CXO Outlook – December 2022 – 10 Most Inspiring Businesswomen in India 2022

CO - FOUNDER AND DIRECTOR, TREISTEK

A FORERUNNER IN BIM ENGINEERING & GIS SOLUTIONS

Dr Gagan Bhatia, Founder, Uniqaya Lifestyle Harsha Solanki, Managing Director – India, Bangladesh, Nepal & Sri Lanka, Infobip Puneet Kaur Kohli, IT leader, Author and Speaker

KALKA TO SHIMLA RAILWAY, INDIA

Most Inspiring Business Women in India - 2022

Head of Advisory Board

Dr. Manoj Varghese, Ph.D

Managing Editor

Sarath Shyam

Consultant Editors

Dr. John Andrews

Anuja Mulmule Emma James Andrew Scott Amrin Ahmed

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Women Leadership in India: Are We Progressing?

She has always been looked upon as a juggler - struggling to find a balance between home and work. The prejudice of a male boss makes him think that she cannot invest much professionally because of her inevitable duties at home. We - the people of this society that pretends like a progressive onemight see it as an old issue that no longer exists. Surprise! Many organizations still have very few women in their senior management roles, while some have reported having no women in the organizations at all.

Deloitte Global’s Women in the Boardroom Report revealed that women hold 17.1 percent of the board seats in India. Although it was after an increase of 9.4 percent from the 2014 edition, only 3.6 percent of the board chairs are women, down by 0.9 percent since 2018. However, it witnessed an increase in the number of women taking up CEO roles − 4.7 percent female CEOs against 3.4 percent reported in 2018. It is true that the Indian business landscape still has unpleasant things like casual sexism and unfair promotion practices, causing attrition among women. We can only hope to collectively find a solution soon

to end the issue of gender inequities in our office rooms.

In this issue, we take this discussion ahead by identifying the 10 Most Inspiring Business Women in India - 2022 who fought their battles successfully to be the kingpins of the country’s dynamic business environment. On the cover, we feature Jayita Sengupta, Co-Founder and Director of TreisTek. she was a dreamer and a visionary and always knew she was destined for something great. She desired to do more than work a regular 9–5 job. We hope stories like hers will inspire a whole generation of women who aspire to be on the top of their careers. Enjoy Reading.

Sarath Shyam

JayitaSengupta

34

Dr. Gagan Bhatia, Founder, Uniqaya Lifestyle

Empowering People to be the Best Versions of Themselves

48

Harsha Solanki, Managing Director – India, Bangladesh, Nepal & Sri Lanka, Infobip

Leading with Compassion and Empathy

62

Puneet Kaur Kohli, IT leader, Author and Speaker

Leading with Passion, Purpose, & Precision

EXPERT OPINION

68

The Future of Ayurveda and its Importance in Wellness and Beauty Space

Krishna Tamalia Vohra, Founder, Mom’s Therapy

72

How Luxury eCommerce

Giants are Roping in Premium Brand

Meenakshi Kalsi, Managing Partner, Metro & Metro Shoes

76

The Future of Retail: Contactless Journey with Immersive Tech 26

Meghna Saraogi, CEO and Co-Founder, mirrAR

Neeta Malik, Co-Founder, Meatington

IN MY VIEW

12

Developments in Energy Solutions and Energy Storage in India 42

Preeti Bajaj, CEO, Luminous Power Technologies

58

GAME ON: Women are Leveling the Playing Field in Gaming

Parinitaa Rajgarhiaa, Founder, Zero Latency, Mumbai

Say Hello to an Emerging Breed of Independent, Resilient Women Entrepreneurs

Shipra Neeraj, Associate V Partner, QNET Entrepreneur

IN MY VIEW

DEVELOPMENTS IN ENERGY SOLUTIONS AND ENERGY STORAGE IN INDIA

Preeti Bajaj, CEO, Luminous Power Technologies

This supersedes political parties, race, creed, religion, it doesn’t matter. If we do not solve the environment, we’re all damned.” Elon Musk’s famous quote that he shared in an interview with Recode’s Kara Swisher summarises the energy conundrum. Over 40% of energy-related CO2 emissions are due to the burning of fossil fuels for electricity generation. All electricity generation technologies emit greenhouse

gases at some point in their life cycle.

