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A Rising Star is a woman leader who has achieved a defining milestone this year through her vision and resilience. She is an entrepreneur, corporate leader or professional whose work has driven meaningful change, made a lasting impact and set new benchmarks within her workspace.

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Anisha Anand

Founder, Aurum Foods

Anisha Anand, co-founder of Aurum Foods, achieved a defining milestone in 2025 by scaling a women-centric food ecosystem through mentorship, ethical sourcing, the Food Cart Initiative in Maharashtra and Goa, and climate-smart organic farming with women-led teams in rural Maharashtra, impacting underprivileged communities through key partnerships. Her work earned national recognition including the Wonder Woman Award 2025, Women Icons of India 2025, the Women-Entrepreneur Award 2025, the Visionary Leadership Award at the Economic Times Inspiring Women Conclave West, and the WeddingSutra Award, cementing her role as a leading force in sustainable, inclusive food entrepreneurship.

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Bineet Hora

Founder, Mahru- Lucknow

Over the past 18 months, the brand has achieved several key milestones. The first year was focused on refining the product and evaluating multiple market segments to build a strong foundation and establish early product–market fit. Building on these learnings, the next phase concentrated on expanding market presence and driving sales growth through strategic partnerships with platforms such as Design One, the Craft Council, and other reputed pan-India platforms with high footfall. This approach significantly strengthened brand visibility and resulted in a 30% increase in sales compared to the previous year.

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Divya Kotawala

Founder, House of Kotawala, Author, Podcast & Philanthropist

This year, she took on several impactful roles, including serving as a jury member for Mrs Asia India 2025, evaluating 71+ participants nationwide, and leading the Naari Campaign as Campaign Director at the Ashhwika Foundation to support women from underprivileged backgrounds. She launched her community, #FromTheHeart, to create shared experiences across culture, creativity, learning, and social impact, and was invited as a guest speaker and chief guest across multiple platforms to speak on mental health. She also launched the #FromTheHeart podcast series in collaboration with an NGO under the Dear Diary initiative and co-authored her first anthology, Stories of Courage, now available on Amazon, focused on resilience and transformation.

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Drishti Bhartia

Founder & Principal Architect, Drishti Bhartia Atelier

She successfully handed over two luxury residential projects and completed all associated documentation, demonstrating a disciplined approach to systems and processes. She believes that when a clear strategy is in place, workflows become more efficient, as clarity enables smoother execution and better outcomes.

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Elisha Wadhwani

Founder & Creative Director, Elisha W

In 2025, she marked a powerful turning point in her career, defined by resilience, self-discovery, and creative revival. Five years earlier, she made the difficult decision to close her first label, Elisha Wadhwani, stepping away from a journey that had seen significant highs, including showcasing at fashion weeks and being stocked at leading multi-designer stores. What followed was a period of personal and professional pause, where she took time to reconnect with herself and rebuild confidence away from the spotlight. Over the years, she returned to her creative path gradually, focusing on self-growth, learning from past experiences, and redefining her goals with clarity and intention. In 2024, she felt ready to take a decisive step forward, and in August 2025, alongside her husband, she launched her flagship store at Dhanmill. The opening was a celebration of renewal and strength, symbolising her return to the industry with renewed purpose, offering her creativity to the world once again in a form that was stronger, more grounded, and deeply authentic.

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Hinal Mehta

Founder & CEO, StartInc

On March 1, 2024, she began brainstorming with her team on how to celebrate women beyond a single day, leading to the launch of The FoundHers Podcast on March 8, 2024, as a platform created for women, by women. The podcast was conceived to spotlight women founders and experts across industries, with six episodes released in its first year. Relaunched on Women’s Day the following year, it gained strong momentum and community support, helping establish a distinct digital presence through meaningful conversations with women leaders. To date, the podcast has released over 25 episodes, grown organically to a community of 1.5K subscribers, and covered diverse themes ranging from AI and packaging to personal branding and mental health, marking it as a steadily growing platform with strong potential for the years ahead.

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Khanak Gupta

Co-founder and CEO, Sohrai Beauty

In 2025, she marked her proudest moment by becoming the first woman to receive the Visionary Woman Award by Estée Lauder Companies, a recognition that affirmed years of building Sohrai from the ground up after returning to India. From learning about Mahua in forest communities to refining formulations and reshaping the brand’s storytelling, her journey transformed Sohrai into a purpose-led movement rooted in culture and performance, following the Beauty & You Award win in 2023. The 2025 milestone stood as a testament to grit, patience, and belief, celebrating not just her achievement but the spirit of women building unconventional, globally relevant Indian brands.

