Register

India Women's Leadership

Conference

2024

At the heart of the conference is the recognition of women leaders breaking barriers. By celebrating their stories, the event aims to inspire the next generation of leaders to pursue their aspirations with confidence, resilience, and determination, shaping a brighter, inclusive tomorrow.

27 November 2024

India Habitat Centre, New Delhi

Featured Voices

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What is India Women's Leadership Conference 2024

The ILSS India Women’s Leadership Conference (IWLC) 2024 is a transformative event designed to Inspire, Empower, and Catalyse progress in the social sector. This landmark gathering celebrates women’s leadership, drives systemic change, and offers actionable pathways towards a more inclusive and equitable future.

In addition to masterclasses, fireside chats, panel discussions, and networking opportunities, attendees will participate in a Pitch Fest, themed on ‘Gender Equality,’ towards resource mobilisation and raising awareness of the cause and goal. The event also provides a unique privilege of being part of a vibrant community of women leaders, fostering collaboration and support.

Objectives

The conference has three primary objectives:

Recognising Leadership Excellence and Dispelling Myths

Celebrate pioneering women shaping the future across sectors and challenge myths surrounding feminist leadership to inspire and empower current and future leaders.

Empowered Voices

Showcasing the resilience and success of our tribe by highlighting the impactful achievements of over 117 women from our cohorts through TED Talk-style presentations, honouring their contributions and resilience.

Catalysing Progress

Paving the way for inclusive organisations and ecosystems by exploring strategies and innovations that support fostering gender-inclusive leadership and creating a more equitable future within the social sector.

Why You Should Attend

Join over 200 women in igniting change, amplifying voices, and shaping a future where every woman thrives.

Amplify your voice and achievements as a woman leader

Gain the skills, networks, and confidence to advance in leadership roles

Pitch your work to build visibility and create traction to support your fundraising efforts for gender-based projects.

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.

Who Should Join

  • Individuals committed to gender equity and inclusion irrespective of age, experience and gender.
  • Aspiring women leaders in the social sector.​
  • Organisations aiming to foster gender-inclusive workplaces.
  • Advocates and allies supporting women's leadership and development.
  • Community builders seeking to create supportive networks for women.

Agenda

9:00 AM - 10:00 AM
Registration
10:00 AM - 10:15 AM
Welcome Address
Anu Prasad, Founder & CEO - ILSS and Archana Ramachandran, COO - ILSS
10:15 AM - 11:00 AM
Opening Plenary on “Women In Leadership: Lessons from the Journey on Leadership for Self and Others ”
Neerja Chowdhury - Journalist, Columnist and Political Commentator in conversation with Poonam Muttreja - Executive Director, Population Foundation of India

JACARANDA
11:00 AM - 11:30 AM
Networking Space over Tea and Snacks
11:30 AM - 12:45 PM
Feminist Leadership: Pathway for successful organisations, economies, and worlds.
Session Anchor - Yamini Atmavilas, Director, Dasra

Jacaranda Hall01
11:30 AM - 12:45 PM
Pioneering Paths: Trailblazer Women Leading Today and Crafting Tomorrow Across Sectors
Session Anchor - Anuradha Das Mathur, Founder and Dean, The Vedica Scholars Programme for Women

Jacaranda Hall02
12:45 PM - 1:45 PM
Networking Space over Lunch
1:45 PM - 3:15 PM
Pitch Fest
Jacaranda - Hall 01
1:45 PM - 3:15 PM
Masterclass on Power of Pen
Session Anchor - Devanshi Vaid, Co-Founder & Director, IDR

Jacaranda Hall02
3:15 PM - 3:45 PM
Networking Space over Tea & Snacks
3:45 PM - 5:00 PM
Her Story: Stories of Leadership, Impact, and Change

Jacaranda Hall01
3:45 PM - 5:00 PM
Masterclass on Gender-Centered Design with CORO (Leadership Model) to Uplift Grassroots Leadership in Indian Villages and Rural Areas
Session Anchor - Sujata Khandekar Founding Director, CORO

Jacaranda Hall02
5:00 PM - 5:15 PM
Break
5:15 PM - 6:30 PM
Returnship as a Catalyst for Advancing Women in Leadership: Building an Inclusive Environment for Sustainable Growth
Session Anchor - Pooja Sharma Goyal, Founding Chief Executive Officer, The Udaiti Foundation Jacaranda
6:30 PM - 6:45 PM
Special Address by Swathi Kantamani, Head - CSR, NATCO Pharma
6:45 PM - 7:15 PM
The Future is Female:
The ILSS Emerging Women’s Leadership (EWL) Program Journey with Extended Program Family
7:15 onwards
Gala Dinner & Performance by WeBhor (an all female led musical band), Manzil Mystics
The Pitch Fest at the India Women’s Leadership Conference (IWLC) is an exciting opportunity for nonprofits focused on SDG 5: Achieving gender equality and empowering all women and girls. This event allows organisations to present their innovative project ideas to a jury of esteemed leaders in the social sector.
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OPENING PLENARY: “Women In Leadership: Lessons from the Journey on Leadership for Self and Others ”

In Conversation with ​
Neerja Chowdhury,
Journalist, Columnist, Journalist, Columnist, Political Commentator

Neerja Chowdhury is an award-winning journalist, columnist, and political commentator. In the course of a distinguished career of over forty years, she was political editor of the Indian Express for ten years and covered the terms of eight prime ministers and ten Lok sabha elections. She has won several prestigious awards for her journalism including the first Chameli Devi Jain Award for Outstanding Women Mediapersons (1981), the India Today-PUCL Journalism for Human Rights Award (1983), and the Prem Bhatia Award for Best Political Reporting (2009-10).