In contrast, as a study in Nature Energy reveals, carbon footprint of solar, wind and nuclear power are significantly lower than coal or gas and new advances in technology are driving it lower still. This remains true after accounting for emissions during manufacture, construction and fuel supply. This is welcome news, but renewables still account for just over 30% of total energy use with IEA

The good news is that the evolution in renewable energy tech is driving huge innovations in the energy storage, decarbonisation, digital technologies and distributed energy generation domains, helping accelerate the push towards a Net Zero future and empowering consumers

Preeti Bajaj is the newly appointed CEO & MD at Luminous Power Technologies and is responsible for all company operations. Founded in 1988, Luminous has over the last 33 years, grown into one of India’s most trusted brands in the power back-up, and residential solar space. With experience of nearly two decades in the Australian and global business environments, she holds expertise in developing and executing strategies to set the pace for sustainable growth across a range of enterprises (multinationals, ASX listed corporates and startups). Over the years, Preeti has built a career at the intersection of technology and transformation.

data showing that annual renewable capacity is expected to touch just about 320 GW in 2022. Meanwhile conventional energy costs remain high – driven upwards by rising demand as well as geopolitical upheavals. Consequently, and now more than ever, businesses are searching for energy that is both affordable and environmentally sustainable. With energy solutions and energy storage, it is possible to achieve all these benefits at once.

The three Ds The good news is that the evolution in renewable energy tech is driving huge innovations in the energy storage, decarbonisation, digital technologies and distributed energy generation domains, helping accelerate the push towards a Net Zero future and empowering consumers. This portends to usher in a carbo neutral future where clean energy will power practically every aspect of our lives. But how is the energy sector enabling this?

First, decarbonization aims to reduce greenhouse emissions to achieve climate

neutrality by lowering the amount of carbon, mainly carbon dioxide (CO2), sent into the atmosphere through the burning of fossil fuels such as gas and oil. This reduction in emissions can be done unit by unit from factories and buildings to meet emission reduction targets. The second imperative is effective management and monitoring, and this requires a high degree of digitisation to be implemented across the entire energy ecosystem - right from generation to transmission, to distribution, and finally to consumer supply and demand. Both these disruptive elements are already changing the very way energy is both generated and used in many parts of the world. Decentralisation, the third, equally important pillar, is focused on decentralising power generation by reducing the reliance on just a handful of large generation plants and dispersing this across many smaller power plants. This is possible when CHP units come up near industrial or business districts or solar panels come up on residential properties. Across the world, as legacy fossil fuel burning plants reach the end of their lives, they are being

replaced with wind farms, solar fields, hydro/ marine generation and biomass – ensuring that decentralisation is increasingly prevalent.

Advanced renewable energy storage

While the demand for renewable power continues to rise exponentially, the intermittent nature of both wind and solar power is also driving the need for energy storage systems by both enterprise and residential segments. Batteries are at the heart of this – helping store power for use and able to both draw from and supply to the grid depending on institutional demand. Today, a 10kva high-capacity inverter with battery storage is 40 percent more costeffective, requires little to no maintenance, and is pollution-free. It offers a 2-hour backup time for running large loads. There is a huge opportunity for bringing in play a regulatory ecosystem that deploys a carrot-and-stick strategy – the stick in this case would be debits or fines for noise control and pollution, while the carrot could be credits or subsidies offered to those who purchase ecologically relevant energy storage systems. This would help enhance the deployment of these systems across the user ecosystem at a faster rate.

As the world moves to embrace a new energy paradigm, incorporating new distribution and generation models, the industry at large needs to take on a more proactive role driving towards a carbon neutral future. It is heartening to see multiple stakeholders including enterprise, policy makers and regulators, as well as energy companies come together to chart out a new energy future – one that embraces greater use of renewables and energy storage solutions.

Across the world, as legacy fossil fuel burning plants reach the end of their lives, they are being replaced with wind farms, solar fields, hydro/marine generation and biomass –ensuring that decentralisation is increasingly prevalent

Jayita

Jayita

Sengupta

An innovator and a libertarian are the two leadership traits that define Jayita's diligence and endurance in providing TreisTek with top-tier services. Jayita Sengupta, CoFounder and Director of Treistek, holds an MBA in marketing and brand management and has over 15 years of enterprise experience assisting businesses in achieving their goals for growth, innovation, and performance excellence. She had been working for a few years when she realized she was only constructing other people's dreams. Jayita had a fixed monthly income. However, she was a dreamer and a visionary and always knew she was destined for something great. She desired to do more than work a regular 9–5 job.