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Krishna Tamaliya Vora

Founder, Mom’s Therapy

Over a nine-year entrepreneurial journey, Mom’s Therapy operated as a completely bootstrapped venture for eight years before reaching a defining milestone in January 2025, when the brand received its first round of angel funding following an unsolicited investor outreach. This support marked a major turning point, enabling the setup of Mom’s Therapy’s first dedicated manufacturing unit after years of operating from a shared workspace. With this foundation in place, the brand scaled its digital presence, launched on Amazon to expand nationwide reach, and entered quick commerce through Blinkit, making its products more accessible than ever. Since securing the investment, Mom’s Therapy has recorded over 200% growth, making 2025 one of the most significant chapters in its entrepreneurial journey.

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Nakshi Satra

Founder & Director , ATL Wellness Pvt Ltd c/o Inha Wellness

She successfully completed the IIM Bangalore Women Entrepreneurship Programme, a highly selective course with an acceptance rate of just 11 percent, following a rigorous multi-stage evaluation that included financial disclosures, detailed business presentations, long-term growth plans, and in-depth questioning by a diverse panel of judges. The programme ran from November 2024 to January 2025 and involved intensive learning, research, and strategic refinement under the guidance of leading IIM-B faculty, culminating in a final business plan pitch that assessed the full scope of learning and innovation. Following the programme, she focused on implementing these learnings across her organisation, strengthening financial performance, marketing strategy, team execution, and growth outcomes. A key outcome of this journey was bringing Inha Wellness on board as the Preventive Wellbeing and Mindfulness Partner for the IIM Bangalore Global Alumni Association under its Maitri programme, a mental health-focused initiative led by senior global leaders and alumni. Inha Wellness continues to serve in this role, and this work was further recognised with the BW Wellbeing 40 Under 40 Award in April 2025.

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Neha Jamwal

Head of Demand APAC, Skyflow

One of her most significant achievements in 2025 was leading the launch of Skyflow’s DPDP Data Privacy Vault in India, a breakthrough product recognised as one of the year’s most innovative customer data privacy solutions. As Marketing Lead for India and APAC, she drove the end-to-end go-to-market strategy, product storytelling, and industry engagement, positioning Skyflow at the centre of the DPDP Act conversation and influencing an industry-wide shift on data privacy, an effort further recognised with the ET Edge – Most Promising Tech Marketers 2025 (Platinum) Award for Most Innovative Product Launch. With prior leadership roles at Cloudera, Talend, and Neo4j, she has consistently translated complex data, security, and AI innovations into strong regional adoption, building brand leadership and delivering measurable business impact across India and APAC.

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Neha Oswal Sial

Director, Harvel Agua India Private Limited

They have set up India’s first fully automated, climate-controlled greenhouse with a retractable roof in Srinagar, enabling urban farmers to grow exotic crops even during harsh winters through advanced temperature control and automation. Developed after several years of dedicated research and development, this breakthrough innovation makes them the first player in the country to introduce retractable roof greenhouse technology, representing a significant advancement for India’s agriculture sector, which remains deeply reliant on innovation for sustainable growth.

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Pallavi Gupta

Founder, The Kind Roastery & Brewroom

In 2025, she witnessed The KIND evolve from a single idea into a purpose-led brand with a strong voice, growing community, and clear ambition. Key milestones included the launch of The KIND’s first merchandise line, long-envisioned collaborations with brands such as Levi’s and Naarica-backed initiatives with Saina Nehwal, and winning two awards at the World of Hospitality Show in June 2025. The year also marked the introduction of a refreshed, seasonal menu and the successful scaling of a fully eggless kitchen, a significant operational achievement that resonated strongly with guests. As a solo, bootstrapped founder, she also led the brand’s expansion beyond Bangalore, balancing growth with brand integrity, while driving kindness initiatives such as blood donation camps, pet adoption drives, and education sponsorships for girls. Together, these milestones reflected a year defined by thoughtful growth, resilience, and purpose-driven leadership.

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Pavi Jain

Partner, Khaitan and Co

A key milestone in 2025 was her appointment to the Host Committee of the IPBA Annual Meeting 2026, where India will host over 1,500 international lawyers at one of the Asia-Pacific region’s largest legal conferences. This recognition reflects years of global leadership as Global Vice Chair of the IPBA ESG Committee, Meritas Asia Co-Chair, and a speaker at leading international forums, alongside her work advancing cross-border ESG, M&A, and climate governance initiatives. The role gives her the opportunity to help showcase India’s legal excellence and global ambition on an international stage, with her promotion to Partner at Khaitan marking a fitting highlight to the year.