She is contributing editor, the Indian Express, and her weekly column, The Neerja Chowdhury Column, is widely followed by participants and observers of contemporary Indian politics. She lives in Gurgaon.

Poonam Muttreja,
Executive Director, Population Foundation of India

Poonam Muttreja, Executive Director of the Population Foundation of India, has been a strong advocate for women’s empowerment, reproductive justice, and rural livelihoods for over four decades. She co-conceived the popular transmedia initiative Main Kuch Bhi Kar Sakti Hoon – I, A Woman, Can Achieve Anything, inspiring millions to challenge gender norms.  

Poonam served as the India Country Director of the John D and Catherine T MacArthur Foundation for 15 years and has also co-founded and led the Ashoka (India) Foundation, Dastkar, and the Society for Rural, Urban and Tribal Initiative (SRUTI). Poonam is a member of the Governing Council and Board of ActionAid International and India, and has been a member of a committee at The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, Washington DC. 

Poonam served as the India Country Director of the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation for 15 years. She also co-founded and led Ashoka (India) Foundation, Dastkar, and the Society for Rural, Urban and Tribal Initiative (SRUTI). Poonam is a member of the Governing Council and Board of ActionAid International and ActionAid India and has served on a committee at the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine in Washington, D.C

An alumna of Delhi University and Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of Government, Poonam serves on the governing councils of several non-governmental organizations and is a regular commentator on women’s and public health issues in India and globally, for television and print media.

Feminist Leadership: Pathway for successful organisations, economies, and worlds.

This engaging discussion will feature concentric circles of thought leaders exploring the definition and significance of feminist and intersectional leadership across diverse sectors. Our goal is to curate an open and inclusive conversation on how leadership is interpreted and modeled by individuals, embracing diverse gender expressions and the intersections of identity within their professional journeys. The discussion will bring together the perspectives and experiences of feminist leaders from both the impact and private sectors.

Session Partner ​
Womenlead India Alliance
Moderator
Yamini Atmavilas, Director, Dasra

Speakers

Aparna Uppaluri
Philanthropy and Impact Advisory
Priyanka Samy
Member, National Federation of Dalit Women (NFDW)
Sudarshan Suchi
Chief Development Officer, Reliance Foundation Ex. CEO Save the Children India
Sujata Khandekar
Founding Director, CORO

Pioneering Paths: Trailblazer Women Leading Today and Crafting Tomorrow Across Sectors

This panel honors trailblazing women architects shaping today’s landscape while crafting an inclusive future. By emphasising sisterhood and dispelling limiting myths, it highlights the power of women championing one another. Offering real-world insights and actionable strategies, the session empowers women to prioritise leadership, inspiring them to drive transformative and lasting change.

Session Partner
The Vedica Scholars Programme for Women
Moderator
Anuradha Das Mathur, Founder and Dean,
The Vedica Scholars Programme for Women

Speakers

Deepthi Bopaiah
CEO, GoSports Foundation
Meenu Vadera
 Founder, Sakha Consulting Wing
Payal Chawla
Founder, JusContractus
Shilpa Sharma
Entrepreneur, Board Member & Advisor to Organisations

Pitch Fest

The Pitch Fest is an opportunity for nonprofits working on SDG 5 (achieving gender equality and empowering all women and girls) to present innovative project ideas to an esteemed jury. Each selected finalist will be making a 5-minute live presentation to the jury. The presentations will be judged on the concept (focus on innovation and impact), collaterals (presentation), and delivery.

Jury

Pamela Srivastava
 Head & AVP, Strategy Office at Shiv Nadar Foundation
Swathi Kantamani
Head CSR, Natco Pharma
Ziaa Lalkaka
 CEO, H T Parekh Foundation

MASTERCLASS : Power of Pen with IDR

Session Anchor ​
Devanshi Vaid
Co-founder & Director, IDR

Her Story: Stories of Leadership, Impact, and Change

Her stories feature women leaders from various demographics, geographies, and domains, focusing on the often untold journeys of emerging leadership.

MASTERCLASS : Gender-Centered Design with CORO (Leadership Model) to Uplift Grassroots Leadership in Indian Villages and Rural Areas

Session Anchor ​
Sujata Khandeka,
Founding Director, CORO

Returnship as a Catalyst for Advancing Women in Leadership: Building an Inclusive Environment for Sustainable Growth

This conversation explores strategies to overcome workforce re-entry barriers through inclusive policies and global returnship best practices. Emphasising upskilling and mentorship, it highlights their roles in leadership reintegration and recognises the shared responsibility of both men and women in fostering supportive, inclusive workplaces.

Session Partner
The Udaiti Foundation
Moderator
Pooja Sharma Goyal, Founding Chief Executive Officer,
The Udaiti Foundation

Speakers

Maharshi Vaishnav
 Chief Executive Officer Educate Girls’
Nayana Chowdhury
CEO, Breakthrough Trust
Shivani Kumar
Executive Director, CII Centre for Women Leadership
Suman Gopalan
Managing Partner at Rivendell Advisory, Former CHRO at Freshworks

Special Address by

Swathi Kantamani,
Head - CSR, NATCO Pharma

The Future is Female

The ILSS Emerging Women’s Leadership (EWL) Program Journey with Extended Program Family

Anu Prasad
Founder-CEO ILSS
Rakhi Singh
Co-founder - Timshel
Urvashi Butalia
Feminist Writer, Publisher, Activist & Founder Zubaan Books
Ziaa Lalkaka
CEO - H T Parekh Foundation