Jayita admires Kiran Mazumdar Shaw for defying stereotypes and shattering the glass ceiling in multiple ways. She defied convention by founding Biocon in 1978 to achieve her goals. Indeed, it is fair to say that Kiran Mazumdar Shaw inspired Jayita to act on her own. Jayita says, "In those days, women were not perceived as good entrepreneurs, and biotechnology was unheard of as an industry. However, as success stories go, Kiran Mazumdar Shaw is quite the trailblazer." One fine day, while Jayita was having a cup of tea with Arindam (fellow co-founder), they had the idea to start TreisTek. Jayita shares, "The main reason for starting TreisTek was to make a difference. I wanted to work with others to help move them forward in profound ways in their lives."

Jayita's areas of specialization include strategic planning, program management, enterprise quality, and business process optimization, where she collaborated with R&D, design, implementation, sales, support services, finance, and HR. This experience, combined with her desire to make a difference, drives her to establish "TreisTek India Pvt. Ltd." Jayita says, "I knew that I could offer the

TreisTek India Pvt. Ltd. specializes in providing services to the building and construction industries, land development and administration industries, and building information management providers

perspective, structure, support, guidance and honesty others needed to make big transitions in their lives and yes, we are making a difference today."

TreisTek India Pvt Ltd: What they do & its uniqueness

TreisTek was started by two people over a cup of chai. Jayita recalls, "Following which we registered the company. Once we registered, we just thought, let’s see how the company would run, and we were not so sure about it. But we had one year of good work experience in the current field that we are part of. Then slowly, we started forming teams and growing. We started with two people in February 2018, and today, today, in 1-1.5 years, we have 120+ employees in TreisTek, and 4 different office locations"

TreisTek India Pvt. Ltd. specializes in providing services to the building and construction industries, land development and administration industries, and building information management providers. Jayita explains, "We have developed specialized business units, with growing expertise in each of these areas, and staffed them with competent, trained, and experienced people. This has allowed us to serve these distinct areas of the economy."

TreisTek has the competence to convert minutely detailed drawings and hand-drawn sketches into finished 2-Dimensional drawings. "We have an expert team of engineers who can successfully handle design and drafting projects following client requirements," Jayita continued, "and they are dedicated to finding the best solutions for the client's requirements while anticipating future needs."

Dedicated to elevating the company above its competitors

Jayita is a passionate facilitator who makes the company stand out among the competition. Jayita highlights, "We built our in-house quality team and converted the challenge of QA and QC as a competitive advantage.

With the help of our in-house team, we try to balance the cost against the profit. When our clients do not have the budget, we talk to them and build a friendly relationship to get the upcoming project done within their budget without compromising on quality."

Jayita also runs a training program to ensure that the company has enough candidates for training and preparing for future projects in-house.

Valiant Leader with a Hallmark of Taking Risks

Jayita says, "When I left my 15 years of successful corporate life and moved to a startup venture wherein, I had to start everything from scratch. The biggest challenge was to learn technology. Since I did not have an engineering background, I had to spend a lot of time understanding technical things. There was no guarantee that I would succeed. Though I knew the chances of success were low, I risked my career and followed my passion." Her struggle to balance business and family life, defy social expectations and overcome her fear of failure was no different from any other female leader. Despite this, women can always rise above it. "My only success mantra

was, "Believe in yourself and own your own success"; this motivates me to work harder and achieve higher results." underlined Jayita.

Jayita currently oversees projects and marketing and is in charge of new innovations. Jayita pinpoints, "I am presently working on the next Gen Automation tools. My core vision is to look deeper at cross-functional integration, not just collaboration, i.e., Marketing, Sales, and Development teams must work as if they are ‘one’ team."

