Women Empowerment Speakers

Mithali Raj is a pioneer of female leadership and the highest run-scorer in women's international cricket. She is the only female player to captain India in multiple ICC ODI World Cup finals. A recipient of the Padma Shri and Arjuna Award, her talks are powerful, impactful, and packed with practical, real-world takeaways that inspire peak performance and exceptional leadership. She advocates for gender representation in sport and the power of endurance and discipline.

Dr. Susmita Mohanty is a global space entrepreneur, spaceship designer, and space diplomat who co-founded companies on three continents. She is the founder of India’s first space think tank, Spaceport SARABHAI. Her career includes working at Boeing and NASA Johnson and she is a global advocate for “technology diplomacy” and international cooperation in critical tech. Her keynotes, recognized by Fortune Magazine and the BBC 100 Women list, offer deep insights into the emerging NewSpace economy and the future of human spaceflight.

Chetna Gala Sinha is the founder of the Mann Deshi Bank—India’s first bank for and by rural women—which has provided over $70 million in loans to female micro-entrepreneurs. She is a distinguished social entrepreneur, a former Co-Chair of the World Economic Forum in Davos, and a recipient of the Nari Shakti Puraskar (India’s highest civilian award for women). Her talks provide actionable insights into financial inclusion and the power of grassroots entrepreneurship for social transformation.

Briana Scurry is a National Soccer Hall of Fame inductee, World Cup Champion, and two-time Olympic Gold Medalist. She is recognized as one of the first openly gay and African American professional athletes in her sport. Her career, which includes the iconic penalty kick save that won the 1999 FIFA World Cup, is a powerful story of resilience. Her best-selling memoir, My Greatest Save, and the documentary The Only detail her journey, including her dedication to advocating for increased awareness for traumatic brain injuries (TBI) since her retirement.

Geeta Phogat is an Indian wrestling pioneer, the first Indian woman to win a Commonwealth Games gold medal in wrestling (2010), and the first to qualify for the Olympic Games (London 2012). Her inspiring journey of shattering stereotypes and achieving elite success is immortalized in the 2016 Bollywood blockbuster Dangal. Her keynotes focus on Teamwork, Motivation, and Self-Belief, inspiring audiences to follow their passion by crushing all opposition.

Laxmi Agarwal is a global social activist and inspirational speaker who survived an acid attack and now stands as a powerful symbol of courage and inner beauty. She is a recipient of the prestigious International Women of Courage Award (presented by Michelle Obama) and the Mother Teresa Award. Her keynotes inspire audiences with her personal journey and her campaign to curb the free sale of acid in India.

Wema Hoover is a highly influential global leader and former Chief Diversity Officer at Google, Pfizer, and Sanofi. She is an expert in leveraging DEI to drive organizational and cultural transformation. Her keynotes provide practical tools for leaders on topics like Reframing Diversity, Equity & Inclusion, EQ & Inclusion, and Building Diverse Talent Pipelines. She is committed to helping organizations embrace difference for enhanced innovation and to drive sustainable well-being and mental health practices.

Anjum Chopra is the former Captain of the Indian women’s cricket team, an Arjuna Award winner, and a Padma Shri recipient. She is India’s most successful Test skipper in women's cricket history. She is the first woman cricketer to receive an international appointment (South African team consultant). Her keynotes share powerful lessons on Team Building, Motivation, and the importance of self-belief to push oneself to become a winner in both sports and business.

Dr. Shefali is a 3x New York Times bestselling author, world-renowned therapist, and the pioneer of the Conscious Parenting movement, an approach hailed by Oprah Winfrey as "revolutionary." She works daily with clients in her private online practice and runs the Conscious Parenting and Life Coaching Institute, which has trained over 1,200 coaches globally. Her keynotes provide transformative insights on conscious living, personal healing, and empowering women to discover their authentic selves.

Dia Mirza is a UN Environment Goodwill Ambassador for India and a UN Secretary-General Advocate for Sustainable Development Goals. She is an award-winning actor and former Miss Asia Pacific. As a champion of nature, she successfully led the #BeatPlasticPollution campaign, leading to India's single-use plastic ban declaration. Her keynotes focus on environmental conservation, gender equality, and how individuals can find their greater purpose in life by leveraging the creative arts for social change.

Chhavi Rajawat is a former Sarpanch of Soda village and is recognized as India's first Sarpanch with an MBA. She is an award-winning advocate for rural development and social empowerment. An alumna of Lady Shri Ram College and Sri Balaji Society Pune, her mission is to co-create a holistic model for rural development through education and upskilling. Her keynotes focus on leadership, social justice, and equity, inspiring audiences to commit to impactful change in business, non-profits, and government.

Soha Ali Khan is an acclaimed Indian film actress and social activist who won the IIFA and GIFA Awards for Best Supporting Actress for her role in Rang De Basanti. The youngest daughter of actress Sharmila Tagore, she embodies a blend of royalty and social commitment. Her keynotes provide valuable insights on social activism and youth empowerment, sharing her experiences and quick wit with diverse audiences.

Twinkle Khanna is a WSJ bestselling author and former actress who won the Filmfare Award for Best Female Debut. She is India’s highest-selling woman writer and a leading advocate for menstrual hygiene. Her book The Legend of Lakshmi Prasad was adapted into the National Award-winning film Pad Man. She is the founder of the digital media platform Tweak India for women and actively campaigns at the United Nations and on the BBC for menstrual hygiene and sanitation globally.

Shobhaa De is one of India’s most popular and influential writers. All 17 of her books have topped the charts, and four of her titles are used as course material at the University of London. She is a distinguished columnist for The Times of India and Asian Age, known for her sharp, "Politically Incorrect" observations on society, politics, and the economy. She is a highly influential voice, recognized as one of "India's Most Trusted People" by Reader's Digest.

Tisca Chopra is an acclaimed actress and author who won a Filmfare Award for her performance in Taare Zameen Par, which was India's official entry to the Academy Awards. Her career, which includes a nominated performance at the New York Indian Film Festival and acting in a Pulitzer Award-winning play, demonstrates her dedication to high-quality storytelling. Her keynotes share lessons on persistence, passion, and the ingredients needed to live a successful life.

Palki Sharma Upadhyay is a journalist and editor who translates complex international affairs into clear, evidence-led narratives. After early work in public broadcasting and print, she anchored WION’s global news coverage and later held senior editorial roles at Network18/Firstpost. Her on-air style privileges sourcing and context over spectacle. As a moderator and commentator she helps audiences and leaders read geopolitical signals, assess media risk, and shape communications that withstand scrutiny.

Falguni Nayar founded Nykaa in 2012 after a long career in investment banking, building it into a leading beauty and lifestyle platform that married curated assortment, content-led discovery and physical retail into a profitable public company. Her talks distill practical lessons on category creation, omnichannel scaling, founder governance and disciplined risk—offering executives concrete frameworks for growing consumer brands in emerging markets.

Smriti Mandhana is an Indian opening batter and vice-captain who played a leading role in India’s 2025 Women’s Cricket World Cup victory. Renowned for a blend of technical finesse and aggressive rhythm, she has set national and international benchmarks — including centuries across formats and calendar-year scoring records — while captaining at franchise level.