Women Making Impact - India

Michelle Pereira is the Co-Founder and Director of ElleQuinn Communications, a strategic communications advisory firm based in Mumbai. With over two decades of experience in public relations, marketing communications, and reputation management, Michelle has worked with some of India’s most prominent brands across consumer, hospitality, luxury, automotive, and FMCG sectors. Prior to founding ElleQuinn in 2018, she served as Managing Director – Marcom and Consumer at Hill+Knowlton Strategies, where she led the consumer practice and oversaw the Mumbai P&L while driving integrated communications across paid, owned, earned, and shared media. Her earlier leadership roles include senior positions at Adfactors PR, Edelman, and Perfect Relations, where she managed high-profile mandates including the Tata Group’s consumer-facing businesses such as Taj Hotels, Titan, Tanishq, Tata Global Beverages, and Jaguar Land Rover.

Vidushi Jain is the visionary entrepreneur who co-foundedAttrangi, a brand that’s redefining the Indian jewellery space with its perfect blend of elegance, emotion, and individuality. As the name suggests, Attrangi is about celebrating uniqueness and Vidushi has been instrumental in shaping itinto a label that encourages women to embrace their personal style with confidence and grace. Vidushi has always believed that a good idea only becomesgreat when you build it with both heart and clarity and that’s exactly what she brought to Attrangi. After completing her MBA in Marketing and Advertising, she gained valuable experience at BookMyShow and Kataria Honda, where she learnedhow businesses grow, how teams thrive, and how meaningful brand connections are built. But deep down, she always knew she wanted to create something of her own, something that blended creativity with purpose and heart.

Ghousia Sultana is a data analyst with a strong foundation in data analytics, engineering, and business intelligence. She began her career as an HR Process Analyst, later transitioned into IT, and now works as a Data Analyst, leveraging tools like Python, SQL, Power BI, Azure, and Databricks to build scalable data pipelines and drive insights. She holds a Master’s in Business Analytics and brings a deep interest in the intersection of AI and data. Currently, she is conducting research and writing on how data infrastructure, analytics, and machine learning come together to enable real-world AI solutions. Her work reflects a blend of hands-on technical expertise and a forward-looking perspective on the future of intelligent systems.

In this episode of Women Making Impact, Shrey Gupta sits down with Smitha Krishnamurthy, Senior Director – People Strategy for APAC at Nasdaq. Smitha shares her inspiring journey from a local HR leader to a regional strategist, highlighting how asking for opportunities shaped her career growth. The conversation dives deep into the power of cultural intelligence, empathy in leadership, and the importance of building inclusive workplaces. Smitha shares real-world examples of how employee networks and a sense of belonging can create lasting impact across global teams. Tune in to learn how the role of HR is evolving—from being transactional to becoming a strategic driver of change—and why agile methodologies, identity, and belonging are now at the heart of the modern workplace.

Mahua Bisht is the CEO of 1to1help, India's leading Employee Assistance Program (EAP) provider. Recently, 1to1help released the second edition of their "State of Emotional Wellbeing Report 2024," which offers compelling insights into workplace mental health trends. The report is based on data from over 83,000 counseling sessions, 12,000 elective screenings, and 42,000 assessments conducted between January and November 2024.

Gemeria Hair offers supreme quality, authentic virgin Indian hair sourced exclusively from the temples of South India. We provide a wide assortment of hair products, ranging from ready-to-wear clip-ins, ponytails, and wigs to professional keratin bonded tips, machine wefts, and more. Our hair comes in various colors, lengths, and textures to suit every woman's unique style and preference.

Chetna, a seasoned Communication Strategist and Business & Leadership Coach, is renowned for her expertise in establishing processes and crafting strategic plans tailored to meet diverse business needs. With a wealth of experience spanning 15 years, she excels in building both systems and people to successfully accomplish business objectives An accomplished academic, Chetna emerged as a university topper in Mass Media and further honed her skills as an Executive Alumna of the prestigious Indian Institute of Management Calcutta. Throughout her career, she has made significant contributions across various segments such as branding, research, advertising, design, communication, PR, and media. As the Co-founder of Morning Star Brandcom, Chetna actively shapes the company's vision and leads day- to-day operations, playing a pivotal role in its success. With a focus on new business development and talent acquisition, Chetna complements her partner Gaurav's expertise in media relations and client servicing. This dynamic partnership ensures a well-balanced approach, allowing the firm to stay true to its purpose. In her previous role, she led a strategic business unit for a prominent real estate company, overseeing sales, marketing, and corporate communication, with a focus on driving revenue and profitability.

