Each week, we bring inspiring and relatable stories to help you navigate your journey as a woman in business. Our contributors voice their real life experiences with pressing topics, including navigating gender equity and diversity & inclusion in the workplace, adjusting to leadership roles, tips for female founders/entrepreneurship, and strategies for personal and business branding. No matter where you are in your career, we bring diverse perspectives across the business world to enrich and empower you in your journey. Enjoy!
Becoming a Business Leader - Senior-Level Executive Women Share Their Journey in the Corporate World
"Collaboration is the key to long term success as an organization... we’re successful together and there are no personal 'wins. I encourage my team to invest in their relationships with each other and have each other’s back—what we accomplish, we accomplish together.” Today’s woman dreamer, Sonia Sardana is the Chief Transformation Officer of Innova Solutions. an award-winning global technology services company that is accelerating client success through digital innovation. In this inspiring interview with Women Who Win for our Women in Philanthropy series with Akshaya Patra USA, Sonia reflects on her journey in business transformation, her approach to team building, and how she gives back through Akshaya Patra and the Innova Foundation. She shares, “Youth are our future, and we are passionate about nourishing their spark.” Enjoy her story!
“I think diversity in general is important in terms of representing and catering for everyone in society. In healthcare, it’s particularly critical as women are most often the consumers on behalf of their families and they are most likely to be the caregivers for older/younger family members who are in need.” Today’s woman dreamer, Nicki Macmanus, has had extensive leadership experience in the healthcare industry including at CVS Health and Cancer Care Direct. In her Women Who Win interview, Nicki reflects on how growing up in a family of healthcare workers in Ireland inspired her future passion for the space, how digital tools and AI in improving healthcare access, and her advice to women in leadership. Enjoy her inspiring story!
“I don’t as much look at “trends” but instead what are some of the largest problems that need to be solved. There is no shortage when it comes to women’s health and wellness.” Today’s woman dreamer, is the Founder & General Partner of Coyote Ventures, an early stage venture capital fund investing in women’s health and wellness. Starting her career as one of the first employees at Impossible Food, Jessica is on a mission to solve complex problems and bring women to the forefront of innovation. In her Women Who Win interview, she reflects on her career journey, the future of women in VC, and her next big dream. Enjoy!
“If you can start your life and end your life volunteering, that is a blessing.” Today’s woman dreamer, Nithya Iyer Singh is a female leader in the drug development/healthcare space, with a passion for giving back. In this inspiring interview for our Women in Philanthropy series in collaboration with Akshaya Patra USA, Nithya reflects on her professional journey, her mission to give back to underserved communities, and her passion for running marathons. We are excited to share her story on Women Who Win.
“Don’t assume that as a woman being surrounded only by women is the best for you. It is very useful and extremely healthy to get diverse viewpoints.” Today’s woman dreamer, Dr. Raminder Luther, has led a dynamic career as a woman of academia, currently serving as the Interim Dean of Bertolon School of Business (Salem State University). She shares her exciting journey, from leading the university in its AACSB accreditation to how she discovered her passion for educating the next generation. Raminder reminds us, “Ensure equity, inclusion, and fairness in all decisions.” Enjoy Raminder’s inspiring story!
“Content is King, Quality is Queen, and Confidence is your Ace to “own the moment” on stage.” Have you ever thought of making a Ted Talk? Today’s woman dreamer, Danielle Duplin, has led a dynamic career as an award winning public speaking coach and strategic innovator. From Executive Producer/Co-Founder of TedX Boston to a Vice President of Fidelity and mentoring hundreds of startups through Mass Challenge, Fintech Sandbox and more, she has a dream for the post pandemic world to “build back better”. Danielle shares her top tips to writing a good speech, how to radiate confidence, and how every woman can “own her moment”!
Small Business & Entrepreneurs Get Candid on How They Built Their Businesses!
“Mentoring helps to remove some of the preconceived notions we carry about work / bosses / travel. “ Today’s woman dreamer, Neeraj Wadhera is the Chairperson for SCORE Boston, and has had extensive experience working with companies from around the world, including Fidelity Investments and Royal Bank of Scotland Group. Originally from India and how based in Boston, she began her technology career in Abu Dhabi in the 1980s where she worked to computerize the Credit card processing and help introduce ATMs in UAE at the Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank. With a strong passion for empowering women, she currently dedicates herself to paying forward via mentorship in her work with SCORE Boston. Enjoy!
