justice it offers its women and girls, ensuring every girl can live free from violence and have access to quality education, healthcare, and the agency to make decisions about her own life.

Real change happens when institutions, communities, and governments work together and invest in policies and programs to dismantle structural inequalities and invest in women’s leadership. Action requires collective responsibility, not only from society but also from women themselves to challenge patriarchal conditioning and regressive social norms, and to secure a future where every woman can truly thrive.

Pooja Madhavan, Founder & MD, Limelight Lab Grown Diamonds

 As a woman leading in the jewellery industry, I believe progress is not just about giving women a seat at the table, but ensuring their voices shape decisions and the future of the category. Today’s women are confident, independent, and redefining success on their own terms.

Our responsibility as leaders and brands is to build ecosystems that support their ambitions and celebrate their individuality. When women lead with confidence and equality, they don’t just transform industries, they inspire the next generation of women to rise.

Ambika Bhaik, CEO, Yellow Fertility

When women are supported with the right healthcare, knowledge, and opportunities, the impact extends far beyond individuals to families and communities. In the reproductive health space, access to accurate information, fertility care, and supportive policies enables women to make informed decisions and take greater control of their life journeys.

It is equally important to address the taboos surrounding infertility and fertility preservation through empathy, awareness, and accessible medical support. Creating inclusive healthcare ecosystems where women feel respected and heard allows them to approach their reproductive journeys with confidence and dignity. True empowerment lies in ensuring women have the freedom and support to plan their families and futures on their own terms.

Gita Ramanan, Co- Founder and CEO, DesignCafe

One meaningful way I’ve tried to “give” is by reducing the hidden career tax women pay for the 3 Ms: marriage, motherhood, migration.

At DesignCafe, that translated into policy, not pep talks: flexibility without guilt, WFH before it was fashionable, real return-to-work conversations, time-off for caregiving and family illness, and the option of sabbaticals.

As we expanded, we made transfers across cities easier and kept the door open for women who stepped away and wanted to return.

The gain, for me, has been learning that the most sustainable cultures are built like good design: for real life, not ideal conditions.

Nidhi Berry, Commercial Director, Four Seasons Hotel Bengaluru

In hospitality, the theme ‘Give to Gain’ resonates strongly with the role women continue to play in shaping the industry. Women often bring a thoughtful balance of empathy, resilience and collaboration to leadership, qualities that strengthen teams and create more inclusive workplaces. Progress for women has rarely been achieved in isolation; it has grown through mentorship, shared opportunities and a willingness to support one another’s ambitions.

This Women’s Day is an important reminder that investing in other women is not only meaningful but necessary. When women extend guidance, confidence and opportunity to one another, the entire industry benefits and moves forward with greater purpose.

Akansha Agarwal, Co- founder and CMO, Int2Cruises

We have come far enough to celebrate, and we are honest enough to know it is not far enough. Women have broken barriers, built businesses, led movements, and reshaped industries. Yet many still have to work twice as hard to access the same opportunities and recognition. In travel and tourism, an industry built on the idea of freedom, women remain underrepresented where decisions are made and directions are set. Discrimination still walks through some of the same door’s women fought hard to open, and inequality still sits at tables they worked tirelessly to reach.

The theme “Give to Gain” is a reminder that progress grows when we invest in one another. When organisations create space, mentorship, and equal opportunities for women, the result is stronger teams, better leadership, and more resilient industries.

So today, I celebrate every woman who dared. And to every woman still finding her footing, the world needs your voice, your vision, and your courage. Your resilience is not a footnote—it is the foundation everything else is built on.

Namita Kothari, Founder, Akoirah by Augmont

 Progress for women cannot remain symbolic, it must be visible in everyday realities. Rights must translate into real access, justice into fair opportunities, and action into systems that consistently support women.

True progress is when women no longer have to ask for space, but naturally occupy it, in leadership, in workplaces, in homes, and in the quiet but powerful moments when women of every age choose to speak up for themselves and shape their own lives.