India Women’s Leadership Conference 2025

28 November 2025 | 9:00 AM - 5:30 PM

India Habitat Center, New Delhi

Organised By

Supported By

Not just a day-long event — but a step toward redefining the fabric of leadership not as a position, but as a purpose.

Overview

ILSS envisions India Women’s Leadership Conference 2025 (IWLC 2025) as a living, breathing platform — a catalyst for courageous dialogue, shared learning, and action that reshapes the future of women’s leadership in India’s social sector.

IWLC 2025 returns bigger, bolder, and more intentional — with a wider range of speakers, cutting-edge topics, and immersive experiences designed to create a truly transformative space. It will combine expert-led masterclasses, powerful TED-style talks, thought-provoking panels, impactful gallery walks, and curated networking spaces to inspire, equip, and connect participants for leadership growth, wellbeing, and advancing gender equity through collaboration and impact.

Objectives

Anchored in three powerful imperatives—INSPIRE, EMPOWER, CATALYSE—IWLC 2025 will focus on

INSPIRE – Redefining Leadership Stories

Share bold, authentic narratives that challenge conventional leadership models, showcasing resilience, risk-taking, and success without privilege to reimagine what’s possible when women lead.

EMPOWER – Breaking Invisible Barriers

Create intentional spaces addressing mental health, invisible labour, allyship, and self-built personal brands, equipping women with tools and confidence to lead.

CATALYSE – Driving Systemic Shift

Spark sector-wide change by redefining leadership, challenging power structures, and fostering collaborations that advance equity and representation in leadership.

Why You Should Join

Amplify your voice and achievements as a woman leader
Gain the skills, networks, mentorship and confidence to advance in leadership roles
Build a powerful community that champions gender equality
Learn strategies to create gender-inclusive environments within organisations
Join us to network, learn, and thrive in a community dedicated to gender equity and leadership advancement.
Be part of shaping the future of women’s leadership in India’s social sector

Agenda

9:00 AM - 10:00 AM
Registration
9:45 AM - 10:00 AM
Welcome Address
Archana Ramachandran, COO, ILSS
and
Harish and Bina Shah Foundation (virtual)
10:00 AM - 10:45 AM
Keynote Address
Rekha Menon, Ex Chairperson and Senior Managing Director Accenture, India
in conversation with
Anuradha Prasad, Founder- CEO, ILSS

Hall - Gulmohar

Pink
Gulmohar

Hall - Jacaranda

Blue
Jacranda
11:10 AM - 12:25 PM
Conversation Circle
The Becoming of a woman leader: unplugged stories of women redefining leadership
12:25 PM - 12:45 PM
ANLM Report Launch (20Min.)
10:55 AM - 12:10 PM
Panel Discussion
Catalysts of Change – Women Entrepreneurs Driving Economic Development in the Social Sector
10:55 AM - 12:10 PM
Masterclass 01
Measuring What We Value: Evaluating Social and Feminist Transformative Change
12:25 PM - 1:25 PM
Lunch
12:10 PM - 1:10 PM
Lunch
1:25 PM - 2:40 PM
Masterclass 02
Building an Intentional Leadership Presence: Tools to build Influence and Authentic Impact
1:10 PM - 2:10 PM
Impact Spotlight
Organisations Shaping Equity, Driving India’s Change
1:10 PM - 2:10 PM
Leadership Lounge
2:40 PM - 3:10 PM
High Tea
2:00 PM - 2:20 PM
High Tea
3:00 PM - 4:15 PM
Her Story
TED Talk Series
2:20 PM - 3:35 PM
Masterclass 03
Leadership & Wellbeing : Thriving, Not Just Surviving
3:45 PM - 4:00 PM
Transition / Break
3:45 PM - 5:00 PM
Closing Plenary
Together in this: Men as Partners in Advancing Women’s Leadership
5:00 PM
Closing Remarks
Shradha Roy, ILSS