“ I strongly believe in the importance and power of education. This is a core value of the work I do with both ZuMantra and TheSmartGirls. This is a core belief that is shared by Akshaya Patra. As a small business owner, I find Akshaya Patra’s scale and reach across India to be deeply impressive.” Today’s woman dreamer, Marvi Ali, is a student at Vanderbilt University and has been a social entrepreneur since the age of 11. Her venture, ZuMantra, helps women artisans from rural parts of India and Pakistan become empowered through financial independence. In this inspiring interview with Women Who Win for our “Women in Philanthropy” series with Akshaya Patra USA, Marvi reflects on her journey as a young founder and the power of education is propelling rural communities forward.
“The most important business and life lesson that I have learnt is courage – courage to test an idea instead of perfecting it.” Today’s woman dreamer Nareen Sidhu is an entrepreneur with a mission to empower female founders. Originally from Malaysia, Nareen graduated from Harvard Business School this year. In this inspiring interview with Women Who Win, Nareen shares her vision to for her new venture, Inspirele, her top advice for MBA applicants, and the life lessons she has learned along the way. Enjoy!
Today’s woman dreamer, Mridvika Raisinghani is an entrepreneur, podcaster, innovator, leader, and mother. Her startup. Sama [meaning equal], is revolutionizing equality for women at work, as they are building towards creating an algorithm that tracks patterns in womens' lives to predict their risk of falling out of the workplace. A multi-faceted woman, she is the podcast host and creator of Just an Ordinary Mom, where she helps mothers tell their stories of perseverance and success. Through her experiences in technology and motherhood, her impact on women in the workplace is twofold: emotional and data-oriented. Rasisinghani spoke to Women Who Win on her journey founding Sama, creating her podcast, and her mission to amplify women’s voices.
“I want to make the world a better place. Now I work to do this one sock at a time and honestly I've been amazed at how much good we can do in the world utilizing custom socks.” Today’s woman dreamer, Lisa Riggs is the founder of Spirit Socks USA, and brings an expertise in fundraising, HR, and management. An inspiring female founder story based in California, Lisa shares her journey, from overcoming being laughed out of the room when she first pitched the idea to her key successes, working with hundreds of companies around the globe through her custom sock business. In the spirit of the holiday season, Lisa shares her top tips and ideas for corporate & employee gifting. Cozy up with some comfy socks and enjoy Lisa’s story.
“MIZO Hard Seltzer is all about going against the grain, while staying true to your roots.” Today’s woman dreamer, Holly Paul, a Bay-area based entrepreneur, is the co-founder of Mizo, a start-up disrupting the booming hard seltzer industry, which has become the drink of choice for many of us over the past few years. A first-generation Taiwanese American, Holly launched Mizo with the intention of introducing unique flavors, particularly those popular in the Asian community. From lychee to Asian pear and calamansi, Holly was inspired by her roots. Holly shares key trends in the spiked seltzer industry to watch out for, her exciting journey as a founder, and how she built her brand’s personality. A fun Friday read, enjoy her story!
A computer engineer by education, today’s woman dreamer California-based entrepreneur, Anupama Vaid, is the Founder and President of ParentSquare, a leading education technology platform aiming to better connect schools with families, thus improving student outcomes and school success. Inspired by her own kids’ education, Anupama shares her entrepreneurial journey in the education technology space. From pitching to schools and winning their interest advice to women tech founders, and her dream to bring the platform to all schools in America, we are excited to bring this inspiring and informative female founder story, hosted by the lovely Tamanna Raisinghani! Enjoy!
“I want to make Monsoon Kitchens the favorite Indian food brand for America.” Meet today’s woman dreamer, Swati Elavia, founder of Monsoon Kitchens, a top Indian frozen food brand sold across supermarkets. With over 14 years in the food industry, Swati learned the art of the food business through her work as a research nutritionist at General Mills and studying Food science at UNC. Swati shares how she built her food empire!
“Over the past four years, we have collected and donated over 15,000 snacks that would have otherwise ended up in landfills.” today’s women dreamers, two high school students, Sia and Simi Gandhi, are on a mission to address the growing issue of food waste and provide snacks to communities in need across the globe. Inspired by an eye-opening trip to Kenya where they saw food inequity first-hand, the sisters launched their nonprofit, “Give Back with a Snack” They share their vision for future young leaders and their top tips to other young, budding social entrepreneurs looking to start their own initiatives. With a motivation to be the woman leaders of tomorrow, they state, “To us, women empowerment is taking it in our own hands to accomplish our dreams. Women empowerment is not waiting for someone else to give us an okay, but to fearlessly do what we are passionate about.” Enjoy their stories below!
