Women leaders at News18 SheShakti 2025 redefine what it means to build a nation

At Lions International presents News18 SheShakti 2025 Delhi edition, conversations under the theme ‘From Breaking Barriers to Building Bharat’ highlighted how women are not only overcoming challenges but also laying the foundations of a stronger, more inclusive nation. From grassroots empowerment to global influence, the sessions drove home one truth: women are and will continue to be architects of New Bharat.

Shanti Raghavan, Founder, EnAble India, set the tone with her vision of turning exclusion into inclusion. By creating livelihood opportunities for people with disabilities, she highlighted how compassion and enterprise could together transform systemic inequities into enduring models of empowerment. Her story embodied SheShakti’s core message: breaking barriers is the first step; building lasting change is the greater goal.

The dialogue then turned to mentorship and entrepreneurship as catalysts for transformation. Lakshmi V. Venkatesan, Founding Trustee, BYST, spoke of how mentorship unlocks the potential of youth constrained more by circumstance than by talent. This idea resonated with Asha V. M, Co-founder, Nutricook; Dr. Tanvi Pande, Founder, Shri Sai Physiotherapy; and Kiran Bajpai of Padwomen Foundation. Together they highlighted that empowerment means building ecosystems where women can thrive, whether through food innovation, accessible healthcare, or menstrual dignity.

Further, the conversations expanded to culture and creativity, showing that nation building is also about shaping perceptions. Riniki Bhuyan Sharma, Managing Director, Pride East Entertainment, and Sangita Saxena, Educationist & Social Worker, reflected on how media and education can dismantle stereotypes while keeping communities grounded in humility. Meera Shenoy, Founder, Youth4Jobs, and Richa Agarwal, CEO, Emami Arts, added that preparing the next generation by skilling rural youth or fostering creativity is the way to ensure that Bharat’s progress remains both sustainable and inclusive.

Together, these women showed that SheShakti is not about individual milestones but a collective force shaping New Bharat. Here, barriers are broken to build systems, institutions, and cultures that uplift entire communities. News18 SheShakti 2025 is more than a celebration of women leaders, it is an initiative proving that women are building Bharat, brick by brick. To explore more stories of women shaping New Bharat, visit www.sheshakti.in.