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Payal Satish

Vice President, Strategy & Business Development, Sarla Aviation

She led the end-to-end effort for Sarla Aviation to pitch to the Government of Andhra Pradesh for the allocation of 500 acres of land to establish India’s first Giga Factory for mass manufacturing eVTOL aircraft. This involved multiple rounds of strategic meetings, detailed project reports, research, data collation, and the presentation of global best practices to government stakeholders. The initiative culminated in the signing of an MoU in November 2025, in the presence of the Honourable Minister of Civil Aviation, Mr. Ram Mohan Naidu, and the Honourable Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh, Mr. N. Chandrababu Naidu, marking a significant milestone for India’s advanced aviation and manufacturing ecosystem.

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Pooja Arambhan Tiwari

Co-Founder, IIV Health Solutions Pvt Ltd & CEO, FICCI FLO, Mumbai- Chairperson

The year marked a series of defining milestones across leadership, impact, and personal life. She assumed office as the youngest Chairperson of FICCI FLO Mumbai in its 23-year history, launching her tenure with a high-impact flagship event and setting a strong vision for innovation, inclusion, and industry collaboration. A key achievement was the launch of the Women Optimism Index, India’s first data-led confidence barometer for women entrepreneurs, developed in partnership with Standard Chartered and Dun & Bradstreet, positioning FICCI FLO Mumbai as a thought leader in evidence-based women’s economic empowerment. She was also honoured with the Patthatu Brothers Women Entrepreneur Award by the Christian Chamber of Commerce and Industry for her work in cross-border healthcare innovation, women’s entrepreneurship, and community impact, and was conferred the UAE Golden Visa in recognition of her contributions to healthcare, research, and India–UAE collaboration. Alongside these professional milestones, she hosted a high-level roundtable for UAE Women’s Day to advance dialogue on women’s leadership and digital health, and experienced her most personal milestone with the birth of her son, bringing renewed purpose and perspective to her work.

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Pooja Marwah

Founder, Authique

In 2025, she reached two defining milestones that reflect both impact and professional excellence. She received the SheThePeople.tv Digital Women Award for Marketing, recognising her long-term commitment to scaling purpose-led storytelling that inspired over 1,200 individuals, particularly in rural India, to move towards financial independence and rethink how livelihoods are built. In parallel, she achieved a seven-figure business target within ten months, including writing for leaders associated with the Governments of India and the United States. What began as a one-person venture has since grown into an 11-member, all-women, fully remote team, demonstrating her ability to combine upskilling, persistence, and ambition with scalable growth. These achievements have earned her national and international recognition and mark the foundation of a leadership journey driven by impact, credibility, and sustained change.

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sagrika saraf

Founder, Design diaries by sagrika

When she began her career as an interior designer, she did not set out with a defined niche and chose to keep her practice open across project types. After one of her gym design projects gained significant online attention, she recognised the potential to specialise in a space that was both unique and emerging. In 2025, this focus took shape, allowing her to establish herself as a dedicated gym designer. She has since completed over 10 gym projects for passionate gym owners, many of whom are well-known influencers and leaders in their cities. A particularly proud milestone was being commissioned by renowned fitness influencer Kavita Katyal, popularly known as imkavy, and her husband to design their gym, a project that was delivered successfully and accompanied by a strong testimonial.

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Salonee Sanghvi

Founder, My Wealth Guide

A defining milestone in 2025 was the launch of India’s first Lawyer Money Study, created to address the lack of profession-specific financial insight for legal professionals. Identifying a clear gap despite lawyers’ high earning potential, she designed and led the study from the ground up, developing the framework, refining the questionnaire through extensive consultations, and engaging participants across firms, roles, and cities. The findings revealed consistent patterns around income volatility, limited diversification, and gaps in long-term financial planning, validating insights from her advisory work. The initiative received strong feedback from participants, many of whom highlighted how the study helped uncover financial blind spots through a practical, non-judgemental lens. The study now forms the foundation for the upcoming Lawyer Wealth Report and further strengthened her mission to simplify money and build financial confidence.