Intending to Improve Customer Satisfaction & Performance

The demand for engineering solutions is increasing as cities grow and technology advances. Almost every country is now

experimenting with 3D Smart City Modeling. In addition, BIM is becoming mandatory in all countries. "This opens many opportunities for engineering solution providers like us. Also, there is immense scope for growth in this field. With new technologies coming up, the scope to learn is huge, and so is the market. We can also step into consulting services, end-to-end projects, etc.," said Jayita

Putting theory into practice, one of TreisTek’s challenges was to model India’s one of the very prestigious project which was inaugurated by Narendra Modi himself. Jayita shares, "At the beginning, we did not have a complete team to execute the project. In addition to this, the complete inputs were not received. We had to face both external and internal challenges." Despite these hurdles, TreisTek took it up and delivered the project as per the client’s expectations and it was a one of the most successful projects for the company.

"We have always believed it is better to have a small group who can THINK BIG and work towards the common goal. Here, TreisTek explains how we make a huge impact despite having a small team. In addition, our sales team is in regular contact with the clients to ensure that we are on the same page," added Jayita.

Facilitator of Company Culture & Team Development

Jayita always motivates employees to organize company culture. "At TreisTek, we provide round-the-clock service. Our managers spend time on R&D while connecting with the clients to understand their needs and cater to them, and we share progress reports regularly."

At TreisTek, we never stop developing ourselves and inspiring our resources for their challenges and bold ideas

Jayita believes that success in the modern world is reserved for those who choose to be patient in difficult situations

Today's businesses treat their customers like kings to provide them with an unparalleled experience and earn their unwavering loyalty. Jayita understands that employees work tirelessly and are held accountable for achieving the organization's objectives. TreisTek maintains a healthy work-life balance by treating its employees as internal clients. Jayita emphasizes, "Our employees are the real kings. As methods of employee motivation, we use the "Spiff Program," "Celebrate the Success," and "Fun Fridays." The Spiff program is a program wherein our employees are rewarded based on their weekly performance. In addition, we make time to take our employees out to dinner when they successfully complete a project. Aside from these, we have Fun Friday, where we organize various fun and team-building

activities and games for employees. As a result, our employees come in with the bells ringing every weekend! "

The "Aha" Moments

Despite having accomplished many significant life milestones, Jayita's founding of TreisTek in February 2018 was her most significant achievement. In 2019, they quickly established themselves as one of the groundbreakers in smart city modeling. Within a year, the TreisTek family had expanded to over fifty members, with a new branch opening in Bangalore. The same year, they signed NDAs with a Finnish company and top UK market players for Smart City Modelling Projects globally. Another significant accomplishment was being named one of the "Top 10 Most

Recommended GIS Solution Provider Companies" by Insights Success Magazine and being honored as the "Fastest Growing Engineering & GIS Company in Bangalore" by "Blindwink India" at the "India Icon Awards 2019." In addition to expanding domestically, they opened branches in Kolkata and Bhopal. They raised their global footprint by opening a new branch in Dubai in February 2021 and in New Zealand in November 2022.

Sedulous Attitude Towards Life

Jayita puts a lot of stock in self-belief. She says, "I always believe in myself, and I take up tasks that I believe I can execute. Once I commit to something, I will never give up. Giving up on my work is tantamount to giving up on myself." Jayita is a voracious learner who enjoys both formal and informal education. She remarks, "Learning has always been my backbone for survival. With my hunger to learn, I have cultivated feelings of empathy, managed feelings, self-awareness, and harnessed social skills."

Jayita believes that success in the modern world is reserved for those who choose to be patient in difficult situations. "Anything I do, I take time to understand. And I can wait until I achieve what I had started. The only way to do great work is to love what you do. I am always passionate about what I do. I enjoy every single effort that I put into finishing the job. Once I start, there is no looking back," added Jayita.

Conquering Pandemic with Positivity

In Jayita's view, social distancing implies distance from flaws of negative influence and

a focus on positivity. For TreisTek, this is a test of their collective capacity to respond during times of crisis. It is also worth noting that employers and employees all over the world are working together to support one another through their efforts and actions. “We can confidently say that at TreisTek, many new strong bonds have evolved between our employees and the management. Staying socially distant has resulted in increased conversations through chats, voice calls, and video calls which have helped to stay more connected to each other," concluded Jayita.