Past Speakers

Anuradha Das Mathur

Founder and Dean - Vedica Scholars Programme for Women

Aparna Uppaluri

Philanthropy and Impact Advisory

Deepthi Bopaiah

CEO GoSports Foundation

Devanshi Vaid

Co-Founder and Director IDR

Gayatri Das Sharma

Co-founder Timshel

Maharshi Vaishnav

CEO - Educate Girls

Meenu Vadera

Founder and Executive Director Azad Foundation

Nayana Chowdhury

CEO - Breakthrough Trust

Neerja Chowdhury

Journalist, Columnist, Political Commentator

Pamela Srivastava

Head & AVP - Strategy Office Shiv Nadar Foundation

Payal Chawla

Founder - JusContractus

Poonam  Muttereja

Executive Director, Population Foundation of India

Priyanka Samy

Board Member, International Dalit Solidarity Network & Member of UN Women's Steering Committee

Shagun Sabarwal

Asia Regional Director Co-impact

Shilpa Sharma

Founder She Capital (SC)

Shivani Kumar

Executive Director Centre for Women Leadership - CII

Sudarshan Suchi

Chief Development Officer - Reliance Foundation

Sujata Khandekar

Founding Director & Secretary Board of Trustees - CORO India

Swathi Kantamani

Head - CSR NATCO Pharma

Urvashi Butalia

Feminist Writer and Publisher Zuban Books

Yamini Atmavilas

Director - Dasra

Ziaa Lalkaka

CEO H T Parekh Foundation

REGISTRATION NOW OPEN!

'Early bird' discounts have ended.
Special discounts for alums available.
India Women’s Leadership Conference 2024 © All Right Reserved

Welcome Address

Archana Ramachandran
Chief Operating Officer
ILSS

Opening Keynote Address

Rekha Menon
Ex Chairperson and Senior Managing Director
Accenture, India

in conversation with

Anuradha Prasad
Founder- CEO
ILSS

The becoming of a woman leader : unplugged stories of women redefining leadership

A candid conversation featuring women who are rewriting leadership norms through authenticity, resilience, and self-awareness. This session explores the myths, failures, and transformative moments that have shaped their journeys — moving from perfection and control to courage, connection, and purpose.

Lead Partner: Buzz Women
Buzz Women

Speakers

Divya Varma
Co-Founder and Director- Policy and Practice
Work Fair and Free
Hasina Kharbhih
Founder
Impulse NGO Network
Naghma Mulla
CEO
EdelGive Foundation
Pooja Taparia
Founder & CEO
Arpan
Uthara Narayanan
Uthara Narayanan
Chief Changemaker
Co-founder Buzz Women

Catalysts of Change - Women Entrepreneurs Driving Economic Development in the Social Sector

This panel brings together women entrepreneurs, funders, and ecosystem enablers to explore how access to capital, data, and collaboration can accelerate women-led impact. It highlights pathways to strengthen women’s entrepreneurship in India’s social sector through innovation, inclusion, and systemic change.

Lead Partner: The Udaiti Foundation
Moderator
Rhea Mazumdar Singhal
Lead, Strategic Partnerships & Advocacy
The Udaiti Foundation

Speakers

Anuradha Prasad
Founder & CEO
ILSS
Gaurav Mehta
Founder & CEO
Dharmalife
Pooja Goyal Sharma
Founding Chief Experience
The Udaiti Foundation
Suhela Khan
Country Programme Manager
UN Women India

Measuring What We Value: Evaluating Social and Feminist Transformative Change

This interactive session moves beyond numbers to explore how values, lived experiences, and gender-inclusive frameworks can redefine impact measurement. Through real-world cases and collaborative reflection, participants will learn practical, values-driven approaches to strengthen evaluation and impact frameworks.

Session Lead
Yamini Atmavilas,
Board Member and feminist policy and evaluation leader Co chair
Advancing Women’s Entrepreneurship Collaborative Ex BMGF, Udaiti

Building an Intentional Leadership Presence: Tools to build influence & authentic impact

This session explores how women leaders can consciously craft their leadership presence through authenticity, confidence, and credibility. Participants will gain practical tools to define their personal brand, enhance visibility, and communicate influence with purpose and impact.

