About Ladies Who Lead: Empowering Women Leaders Across India

FOUNDER'S NOTE

At LWL, our vision is to see more women in positions of leadership, and to support them at every stage of their journey, whether they’re scaling a business, leading teams, or navigating career pivots. We’re building a powerful network that not only champions growth but also drives impact. By nurturing a dynamic community and collaborating with the larger ecosystem, we’re shaping conversations, creating opportunity, and pushing boundaries. Because when women lead boldly, industries evolve and lasting change begins.

Aabha Bakaya

Founder & CEO

A veteran Business Journalist, Aabha started community building in Mumbai in 2018 and launched Ladies Who Lead in 2021. Her vision is to build a premier network of accomplished women leaders to co-create an equitable future for women in the workforce and accelerate meaningful change, empowering them with the right learning, network and insider insights to advance their careers.

Across her journalism career spanning 2 decades, Aabha has worked as a Senior Financial News Editor and Lead Anchor with reputed networks such India Today Group, NDTV Profit, ET NOW, Bloomberg TV India and India Today, wherein she has been instrumental in the production of various celebrated shows. Aabha is also the recipient of the Business Today award for Best Business News Anchor.

Aditya Ghosh

Co-Founder

He is also the Chairperson of the Social Enterprise Central body of SEWA. SEWA is a member-based organisation of poor self-employed women from the unorganised sector.

Aditya Ghosh

Co-Founder

Co-Founder at Ladies Who Lead, Aditya is a Business Leader and Co-Founder of Akasa Air. Aditya is currently on the Board of Directors at FabIndia Group, OYO Hotels & Homes, Director at GreenCell Mobility, a pan-India shared electric mobility player, and an Independent Director at Ras Al Khaimah (RAK) International Airport.

He is also the Chairperson of the Social Enterprise Central body of SEWA. SEWA is a member-based organisation of poor self-employed women from the unorganised sector.

At LWL, he envisions creating a dynamic ecosystem where women leaders rise together – driving progress, exchanging insights, and gaining the tools to lead with purpose and impact.

Archanna Das

Chief Operating Officer

With over 20 years of diverse experience across BFSI, IT, FMCG, and philanthropy, Archanna has consistently demonstrated exceptional leadership. In her last role as CEO of ASCENT (a peer-learning platform for growth ready entrepreneurs, founded by Harsh Mariwala, Chairman Marico Ltd) she transformed and scaled the community, fostering and empowering thousands of entrepreneurs across India to thrive through peer-learning and diverse insights.

At LWL, she is committed to building a vibrant community of women leaders and shaping a future where more women lead from the front.

In the Spotlight

In November 2024, Ladies Who Lead raised $1 million in a Pre-Series A round led by Nithin Kamath’s Rainmatter.

This strategic investment marks a new chapter in our journey, enabling us to expand into new cities, elevate the member experience with curated learning and immersive programming, and foster deeper, more meaningful connections across our growing community of women leaders.

Meet the team

Our dynamic team brings deep expertise across community building, business development, branding, marketing, programming, and partnerships. Driven by a shared mission, they are committed to building a thriving community of women leaders who are making their mark and empowering others to rise alongside them.