Esha Bhambri is the Co-Founder of House of Fett, a luxury women's wear brand based in Noida, India. Established in 2018, House of Fett offers a diverse range of apparel, including dresses, gowns, co-ord sets, jumpsuits, and tunics, catering to various occasions such as resort wear, party wear, and casual wear. The brand has expanded significantly, with multiple retail outlets across India​

Dr. Prachi Benara, IVF Specialist, Birla Fertility and IVF is a highly skilled fertility specialist with over 16 years of experience in reproductive medicine. A Gold Medalist in MBBS, she has expertise in advanced laparoscopic and hysteroscopic surgeries, successfully addressing complex conditions such as endometriosis, recurrent miscarriage, menstrual disorders, and uterine anomalies, including uterine septum. With a rich global experience, Dr. Benara has performed over 3,500 IVF cycles and is recognized for her specialized care in fertility preservation, including egg freezing and cancer fertility preservation. She has worked with renowned institutions like Max Hospital, Artemis Hospital, and Oxford University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust in the UK, further enhancing her proficiency in the field. Dr. Benara is also an active member of the Federation of Obstetric and Gynaecological Societies of India (FOGSI) and has earned certifications in IUI and IVF from the British Fertility Society, UK, adding to her credentials in providing cutting-edge fertility treatments.

Dr. Sruthi Balammagary is a highly motivated IT professional with over 13 years of experience in software development, full-stack engineering, and functional programming. With a Ph.D. in Information Technology, my research focused on addressing IT failures in autonomous cars using machine learning and cybersecurity strategies. Currently, I work as a Senior Software Engineer at Comcast, where I develop scalable, high-performance applications using Java, Scala, and modern frameworks. I have a deep passion for AI, particularly in applying machine learning and deep learning to cybersecurity, anomaly detection, and intelligent automation. My expertise spans backend and frontend development, system design, and agile methodologies. Constantly driven by innovation, I am eager to explore AI-driven solutions that enhance software development, security, and autonomous systems.

Pragya Priyali is the visionary Founder and Creative Director of Unrush, a slow fashion brand born out of her deep commitment to craftsmanship. With over 16 years of experience in the fashion industry, her journey began as a design graduate from NIFT Delhi and evolved into leadership roles in content, social, and brand marketing at India's top fashion e-commerce platforms, including Myntra. Unrush was founded in response to the "fast everything" culture dominating fashion. It is Pragya’s mission to inspire conscious consumption and embrace timeless elegance. Her personal aesthetic—minimalist, thoughtful, and subtle—drives the brand’s identity. Unrush’s designs are crafted for the modern, mature working woman who seeks both style and substance in her wardrobe. Pragya ensures that Unrush not only stands out for its fashion but also for its values. The brand operates as a women-only organization, committed to hiring and partnering with women-led enterprises. Fabrics are ethically sourced from India, and garments are produced in facilities that meet international standards for worker safety and hygiene. In keeping with the slow fashion philosophy, each style is produced in small batches, avoiding wastage and ensuring the uniqueness of every piece.

Radhika Koolwal is the co-founder of Urban Space, and her role in transforming her husband Rohit Agarwal’s family textile business from Ahmedabad into one of India’s leading home decor brands. Urban Space is a great example of how a fresh perspective can take a traditional business to new heights. Rohit, with his deep expertise in textiles and production, laid the foundation for the brand’s quality-first approach. However, it was Radhika’s entry into the business that truly propelled its growth in the digital age. When Radhika joined the business in 2018, she had no prior experience in textiles or home decor. Yet, she brought her background in engineering and marketing to the table, setting up Urban Space’s e-commerce and digital strategies from scratch. Her ability to quickly adapt and understand market trends has been instrumental in Urban Space’s growth, particularly in the highly competitive online market. Today, the brand boasts INR 6 crore in monthly sales and a strong digital presence, which she has helped build from the ground up.

As the cofounder of ZFunds, Vidhi is on a mission to make purchase of financial products and decision making Sahi* (Right) and Asaan* (Easy) in the 500 bottom districts of India. ZFunds enables distribution of financial products through ZFunds experts in the highly underserved segment of tier-2,3 and 4 markets. After spending 8 years working with a couple of unicorns like Zomato and Policybazaar and early stage startups like Healthkart, Vidhi knows what truly drives customers to a product— it’s not dishing out the top trends of the week. It’s how well you connect and understand the users you’re trying to help and communicate your understanding back to them. Vidhi was a part of the initial investments team at Paisabazaar and had a pivotal role in taking the platform to number 2 in the country. Now ZFunds, engages 1000+ micro-entrepreneursthat advise 60000+ customers from 600 cities and towns. Vidhi holds a B.tech from Delhi College of Engineering.

