Inauguration of MCCI Ladies forum’s new initiative ‘Women in Leadership Series’ by Padma Shri Smt Arundhati Bhattacharya, President & CEO – Salesforce, South Asia and Former Chairperson, State Bank of India
22th May 2025
MCCI Ladies Forum (MLF) launched a new initiative on 19th May 2025 “Women in Leadership Series”. It was inaugurated by the Chief Guest Padma Shri Smt. Arundhati Bhattacharya, President and Chief Executive Officer, Salesforce – South Asia and Former Chairperson, State Bank of India. Dr. Shubhada M. Rao, Founder, QuantEco Research and Former Senior Group President & Chief Economist, Yes Bank was the Guest of Honour. The Session was held virtually on Zoom.
The theme of the Session was ‘Women Rising: the Unseen Barriers’.
Smt. Deepali Saraogi, Chairperson, MLF in her Welcome Address said that this series aims to empower women through mentorship, networking, leadership development, and skill-building opportunities. It will be a platform for learning new skills, building networks. The ultimate goal is to increase the representation of women in leadership positions and promote gender equality in all spheres of life.
“As we strive for a more inclusive and equitable society, it is essential to acknowledge and address the unseen barriers faced by women. They can take many forms, from unconscious bias and stereotypes to lack of representation and self-doubt” – said Smt Saraogi.
“Women are emerging as powerful agents of change across sectors, and the momentum is only building. With more women pursuing higher education and entering fields like STEM, we have an extraordinary opportunity to channel this talent into leadership and impact. Real progress lies in creating environments that value not just ambition, but also empathy, balance, and collaboration. When women are supported—both professionally and personally—they don’t just contribute, they transform. Initiatives like MCCI’s Women in Leadership Series help catalyze this shift, sparking conversations and action that will shape a more inclusive, resilient future.” – said Smt. Arundhati Bhattacharya.
Dr. Shubhada M. Rao said that the goal of ‘Viksit Bharat’ by 2047 cannot be achieved without the participation of women. Achieving a 70 per cent women workforce participation by 2047 is crucial to make India ‘Viksit Bharat’. Today, women are under-represented in the workplace. She explained that today, many companies have a female director because it is mandated and not as a natural promotion.
She urged that a change in mindset regarding women is necessary and women need to realise their self-worth. Dr. Rao added that women need to take cognisance of leadership capabilities and the importance of networking. Females have a natural ability to multitask.
She advised MCCI Ladies Forum to come up with mentoring, hand-holding and awareness sessions for women entrepreneurs, Self-Help Groups in tier-II and tier-III cities.
The session ended with a hearty Vote of thanks proposed by Smt. Shruti Jhajharia, Co-Chairperson, MLF. She said that across the world, women are rising. In boardrooms, in laboratories, in classrooms, on sports fields, and on frontlines. They are pushing through ceilings made of glass and walls built of bias.
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(This story has not been edited by News Mania staff and is published from a Media Release)