“Escape rooms are board games that come to life. The stories immerse you. The concept challenges you and takes you out of reality - just for that one hour.” Meet today’s woman dreamer, Nicole Loeb, founder of Trapology Boston (one of Boston’s Best Escape Rooms), and also one of the world’s top wedding photographers. A type A personality with a business background, she found her true passion in the creative industries. Nicole shares her top 3 tips to how to tell a good story through photography, an exciting story of how on a flight home from Istanbul, she designed the “Drunk Tank’, one of the world’s top 10 escape room experiences, and her life as an Asian-American woman and business leader. Enjoy Nicole’s dynamic story!
“I had gone vegan to help the animals. At some point, I realized that what I craved most of all was a classic New York deli sandwich – so I wound up creating Unreal Corn’d Beef. I thought it was just going to be a recipe I’d share on my blog until enough people started telling me, “Try to make this into a business!” And it became a thing!” Inspired by 100 years of New York Deli history, today’s woman dreamer, Mrs. Jenny Goldfarb, is the Founder of Unreal Deli, Home of the World’s First Plant-Based Deli Meat. From successfully pitching on Shark Tank, bringing on Mark Cuban as an investor, to how she balances being a mom entrepreneur, Jenny shares her journey as a female founder! Enjoy her story below!
“I look for the story the whiskey has to tell. That first sip is always the strongest and I take my time with that whiskey letting it breathe.” Meet today’s woman dreamer, Rachna Hukmani, the First South Asian Woman to Found a Whiskey Company. Known for the immersive, multisensory, Whiskey In the Dark® experience, Rachna brings her passion and creativity to all things whiskey: tastings, pairings, and the interesting world of whiskey investing. She shares her dynamic and inspiring journey and advice for young female entrepreneurs.
Meet Today Woman Dreamer, Time Magazine First Ever Kid of the Year, Gitanjali Rao. At the young age of 15, Gitanjali is an inventor and innovator, tackling the world’s most pressing issues. From safe drinking water to fighting cyberbullying and more. Gitanjali has a passion for problem-solving. She writes, “My motivation to solve problems in society started in a very simple manner to solve problems that we face on a daily basis.” A must read for all women, moms, and daughters. Enjoy Gitanjali’s interview with Women Who Win!
“The best feeling is to wake up to something you love doing!” Architect by day, and baker by night, today’s woman dreamer, Anusha Nanavati has a passion for sustainable architecture, making cities more safe, resilient, and eco-friendly. She shares the story behind her favorite project to date, Edible Cityscapes, which combined her strong interests in both food and design. Anusha also shares her thoughts on how architecture is becoming more sustainable, what inspired her to become an architect, her love for baking, and her next big dream.
Today’s woman dreamer, Meera Siddharth shares her powerful personal and professional journey, from a childhood passion for math to a fulfilling career at State Street and Real Estate, working her way through many different roles and finding opportunities. Her story creates conversation around the popular question: Do you need a business degree to succeed in the business world? A woman of many interests and talents, Meera shares the role her family plays in her life, her thoughts on education for women, her aptitude for math and arts, and her advice for all women. Enjoy her empowering story below.
Have you ever wandered through the aisles of a toy store, trying to find a doll that looked like you, or your child? Dolls make a powerful impression on young women and their confidence. Widline Pyrame founded her company, Fusion Dolls, on the mission to create beautiful, multicultural dolls for children of color, so they grow up to become bright and empowered young women.
Dine-in became take-out. The dining industry changed overnight during Covid-19. Today’s women dreamers, Indu Kaur and Kiran Wadhwa, share their story of running top New York Indian restaurants during this time, and their journeys as women in the restaurant industry. Check out their story below!
Co-Founders Anna Bilha and Sarah Tarta share the story behind their upcoming fitness app, Activly, and the journey of launching a venture in college and as best friends.
Launching a Vegan Brand in Berlin, Europe’s New Vegan Hub with Family Foodology Creator Nitu Nair. Surprised by the lack of vegetarian options, Nitu saw opportunity to share the powerful flavors of Indian cuisine in Europe through pop-ups, social media, and workshops. Vegan Berlin.
Financially Speaking - Closing the Gender Gap for Women in Finance
“Understanding the culture and economies across continents teaches you that the opportunities beyond our borders are greater than what most people imagine/” Meet today’s woman dreamer, Marcel V. Quiroga, is the visionary CEO and Founder of TQM Wealth Partners and has over 25 years in financial services. From Bolivia and Boston, she follows a value-driven approach in her work as well as in her roles as an adviser, speaker, and mentor. In this interview, Marcel reflects on how her international journey shaped her approach to finance, the connection between menopause and money, and how women can lead both their personal and financial lives with purpose, balance, and lasting impact.