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Saniya Sugla

Founder & Creative Director, Content Marketing Agency

She is a two-time recipient of this award, and a third recognition would be a meaningful honour during a phase of strong growth and impact. As the founder of a boutique marketing agency, she leads a 13-member, all-women team aged 20–24, built with a clear vision to empower young women and support their early career growth through a strong, people-first company culture. What began in Delhi during the COVID period has expanded to Mumbai, with clients across Canada, Dubai, and London, and collaborations with leading brands such as Fabindia, Bili Hu, and Eridani. In 2024, the agency introduced iPhone-led video creation to meet the growing demand for UGC-driven content, followed by the launch of personal branding as a focused niche in 2025, alongside expanding into F&B marketing after establishing expertise in fashion. In 2025 alone, the team executed over 70 shoots, achieved a 70% retention rate across employees and clients, and saw 50% of clients return with additional brands. She also conducted a large-scale social media workshop with The Millionaire Track, reaching over 1,000 students. As the company approaches its fifth year in 2026 with expansion plans for Hyderabad, Bangalore, and Dubai, this award would recognise the significant strides her young organisation is making in building inclusive workplaces for women and delivering highly personalised marketing solutions at scale.

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Shikha Dadha

Partner, Milestone Precious LLP Partner

This year marked a defining milestone in her journey with her appointment as President of Karnataka for the Paralympics, the culmination of nearly two decades of dedication, hard work, and passion for inclusive sports. Honoured by the trust placed in her, she is committed to expanding opportunities for para-athletes, strengthening inclusive sporting ecosystems, and driving sustained growth of the Paralympic movement in the state. This achievement reflects not only her personal perseverance but also the unwavering support of her family, peers, and the larger Paralympic community, and she looks ahead with determination to advancing the cause with purpose and impact.

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Shweta D Arya

founder , Director , Business Coach, Riyaash Fine Jewells

2025 marked a transformative year in her entrepreneurial journey. She was honoured with the DECACON Award for outstanding contribution to entrepreneurship and achieved 423 percent business growth, reflecting both scale and impact.

Through Riyaash Fine Jewels, she introduced exclusive handcrafted diamond and Polki jewellery with a highly personalised styling experience, building not only a successful luxury brand but also deep trust and lasting client relationships. In parallel, through SDA Business Coaching, she supported women entrepreneurs in launching and scaling their businesses with clarity and confidence, enabling financial independence and sustainable growth.

Her work was further recognised with a cover feature in Business Success Magazine. Together, these milestones reflect her commitment to building a legacy luxury brand while empowering women to build enduring legacies of their own.

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Sunaina Harjai

Founder, Hats Off Accessories

She created significant impact on social media with her scarf bags, each handcrafted and designed to tell a unique story, earning recognition from the Retailers Association of India. In parallel, she successfully completed the Goldman Sachs program, a highly selective initiative that provides entrepreneurs with access to financial mentorship and growth resources. She also actively participated in multiple industry shows and programs, further strengthening the brand’s visibility and reach.

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Tanvi Savara

President, Tropical Industries International

In 2025, she led the launch of TGI Cares India, the India chapter of Tropical General Investments’ social impact arm, marking a defining milestone in her leadership journey. Tropical General Investments is a multinational conglomerate and the parent company of TII, where she serves as President. As Strategic Anchor and Trustee, she led the end-to-end establishment of the India chapter, collaborating with leadership teams across India and Nigeria to adapt the organisation’s focus areas of food security, foundational learning, and support for vulnerable communities to the Indian context. The initiative was executed entirely in-house and culminated in an October rollout across TGI’s cashew processing plants, reaching over 900 workers, the majority of whom are women. This achievement established TGI Cares’ first on-ground presence in India and laid the foundation for sustained, purpose-driven impact, reflecting her commitment to institution building, inclusive leadership, and translating values into action at scale.

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Tejasvi Madan

Founder, Beyondbound

In 2025, she was recognised in the Entrepreneurs 30 Under 30 list, a milestone made especially significant as BeyondBound was only a year old at the time. Built from the ground up with limited resources but strong clarity and consistency, BeyondBound began as a belief in making discipline, mindset, and lifestyle transformation accessible and impactful. In its first year, she single-handedly led creation, strategy, marketing, and growth, navigating long hours, difficult decisions, and constant learning. The brand’s rapid rise and national recognition reflected its authenticity, real results, and purpose-driven foundation, validating both the vision behind BeyondBound and her relentless commitment to building something meaningful.

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Vatsala Jain

Co-founder & Chef, Baked Love by Vatsala

One of her proudest milestones was receiving the F&B Leader of the Year Award from Ladies Who Lead. A self-taught chef who began her journey as a one-woman venture in 2012, this recognition held special significance as it was her first formal honour based purely on merit. In an industry often shaped by cliques and trends, the award acknowledged years of perseverance, discipline, and resilience. Her journey has been driven by a focused, head-down approach and an unwavering commitment to building a sustainable food business in a challenging and rapidly evolving consumer market.

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