LEADER’S INSIGHTS

GROWTH & TRENDS IN READY TO EAT & FROZEN FOOD SECTOR DURING FESTIVE SEASON

Neeta Malik, Co-Founder, Meatington

Neeta Malik, Co-Founder, Meatington, is a natural entrepreneur. She has over 40 years of experience in creating and running successful businesses. She founded Heirlooms, a high-end textiles company which has won several awards for their performance in exports of silk products. For the last many years, she, along with Ashutosh, has been running Destinations Unlimited, a luxury travel business. Good food being an essential part of a successful travel experience, she is no stranger to delighting her clients with delicious food. She now teams up with Sachin and Ashutosh to bring the magic of Meatington to every table! Meatington caers to a discerning palate with a wide variety of options in ready to cook and frozen snacks.

After almost three years of a lull, we are looking forward to a festive season full of joy and merriment this year. Shopping and splurging will peak during the festive season, driving growth in the FMCG industry. The Ready-to-cook and frozen food sector is expected to grow exponentially, and there is a lot of optimism within the industry. The frozen food industry is upping its A game to enhance consumer interaction and drive

growth further through consumer engagement, innovative marketing plans, and editorial integration to make the most of this trend.

Ready to Cook products are now part of our lifestyle habits and the festive time will accelerate the trend further.

During the pandemic period, people were encouraged and driven to adopt ready-to-cook and frozen food products due to the variety, taste, comfort and affordability. Since this

Ready to Cook products are now part of our lifestyle habits and the festive time will accelerate the trend further

has become a priority and habit for them, the demand for ready-to-cook snacks and meals will further boom during this festive season. To capitalize on this trend, the industry is all set to kick off many consumer-friendly packages.

Home is where the celebration takes place

In this year's festivities, homes will become the new social hub, and consumers will therefore move celebrations indoors. The ready to cook sector hopes that in-home consumption will gain even more traction. The eating habits of people have been drastically changing over the last few decades, but the growth of trends during festival times is also being driven by a number of other

factors as well. There is no longer any desire on the part of housewives or working women to spend time in the kitchen preparing traditional snacks and meals during celebrations. Apart from this, people are also looking for variety and innovation when it comes to their snacks. Meanwhile, they also want to enjoy festive meals and snacks at home that taste just as good as those they would get at their favorite fine dining establishments, when they return home from work. To meet this craving and desire, ready-to-eat food becomes the best option. Depending on their comfort level and leisure, they can indulge in a variety of snacks within minutes, adding cheer to the celebration and making the day more enjoyable!

As far as the demand for ready to cook items is concerned, the market is reasonably optimistic that the season will offer a semblance of growth and households will stock up for the holidays

Ready to cook snacks are a preferred option

One of the major changes in consumer behavior is their preference for healthy and hygienic snacks that can be prepared quickly and easily. Now, instead of opening traditional dabbas of biscuits, cookies, chips, instant noodles, etc, they are looking for multi cuisine and lavish treats such as snacks, kebabs, tikkas, rolls and so on, that satiate their cravings for multi cuisine meals. That's exactly what the ready to cook segment offers. As far as the demand for ready to cook items is concerned, the market is reasonably optimistic that the season will offer a semblance of growth and households will stock up for the holidays.

New Launches & Gift packs

In addition, the industry is launching new products through attractive gift packages and grand promotional campaigns during the festive season. In addition, they have maintained the health trend in all of their products, using healthy ingredients to promote metabolism and immunity as well as promote better health. These gifting packs are tailored to meet the tastes and preferences of different consumers. You can choose from a wide variety of traditional snacks, appetizers, continental, hyderabadi, or mughlai dishes. It doesn't matter if it is chai, brunch, lunch or dinner time, variety is the king during festive time. Value packs are given special attention and celebratory packs are making moments of togetherness more memorable.

Special Offers

Special ready-to-cook meals are available for kids, men, and women alike. The festive season,

however, also comes amidst rising commodity pressures. Despite the rise in commodity prices this year, the spirit of the sector has not been dampened by it. Besides the new launches, companies are preparing special festival packs for gifting.

It is expected that the sector will receive a much-needed boost during the period, as many people plan to participate in celebrations. With consumer interests in mind, a bouquet of special offers, product sampling sessions, and marketing campaigns are planned to promote key products. In keeping with taste preferences, the ready-tocook segment has launched a number of novel snack options, along with gifting solutions, e-gift cards, and special discounts from e-commerce sites. The sector is also leveraging digital platforms to drive consumption. In addition to the fact that people enjoy munching and snacking during the festive season, hence making frozen snacks excellent gifting options. The sale of these gifting packages will add to the trend and growth of the industry.