Session Lead
Shreyasi Singh
Founding Managing Partner
JETRI

Impact Spotlight: Organisations Shaping Equity, Driving India’s Change

A high-energy Pecha Kucha showcase celebrating organisations advancing gender equity while integrating it with broader development goals like health, education, climate action, and social justice. This segment spotlights pioneering models of leadership and innovation shaping an inclusive and equitable India.

SPOTLIGHT ON

Adharshila Shiksha Samiti
Girl Effect
Muheem
One Future Collective
Project Baala
Raah
Missing Link Trust
Safetipin
Swayam
Waste Warriors

Leadership Lounge

A vibrant space for connection, reflection, and mentorship – where ideas flow, wisdom is shared, and possibilities spark. Will feature EWLP mentors and faculties.

Lounge Mentors

Anjali Hegde
Executive Director, Udayan CareExecutive Director, Udayan Care
Dr. Ruha Shadab
Founder and Board Member
Led By Foundation
Gayatri Das Sharma
Co-Founder
Timshel
Geeta Jain
Founder & Mentor
MentorW
Rakhi Singh
Co-Founder
Timshel
Manasi Narasimhan
Head Communications & Strategic Partnership
Centre for Effective Governance of Indian States (CEGIS)
Romonika D Sharan
Project Director, Strategic Partnerships
Central Square Foundation
Sarika Gupta Bhattacharyya
Founding Leader, Institutional Strategy & Global Advancement
Plaksha University
Swati Gahlaut
Co-Founder
Timshel
Vinita Johorey
Director
KARM
Yamini Atmavilas
Board Member and feminist policy and evaluation leader, Co chair
Advancing Women’s Entrepreneurship Collaborative Ex BMGF, Udaiti

HerStory: TED Talk Series

This space will bring together alumni from ILSS and other leadership institutions like KARM Fellows, Buzz Women & Led By Foundation to showcase the transformative impact of initiatives nurturing women leaders. It celebrates their resilience, vision, and the tangible change they drive across diverse sectors and contexts.

Lounge Mentors

Amreen Farooq
Founder
Each One Feed One
Anam Farzeen
Program Lead
Led By Foundation
Kusuma
AvalaBuzz/Community Member Board Member
Buzz Women
Ravali Pidaparthi
CEO & Co-Founder
Esther
Sandhya D’Souza
Communications Lead
Madhi Foundation
Sheetal
KARM Fellow, Technical Head of Global Association of Economics Education at Hansraj, 2nd Year B. Com Honours student at Hansraj College
Susmita Guha
State Program Director - West Bengal
WaterAid India

Leadership & Wellbeing: Thriving, not just Surviving

This session explores the intersection of leadership and holistic wellbeing, helping leaders build emotional, mental, and physical resilience. Through reflective practices and practical tools, participants will learn how to sustain energy, clarity, and purpose — leading not just effectively, but thrivefully.

Session Lead
Gagan Adlakha
Transformational Coach, Partner
Vyaktitva

Beyond Allies : Men as Partners in Advancing Women’s Leadership

Bringing together diverse voices, it explores how men and women can collaboratively challenge bias, transform workplace culture, and co-create equitable systems — offering tangible strategies and actionable takeaways for driving gender-inclusive leadership.

Lead Partner: Dasra & Women Lead India Alliance
POWERED BY
Context Setting
Dr. Shradha Roy
Associate Director
ILSS
Tanya Dikshit
Team Lead
DASRA

Panelists:

Aakash Sethi
CEO
Quality Education & Skills Training (QUEST)
Asma Khan
Program Officer
The YP Foundation
Dilip Pattubala
Co-Founder
The Centre for Men & Boys
Saurabh Nigam
Founder & CEO
ProGrowth People Solutions
Shruthi Iyer
CEO
FMCH