Mira Swarup is an accomplished Impact Communication Coach & Speaker based in India. Her military upbringing taught the value of social presence and etiquettes, which sprung into a desire to use effective communication to have a significant impact on people's lives, and was the driving force behind the decision to become an entrepreneur. She gained a grasp of manners and social graces throughout her military cultivation, which sparked interest in the meaning and purpose of life as well. Ms. Swarup felt a persistent motivation towards accomplishing her potential despite having a successful decade-long career with renowned healthcare organisations. She found her true calling in helping people present themselves more compellingly as a result of her quest. Her passion to support professionals in being heard, seen, and followed has been impactful and has led to solidifying her stronghold as a thought leader in the communication coaching industry – both private and corporate coaching programmes. Her current area of expertise is dismantling ineffective communication patterns and assisting people in improving their interactions with others, both personally and professionally.

Shalu's journey as a startup founder coincided with the birth of her daughter a couple of years after founding Growthpal, presenting a unique set of challenges. Even as her daughter needed time and staying up through the night and juggling the demands of a rapidly growing company leading a team of 50 people, which requires much more time compared to a job, it has been an emotional battle. The clash between the demands of late-night U.S. sales and the desire to be present for her daughter has been a battle of managing the emotional toll and the importance of effective time management. The emotional battle of not always being seen as the top priority by her daughter while also striving for success in the competitive startup landscape highlights the sacrifices and challenges that many women face in similar situations.After graduating from IIT Kharagpur, she did her MBA from IIM Lucknow, and worked at Mindtickle and Deloitte and was consulting with 20 startups across various verticals including healthcare. During her college days as well, she tried her hand at starting up and learned multiple things even though they did not work out and believes that they helped her get here. Shalu's journey into entrepreneurship wasn't without its challenges. As a co-founder of Growthpal, she faced the unique challenge of navigating a startup landscape with no set guideposts unlike when one is in a job where one is told what to do. Wearing multiple hats, from team building to strategic decision-making, she embraced the chaos and considers it a valuable opportunity for personal growth.

Anika is a highly motivated, result driven digital marketing professional with over 12 year’s experience in developing digital strategy and digital brand management. She is a team leader with the ability to foster progress and manage attrition in a fast paced environment. Over the years she has had the opportunity to build and drive teams that led digital transformation and customer experience initiatives for some of the top brands in India, through social media marketing, online brand experience, performance marketing, content marketing, brand management, customer experience, mobile marketing, influencer marketing and media planning.

Aditi is the Co-Founder and CEO of EcoRatings, a Gen Ai solution for the sustainability domain. She is also an angel investor, mentor and advisor to female founded start-ups in early stage ventures. Previously, she was the sole woman founder of a hospitality business that has successfully scaled in a new segment and merged with a strategic partner. Having previously worked with marquee names such as Barings Private Equity, McKinsey & Company, etc. she have extensive hands-on experience with investment, scaling and startups.

Komal Rukhana, the Co-founder at Mint and Milk PR, in her 15 year career tenure, has catered to over 100+ clients including notable brands in the fashion, beauty, home decor, hospitality, wellness and luxury industries. Known for her creative skills and being adept at crafting compelling narratives for the right audience, Komal has excelled at building strong media relations in an ever-evolving media and social media landscape. What keeps her going is being able to build brands that she truly believes in and help them realise their goals. Over the years, upon sharing a great camaraderie, values, working styles and a common passion to work for brands as a strategic partner, during the corporate stints with Janvi Mankani she decided to further pursue her passion and started Mint and Milk PR at the age of 25 in 2017. Mint and Milk PR is a boutique PR agency offering services such as strategic media relations, influencer marketing and brand strategy. 'Mint' stands for Minty Fresh ideas and 'Milk' represents honesty and transparency.

Disha Shah, a second-generation jeweler, grew up immersed in the world of jewelry in Hong Kong, spending countless hours at her father's natural diamond business. Despite her upbringing surrounded by the craftsmanship and beauty of jewelry making, Disha initially pursued a different path, working in corporate roles. She never felt drawn to follow in her family's footsteps, especially as she found traditional jewelry designs to be too bulky and old-fashioned for her taste.

Kitchens are smaller now, and families are looking for variety in meals. Simultaneously, there is a growing awareness among the working population about healthy choices, including natural and preservative-free options. Additionally, the drawbacks of ordering food in are evident – it can be expensive, less hygienic, and might compromise the freshness and authenticity of the taste. In response to these challenges, a culinary revolution has unfolded with the rise of ready-to-cook products. This trend provides a practical middle ground for families striving to balance the demands of work and home life without compromising the quality of their meals. Innovative brands in this segment are addressing these concerns by offering preservative-free and authentic-tasting RTC products. This not only caters to the desire for convenient cooking but also allows households to indulge in guilt-free home-cooked meals.