Bengaluru: As part of India’s largest initiative on gender parity, HSBC presents CNBC-TV18’s Future. Female. Forward Season 3 co-presented by Cognizant, hosted a special felicitation segment to honour women whose lives and leadership reflect resilience, innovation, and inclusive progress. The segment recognized trailblazers across sectors who have dismantled barriers, reshaped their fields, and had a meaningful impact on the ground.
The honorees included Shreyasi Joshi and Swarali Joshi – Skater Sisters; Alina Alam – Founder & CEO, Mitti Café; Sonal Holland – Founder & Director, SoHo Wines; Savithri H. S – Former Professor, Department of Biochemistry, Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru; Lt Commander Roopa Alagirisamy and Lt Commander Dilna K – Indian Navy; India’s first all-women mine rescue unit, SMART-191, Singareni Mahila Active Rescue Team; Sandhya Puchalapalli – Founder & President, Aarti for Girls; Roshni Devi – National-Level Weightlifter; and Meena Ganesh – Co-founder & Chairperson, Portea, and Trustee, Bahaar Foundation.
Roshni Devi, national-level weightlifter and widely known as the ‘Weightlifter Mummy’, continues to defy social expectations. To inspire young aspirants, she shared, “Try hard, stay disciplined, and be mindful of your nutrition and body. I’ve set my sights on the next 100 kg. My goal is clear—win that gold medal, and I’m working every day to get there.”
Alina Alam, Founder & CEO of Mitti Café, was honoured for building a network of inclusive cafés led by people with disabilities. Reflecting on her journey, she shared, “At 22, I started Mitti Café with zero capital—our first café was just a table and an umbrella. 90% of our equipment, from spoons to a second-hand fridge, was donated by strangers. Our first employee came crawling for the interview because her family couldn’t afford a wheelchair. Today, she sits on her own wheelchair and manages 10 others with disabilities.”
In the world of wine and entrepreneurship, Sonal Holland, Founder & Director of SoHo Wines, was celebrated for breaking new ground as India’s first and only Master of Wine, a title earned through one of the most rigorous global wine qualifications. Reflecting on her journey, she said, “Two decades ago, when India’s wine industry was barely on the map, I left a corporate career in search of purpose. Wine struck me like a bolt of lightning, and I set my sights on becoming India’s first Master of Wine, a title held by fewer than 500 people globally. It’s been a glass-half-full journey ever since!”
The spotlight also shone bright on figure skating, thanks to sisters Shreyasi and Swarali Joshi, who’ve made India proud in a global sport still finding its feet here. Talking about her experience Shreyasi said, “Last week, my dream came true as I won Gold at the first-ever Made for India event in the Asian Roller-Skating Championship—twice over. Now, I’m gearing up for the World Games in China, giving it everything I’ve got. I’ve trained hard, and I hope to make India proud on the global stage,”. Swarali also added, saying, “I’m honestly hoping for our sport to be known through the upcoming Asian or World Championships. I would like to win in my life for India, just like my sister. That’s the dream we both share—bringing pride to our country through skating.”
Prof. Savithri H. S, Former Professor at the Department of Biochemistry, Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru, was honoured for her pioneering contributions to scientific research and mentorship. She made history as the first—and so far, only—woman to Chair the department. From academia to the armed forces, Lt Commander Roopa Alagirisamy and Lt Commander Dilna K of the Indian Navy were felicitated for redefining courage in uniform, saying, “Me and Roopa trained together, went through life and death situations, and spent more time at sea than on land. Over eight months at sea, they sailed 25,400 nautical miles across three oceans, four continents, and around three major capes, powered solely by wind and unshakeable will. She is a shining example of what it means to sail beyond limits. You get to know everything about the other person, there’s no space to be enemies. When I wasn’t okay, she was there to take over, and when she wasn’t, I stepped in. That teamwork was the real success of this journey.”
Meena Ganesh, Co-founder & Chairperson of Portea and Trustee, Bahaar Foundation, was honoured for leading efforts in home healthcare and building accessible health services that reach across India’s geography. Amongst the most powerful stories of the evening was that of SMART-191 – the Singareni Mahila Active Rescue Team, India’s first all-women mine rescue unit. Honoured for operating in one of the highest-risk sectors, the team has redefined what resilience looks like underground. Sandhya Puchalapalli, Founder & President of Aarti for Girls, was recognized for her transformative work with vulnerable girls and children. Her belief is clear and grounded in experience.
The segment also included a leadership address from K. Sunitha, Principal Secretary, Andhra Pradesh Government. Reflecting on her early days in service, she added, “When I stepped into my first posting at 24, I didn’t know the realities of village life. But standing before grieving families, fighting for justice, and building systems for victims taught me more than any classroom ever could. That’s where true governance begins.”
Each story honoured in this segment carried a different tone, triumph, defiance, reform, resilience—but all reflected a shared commitment to rewriting what leadership looks like. Together, these women represent a shift not only in who leads but in how leadership is defined across India’s evolving landscape.
-Based on Press Release
