Women are now becoming a tour de force in the workplace and this International Women’s day—it’s a celebration of strength, resilience, and the incredible contributions of women across the world.
From breaking barriers in workplaces to leading social change, women continue to shape the world in countless ways. These women entrepreneurs or sharks set the benchmark with their unique ideas and empower future generations to believe and transform their dreams into reality.
1. JustWravel: A Journey Beyond Travel – Building India’s Largest Social Travel Community
Eight years ago, Shubhangi Pandey set out on a journey–her mission was not just to explore the world but to create a community of travelers that shared the same passion for adventure.
In 2016, this dream took shape as JustWravel, now India’s largest and most trusted social travel community.
Starting from scratch, Shubhangi faced the challenges of building a travel brand in a competitive industry. But her passion and dedication transformed JustWravel into a movement, empowering over 60,000 travelers—especially women—to break barriers and explore fearlessly. Under her leadership, JustWravel pioneered All-Girls Trips, ensuring safe, comfortable, and inspiring journeys for solo female travelers.
Recognized by MSME, The Economic Times, and TripAdvisor, JustWravel is more than a travel company—it’s a revolution. And it all began with one woman’s vision to change how India travels.
2. Ghazal Alagh: The Woman Who Redefined Beauty and Business
Before she was a face of a million dollar company, Ghazal Alagh was a woman of ambition, drive and confidence to do something on her own. A corporate professional turned entrepreneur, she refused to settle for the ordinary. When she co-founded MamaEarth in 2016, she disrupted an industry that overlooked the need for safe, toxin-free beauty products.
As a woman in business, Ghazal had to navigate a space where leadership was often a man’s game. But she didn’t just find her seat at the table—she built her own. From product innovation to brand storytelling, her expertise and vision transformed Mamaearth into one of India’s fastest-growing beauty brands.
Today, she stands as a symbol of female entrepreneurship, proving that women don’t just break glass ceilings—they redesign the entire room. Bold. Fearless. Visionary. That’s Ghazal Alagh.
3. Namita Thapar: The Fearless Leader Redefining Pharma, Entrepreneurship, and Women’s Empowerment
Namita Thapar is the Executive Director of Emcure Pharmaceuticals, a leading Indian pharmaceutical company with a strong global presence. She is widely recognized for her leadership in the healthcare sector and her role as a judge on Shark Tank India, where she supports startups with funding and mentorship.
Namita earned an MBA from Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business and is also a Chartered Accountant. She worked in the U.S. before returning to India to join Emcure, where she played a crucial role in expanding its domestic business. Beyond business, she is passionate about women’s health, education, and entrepreneurship, running initiatives like Incredible Ventures Ltd to train young entrepreneurs.
Namita is known for her straightforward leadership style, advocacy for gender equality, and commitment to healthcare accessibility. Her journey inspires many aspiring entrepreneurs and professionals in India and beyond.
4. Namrata Patwari, Co-founder of Quadric Capital: Where Legacy Meets Disruption – The Future of Funding is Here!
In a male-dominated debt funding industry, Namrata Patwari is emerging as one of Hyderabad’s most influential women in Finance. Redefining business funding by integrating financial structuring, risk assessment and data analytics, to financially empower businesses with the capital they need to grow.
She is also piloting India’s first AI-driven Structured Franchise Finance Platform, bridging the gap between aspiring entrepreneurs and structured funding, focused on generating passive income.
With a 32 year family legacy in finance and her being a second-generation Chartered Accountant, she has moved beyond traditional funding practices by seamlessly merging modern finance with unconventional funding strategies. Namrata is not just reshaping how businesses raise capital, she is creating a future where funding is smarter, faster and more accessible than ever before.
Beyond finance, she leads Project Ikshana, a movement to end classroom hunger, an NGO, having served over 100,000 nutritious, millet-based meals to socially disadvantaged, school going children.
As co-founder of Quadric Capital, Namrata has structured and facilitated multi-million-dollar funding transactions in various industries through multiple financial institutions. With a bold vision and expertise in debt syndication, credit analysis and investment structuring, Namrata is reshaping debt funding in India – one strategic deal at a time.
5. Vineeta Singh’s Bold Bet: Turning Failures Into India’s Favorite Makeup Brand
Vineeta Singh, co-founder of Sugar Cosmetics hasn’t witnessed a smooth journey despite her recent acclaim on Shark Tank.