Added reach to consumers with marketing and PR push

In this year's marketing and PR push, the frozen food sector has been more active. The festive season is a good opportunity to spread the word about frozen food and engage with consumers. In order to reach the maximum number of customers during the festive season, marketing expenditures are being raised as well. In regard to our marketing initiatives at Meatington, we have lavish plans to ensure higher visibility, new product launches, distributor engagement, etc. For at least another quarter, the trend is expected to grow.

Website: https://nutridynamic.co.in/

Headquarters: Ahmedabad, Gujarat

About the Company: Nutrition Dynamic Food is now one of India’s leading companies in the field of Food and Beverage Premixes manufacturing and has a state-of-art manufacturing facility for Instant Food and Beverage Premix products.

BUSINESS WOMEN

Website: https://starkle.in/

Headquarters: New Delhi, Delhi

About the Company: Starkle was born out of the idea that precious jewellery should be fine-tuned to match the discerning needs of millennials. It creates jewellery for women who affordable designs that highlight their uniqueness.

Founder, Nutrition Dynamic Food

Founder, Starkle

Arpita Doshi Baruni Verma

Website: https://www.gatewayofhealing.com/

Headquarters: Gurugram, Haryana

About the Company: Dr. Chandni Tugnait is a therapist, healer, and facilitator, and she started her career as a Soft Skills Trainer in the Corporate World and is certified for the same by the American TESOL Institute.

Website: https://uniqaya.com/

Headquarters:

About the Company: Uniqaya Lifestyle bridges nature and science with over 40 years of experience in the pharmaceuticals industry, to create only what's best for the skin.

Website: https://www.mindler.com/

Headquarters: New Delhi, Delhi

About the Company: Mindler is the most-advanced website for online career assessment, career guidance and career counselling in India, designed for school students and graduates.

Website: https://www.infobip.com/

Headquarters: London, England

About the Company: Infobip is a global leader in omnichannel engagement powering a broad range of messaging channels, tools and solutions for advanced customer engagement, authentication and security.

Sahibzada Ajit Singh Nagar, Punjab

Founder, Uniqaya Lifestyle

Founder & Director, Gateway of Healing

Managing Director – India, Bangladesh, Nepal & Sri Lanka, Infobip

Director, Mindler

Dr. Gagan Bhatia

Dr. Chandni Tugnait MD

Harsha Solanki

Eesha Bagga Bhargava

Website:

Website: https://www.treistek.com/

Headquarters: Bengaluru, Karnataka

About the Company: TreisTek India Pvt. Ltd. specializes in the provision of services to the land development and administration sector, the building and construction sector and providers for the building information management sector.

Website: https://whoppl.com/

Headquarters: Mumbai, Maharashtra

About the Company: Whoppl is a new-age influencer content management platform, helping individuals & organisations connect with their tribe.

https://drpuneetkaurkohli.com/

About Her: Puneet Kaur Kohli is an award-winning IT leader, author, speaker, and innovator. She brings on board her 25 years of global experience in developing and implementing strategic plans and end-user services by addressing company needs and promoting growth.

Website: https://avtarinc.com/

Headquarters: Chennai, Tamilnadu

About the Company: Avtar is India’s pioneers in Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Consulting with over twenty years of building organizations to be inclusive and equitable places where diversity is celebrated.

Founder & CEO, Whoppl

Co-Founder and Director, Treistek

Founder, Avtar

IT leader, Author and Speaker

Ramya Ramachandran

Jayita Sengupta

Dr. Saundarya Rajesh

Puneet Kaur Kohli

BUSINESS WOMEN

DR. GAGAN BHATIA

FOUNDER, UNIQAYA LIFESTYLE

Empowering People to be the Best Versions of Themselves

There is a thought-provoking quote that says, “Tough times never last, but tough people do.” Facing challenges one after the other yet staying calm, confident, and motivated shapes a person’s real character. This quote resonates with Dr. Gagan Bhatia’s (Founder of Uniqaya Lifestyle) journey to entrepreneurship. Instead of getting weighed down by her struggles, she credits them as learning opportunities that enabled her

to express her willpower and stay afloat, which made her into who she is today. Dr. Gagan is indeed the epitome of courage, strength, and hope.

