MUMBAI: Bharat’s builders wear bangles and they mean business. News18’s flagship platform Sheshakti, in partnership with Lions Clubs International, is back with its third edition and this time, it’s taking a regional route. The first-ever Mumbai chapter of News18 SheShakti 2025 rolls out on 31 July, spotlighting Maharashtra’s women trailblazers who are breaking barriers and building Bharat.
Titled “From Breaking Barriers to Building Bharat,” this year’s theme shifts the focus from token celebration to structural transformation. The summit will culminate in a grand finale in Delhi on 21 August, but the Mumbai edition is poised to set the tone with a power-packed line-up of policymakers, entrepreneurs, entertainers, and change-makers.
Leading the charge are dignitaries like Shri Devendra Fadnavis, Ashwini Bhide, and Sujata Saunik, alongside global voices such as Ambassadors Chavanart Thangsumphant (Thailand) and Mateja Vodeb Ghosh (Slovenia), offering an Indo-global dialogue on leadership and inclusion.
From boardrooms to Bollywood, Sheshakti’s guest list reads like a who’s who of women who’ve redefined the game:
. Naiyya Saggi (founder & CEO, Edition)
. Laxmi Iyer (group president, Bajaj Finserv)
. Dr Neerja Birla (chairperson, Aditya Birla Education Trust)
. Priti Rathi Gupta (founder, Lxme)
. Harsha Mundhada (partner, Inflexor Ventures)
. Roshi Jain (sr. fund manager, HDFC Mutual Fund)
. Chitralekha Patil (director, PNP Group)
. Olympian Anjali Bhagwat and para-badminton star Manasi Joshi
. Actors Nimrat Kaur, Shriya Pilgaonkar, and Renuka Shahane
Also joining are popular radio voices RJ Malishka, RJ Archana, and RJ Stutee, and Sarita Sonawale, recipient of the Savitri Bai Phule Award, for her grassroots advocacy.
The event will not just echo inspiration, but also actionable impact. With over two chapters across two months, SheShakti 2025 seeks to mobilise ideas, incubate collaborations, and inspire the next generation of women leaders. It also positions Maharashtra as a microcosm of India’s inclusive growth, celebrating how women are influencing sectors from urban infrastructure to wellness startups.
Network18 Group chief strategy officer, Puneet Singhvi summed it up: “Sheshakti is not just an event. It’s a movement. And we’re thrilled to bring it to Mumbai for the first time.”
Network18 (Broadcast) CEO Avinash Kaul added, “This regional expansion is a testament to the influence women wield in shaping India’s social, economic and cultural blueprint.”
As the country prepares to celebrate Raksha Bandhan and Independence Day, Sheshakti offers a timely reminder that true progress is built on the shoulders of those who don’t just smash glass ceilings, but raise the roof for everyone else.
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