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.

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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

Who Should Join

Individuals committed to gender equity and inclusion irrespective of age, experience and gender
Aspiring leaders who identify themselves as women in the social sector/social impact space
Organisations aiming to foster gender-inclusive workplaces
Advocates and allies across genders (including men) supporting women's leadership and development
Community builders seeking to create supportive networks for women
Changemakers passionate about advancing women’s leadership in India
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Agenda

9:00 AM - 10:00 AM
Registration
9:45 AM - 10:00 AM
Welcome Address
Team ILSS
10:00 AM - 10:45 AM
Keynote Address
Speaker - Rekha Menon
Chairman and Senior Managing Director, Accenture, India
11:00 AM - 11:10 AM
Transition Break

Hall - Gulmohar

Pink
Gulmohar

Hall - Jacaranda

Blue
Jacranda
11:10 AM - 12:25 PM
Panel Discussion
The Becoming of a woman leader : unplugged stories of women redefining leadership
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
Redefining Impact : A value-based lens to meaningful evaluation
12:10 PM - 1:25 PM
Lunch
1:25 PM - 2:40 PM
Masterclass 02
Building an Intentional Leadership Presence: Tools to build Influence and Authentic Impact
1:25 PM - 2:40 PM
Your Story | Roundtable
(Invitation only)
1:00 PM - 2:15 PM
Masterclass 03
Impact Spotlight: Organisations Shaping Equity, Driving India’s Change
2:15 PM - 3:15 PM
High Tea
3:15 PM - 4:45 PM
Her Story :
TED Talk Series
2:45 PM - 3:45 PM
MELA
PechaKucha Spotlight
2:45 PM - 3:45 PM
Leadership Lounge
3:45 PM - 4:00 PM
Transition / Break
4:00 PM - 5:00 PM
ANLM Report Launch
Closing Plenary
From Margin to Mainstream : Reframing Power, Purpose & Progress with Gender at the Core

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!

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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