Foray into the Skincare Industry

Dr. Gagan has over 20 years of experience in the pharmaceutical industry and has donned multiple hats in her career and personal life. A teacher, field expert, single parent, counselor, doctor, and now, an entrepreneur.

We want to see our products being adopted into our consumers' lifestyle and help them become the best, most beautiful, unadulterated, and true version of themselves

Dr. Gagan Bhatia Founder, Uniqaya Lifestyle

In August 2019, Dr. Gagan founded Uniqaya Lifestyle to empower people and help them become the best versions of themselves. “We aim to ensure that people make the best of what they have already been blessed with,” shares Dr. Gagan. “We want to see our products being adopted into our consumers' lifestyle and help them become the best, most beautiful, unadulterated, and true versions of themselves.”

What Sets the Uniqaya Skincare Products Apart from Other Brands?

“Our ethos is what sets us apart from the crowd,” reveals Dr. Gagan. “We do not promise unattainable beauty, nor do we mindlessly believe or promote nature’s goodness in every product.” By bridging nature and science with industry-leading technology blended with plant-based and toxin-free ingredients found all over mother earth, Dr. Gagan and her team create what's best for their customers. They use 3R Technology to repair, rejuvenate, and restore the natural beauty of human skin at a deeper collagen level, whilst the users continue to carry on with their normal day. Simply put, Uniqaya products help your skin breathe.

Leading from the Front Besides being the Founder of Uniqaya Lifestyle, Dr. Gagan is also a Director of Unimarck Pharma India Ltd. She oversees the R&D department, where she is responsible for clearing the pathway regarding product innovation. “I represent the second generation of Unimarck's founding family. My role is directed towards the welfare of the people at large,” states Dr. Gagan.

By bridging nature and science with industry-leading technology blended with plant-based and toxin-free ingredients found all over mother earth, Dr. Gagan and her team create what's best for their customers

The Secret to Motivating Employees

“I believe that the best way to motivate team members is to conduct review meetings where we aren’t just discussing work but are also celebrating each other’s achievements and milestones,” reveals Dr. Gagan. She also believes that allowing employees to take time-off is important while ensuring that the work is balanced between other team members. Therefore, the employees of Uniqaya Lifestyle are not only productive but also innovative, passionate, and driven toward the company's ethos.

Receiving Customer Loyalty & LoveThe Biggest Milestones

Since Uniqaya Lifestyle began its journey amidst the COVID-19 pandemic and faced challenges in terms of buyers’ changes in choices and preferences, Dr. Gagan considers getting early acceptance from the customers and achieving brand recognition in the market as a remarkable milepost. Customers have enjoyed using the uniquely crafted premium products from Uniqaya, which help repair, rejuvenate, and restore the lost radiance. As a result, Uniqaya has managed to build a solid

and loyal fanbase in a short time. “Today, we see a positive response in terms of sales and strive to serve our purpose in the industry with efficiency.,” states Dr. Gagan.

Staying Relevant in the Fast-paced Beauty Industry is the Major Challenge

The beauty industry is constantly evolving with new trends, techniques and is headed towards becoming a more consumer conscious field.“This is where we face a challenge: to stay relevant and equip the masses with the products they want,” asserts Dr. Gagan. She further shares that as brand owners, it is imperative to know the market before curating a product for the target audience.

Likewise, the beauty industry also demands to always keep in touch with the times and maintain the standards set by the brands for themselves. “We, as a team, have been able to overcome challenges such as these by believing in innovation and creativity at every step of the process,” mentions Dr. Gagan.

It’s About Keeping Innovation Alive & Smartly Managing Digital ROIs

According to Dr. Gagan, innovation is integral to Uniqaya’s culture. It comes from within, as the company's ethics are deeply rooted in its foundation. She further shares, “Our founder, Mr. Bhupinder Pal Singh Bhatia, was a man of mettle who believed in the art of innovation at every step of one’s entrepreneurial journey.”

When it comes to investing in and leveraging the correct technology, Dr. Gagan feels that one ought to know that there is always something better down the line. Ultimately, it’s all about achieving those ROIs and pouring in the money once the metrics have been achieved.