“My next big dream is to empower women with financial literacy and independence. As a divorced mother of two, I understand firsthand the importance of financial knowledge, particularly for women who may have traditionally played a more passive role in managing household finances.” With nearly 25 years of experience and expertise, today’s woman dreamer, Preeti Tandon is Vice President - Private Banking at J.P Morgan, where she works closely with individuals, entrepreneurs and families to help them plan for the financial futures they desire. In her Women Who Win interview, Preeti reflects on her career journey, from growing up in Mumbai to the Big 4 Accounting World and eventually realizing her passion for working with people and families. She shares key advice for the 2024 market, and what you should know about sustainable investing. Enjoy her story!
“Thinking alike isn't always the best way to build a business. And so, I think that's why everybody is now striving to have more women on boards.” Today’s woman dreamer, Punita Kumar-Sinha is a true trailblazer, leading the way for women in finance and business. She was a Senior Managing Director at Blackstone, is a member of CFA Institute, and is on the board of multiple companies around the world. She is frequently featured in the media and at global conferences as an expert commentator on Asian capital markets and women’s issues.
“Since my childhood, I used to look at various magazine covers and business interviews of charismatic leaders and aspire to one day have a successful entrepreneur.” Today’s woman dreamer Priti Shah is a fintech entrepreneur to know. Priti is the founder of Payswiff, and is on a mission to revolutionize payment systems. She has received numerous accolades throughout her career including “50 Most Influential Payment Professionals” and “30 Women Entrepreneurs to Watch in India. A must read story for women entrepreneurs, Priti shares her advice to women interested in fintech, how she grew Payswiff, and more!
"Don’t pursue an opportunity just because everyone is doing it and it is the sector to be in, see what interests and motivates you” Today’s woman dreamer, Shreya Ghorawat, shares her story as a woman in investment banking in Hong Kong. Shreya shares the challenging and thrilling experience of building her career away from home, her life in Hong Kong, and her experience as woman in the world of finance and banking, along with her three essential tips to adapting to new cultures and building your career.
How can one assure a successful career? Whether you have just started your career or have been in the workforce for a few years, you are probably grappling with this question. Bank of America SVP and TIE Boston President Anu Chitrapu shares 5 behaviors crucial to success in all industries.
Get Right Back Up! Essential Lessons for Every Career Woman From Working on Wall Street
Business Branding - Social Media & Marketing Essentials
"Fear is Only Temporary. Regrets Last Forever". Born in France with a multicultural background, today’s woman dreamer Ikram Guerd is a seasoned healthcare marketing expert driven by the purpose of helping others. Currently, she is the Vice President of Global Marketing of ASPIVIX US, an innovative FemTech start-up, focused on reducing pain in gynecology. In her interview with Women Who Win, Ikram reflects on her journey climbing the corporate ladder, her passion for women’s health, and the role mentorship and giving back has had in her success. Check out her story!
“Naysayers are in abundance, problem solvers too few — roll up the sleeves and get to working through the problem.” Today’s woman dreamer, Reshma Iyer is a San Francisco based product marketing leader with a passion for helping brands deliver exceptional Search and Discovery experiences for their customers. In her inspiring interview with Women Who Win, Reshma shares her career journey, the skills she felt were essential to her success and the future e-commerce trends she is most excited about. Check out her story!
“When I was 9, I was asked to write a fantasy story for a creative writing assignment. My teacher scribbled a note in the margins; “You have a gift. Don’t give up on it.” Today’s woman dreamer, Vishakha Darbha is an Associate Audio Producer at the New York Times, where she worked on their flagship podcast, “The Argument”. A multi-media journalist inspired by the conversations around her, Vishakha brings her creative voice to the journalism world in exciting projects such as “Comedy in Quarantine”. A must-read piece for aspiring journalists -she shares her career journey , and the expectations vs. reality in a media career!
“It’s only a “risk” if you jump into it without planning to take it seriously.” Today’s woman dreamer, Lyka Ferry, shares her inspiring journey in the Army National Guard, launching her own content agency Lykability, her work as a public speaking coach, and her experiences as a first-generation Philipina-American woman. A woman of many creative talents, Lyka shares her top three tips for sharing your story, and her advice to minority women looking to follow non-traditional career paths and make their dreams come true. A true woman dreamer, we are excited to share her story today!
“When I was young I was always intrigued by how people were able to exchange a product or service for money.” Today’s woman dreamer, Marisha Lakhiani, based in Malaysia, is the Chief Marketing Officer of Mindvalley, and an upcoming speaker at Ad World 2021. With a lifelong passion for independence, Marisha started her journey selling dresses on Ebay at university, then building her career in the exciting world of marketing. We are excited to share her expertise on the top trends and tips everyone must know in 2021.