During her research, Vineeta realized that most brands were creating expensive products targeting wealthy customers. She understood women’s makeup needs and catered to a niche that made young women feel powerful and confident.
During the initial stages, things were not smooth and Vineeta was faced with a life-changing decision—accept a 1 crore salary job or find her own entrepreneurial path.
Investors doubted her, and she even cycled through 20-hour workdays just to keep things afloat. But Vineeta refused to give up. In 2015, she launched Sugar Cosmetics with a vision: makeup that withstands India’s heat and diverse skin tones
Today, Sugar Cosmetics is a ₹500+ crore brand, standing tall against global giants. From near bankruptcy to judging Shark Tank India, Vineeta’s journey is proof that persistence beats perfection.
6. Capt. Poonam Devrakhyani: Redefining Aviation Safety with Innovation and Vision
High above the clouds, in the cockpit of a Boeing 737 NG, Capt. Poonam Devrakhyani once commanded flights with unwavering precision. Today, she commands something far greater — the future of aviation safety and regulatory excellence.
Her journey from being a seasoned commercial pilot to a leading Flight Operations Inspector (FOI) at the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) is a testament to her resilience, vision, and commitment to revolutionizing air travel.
Having spent over a decade flying Boeing and Airbus aircraft, Capt. Poonam now stands at the forefront of ensuring that every aircraft in Tamil Nadu’s skies operates with the highest safety standards.
What sets Capt. Poonam apart is her pioneering research in Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Internet of Things (IoT) in aviation safety.
Capt. Poonam Devrakhyani (https://www.linkedin.com/in/poonam-devrakhyani-capt-109725165/), serves as a testament to her vast contributions to aviation safety, regulatory oversight, and operational excellence.
Capt. Poonam’s stewardship in Tamil Nadu, where she single-handedly oversees commercial airlines, non-scheduled operations, and general aviation, is a reflection of her unwavering resolve to ensure that safety is not just a guideline — but a promise.
Her mission is clear: To fuse human expertise with technological brilliance, ensuring the skies remain safe, efficient, and future-ready. Capt. Poonam Devrakhyani doesn’t just navigate flights — she’s navigating the future of aviation safety.
7. Rajathi Kalimuthan: Founder of Rhythm Natural Mineral Water
Rajathi Kalimuthan never imagined that a sip of water could change your life. Promoting this lifestyle, she thrived in the fast-paced world of IT investment banking until her health went downhill. It wasn’t until she started studying water that she realized the overlooked truth: not all water is created equal.
Curious and determined, Rajathi embarked on an extraordinary journey. She traveled over 36,000 miles, crossing continents, meeting experts, and studying the science of hydration, where she found the purest natural mineral water, filtered by nature for 20 years.
Rhythm Water was awarded Best Newcomer Beverage Brand of the Year at the 7th Food Connoisseurs India Convention. As an advocate for women’s health, Rajathi serves as the National Pink Ambassador for India Turns Pink, spreading awareness about breast cancer.
That discovery became Rhythm Natural Mineral Water—India’s first premium mineral water curated by a certified Water Sommelier. More than just a brand, Rhythm embodies Rajathi’s mission: to transform the way people think about hydration. Today, as she celebrates 25 years in her professional journey, she continues to break barriers as a woman transforming the wellness industry.
8. Dr. Suprabhaa Raorane
From the dusty villages of Malwada to the reputable halls of the United Nations, Dr. Suprabhaa Raorane’s social contributions tell a tale of widespread impact. Being a two-time recipient of the Lions International President’s Certification, Dr. Raorane took this as the foundation for building a career filled with meaningful changes. From establishing solar powered libraries in ZP schools, assisting underprivileged children with educational and vocational activities, to orchestrating life-changing cataract operations – she has impacted the lives of many.
Between 2016-2019, Dr. Raorane represented India on global platforms, including the United Nations Headquarters in New York, Sahara International Model United Nations in Morocco, and the Toronto World Leadership Forum in Canada. As a female activist, she has won multiple awards like World Women Leadership Congress Award (2015), Women Achiever Award (2016), Women Entrepreneur Award at COE Dubai (2022), etc. Dr. Raorane proves that women’s leadership can transcend multiple boundaries while transforming communities.