A Typical Day in the Life of a Multitalented Entrepreneur

Being a spiritually conscious person, Dr. Gagan likes to begin her day with yoga and meditation. She also likes to make notes in her daily journal to keep track of the things she is grateful for and appreciates. “I take every day to remind myself that I am a mere

puppet in the Lord's hands. I’m just a doer, but the ultimate strength to do the work comes from the Almighty,” humbly shares Dr. Gagan. However, there are times when she finds herself in stressful situations. To tackle them, her go-to mantra to relax, recharge, and get back on track is deep breathing. Her ideal way to unwind from work is to enjoy a good cup of tea, soulful music, inspirational books, and a long drive after a fulfilling day. She would then end her day with meditation and introspection.

Current Goals & Plans

As a part of an innovation-driven company, Dr. Gagan and her team make efforts to launch

As a part of an innovation-driven company, Dr. Gagan and her team make efforts to launch a new product every six months or a year

a new product every six months or a year. While doing so, they strive to diversify the product range and accommodate the wants and needs of the consumers as often and quickly as possible.

Considering how the pandemic has made consumers conscious of what they buy and

choose, Dr. Gagan and her team are planning to target the markets from which they have received positive responses. They will also aim to build more momentum in offline marketing and ensure that Uniqaya Lifestyle’s presence is felt prominently across national and international markets.

IN MY VIEW

SAY HELLO TO AN EMERGING BREED OF INDEPENDENT, RESILIENT WOMEN ENTREPRENEURS

Shipra Neeraj, Associate V Partner, QNET Entrepreneur

Gender conversations are increasingly becoming a norm across the world, driving people to rethink about how different industries and organisations can make room for more women to grow and succeed. Direct Selling is among the leading industries to walk the talk by creating increasing opportunities for women to turn into entrepreneurs and thrive. In fact, according to the annual survey 2020-21 of the Indian

Direct Selling Association, the number of active direct sellers grew to 7.9 million, with 47% of them being women. So, what are the key advantages Direct Selling has to offer for women who aspire to start their own business? It’s an absence of significant barriers like lack of capital, time, and upskilling. It’s the reason why more women are making the decision to turn direct sales into an opportunity for success that does not compromise on

Whether a woman dreams of building a multimilliondollar business or simply wants to earn enough extra income to send her daughter to dance lessons, direct selling opens the door for her

Shipra Neeraj was raised in a typical middle-class family in a small town in Uttar Pradesh, where her parents were particularly driven toward her education. She is now one of the most successful entrepreneurs who inspires us with her charismatic style and eloquence after experiencing many rejections, a range of conflicting emotions, and her commitment to achieving success.

She serves as a role model for countless female entrepreneurs and her experience reaffirms the idea that anyone can succeed with QNET if they have the necessary willpower and outlook.

work-life balance, familial values, or personal growth. In 2021, a staggering 74.4% of direct selling representatives were women. Whether a woman dreams of building a multimillion-dollar business or simply wants to earn enough extra income to send her daughter to dance lessons, direct selling opens the door for her.

Let’s go behind-the-scenes to understand the other aspects that make Direct Selling popular –and lucrative – for women entrepreneurs.

A distribution model that thrives on independence

A study by SBI and YouGov in early 2022 found that being financially independent ranks among the top three priorities of women in India. Patriarchal concepts, unpaid labour, safety and earning power are everyday concerns of most of these women.

When a women venture into business, they’re already carrying millennia of oppression within them. However, when they walk through the doors of Direct Selling, they can leave that baggage behind; because it’s an avenue where entrepreneurial-minded people build a business of their own with low start-up and overhead costs, fueled by passion, profits and a desire to sell great products and services. Direct Selling is an ecosystem of entrepreneurs who support each other on their growth journey. The women get to work with legitimate direct selling companies that sell everything – from household goods, beauty tools and supplements, to various other consumer products.

Being more socially active, women can also engage with their vast network of friends and neighbours to demonstrate and sell products. By allowing them to leverage their existing

social and entrepreneurial skills, Direct Selling not only gives them the confidence in their ability to sell, but also gradually and carefully helps them break away from the many limiting beliefs that hold them back from experiencing financial freedom.

Low capital investments = greater possibility of building a thriving business

Challenges in funding – like smaller loan amounts for women entrepreneurs and a falsehood that phones, banks, and services are too smart for women – limit how much women can invest in their business and stunts their potential. Direct selling provides women with the products and materials needed to start earning money immediately, with minimal costs. According to the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor, the low entry cost of direct selling empowers women in impoverished regions to lead the world with the highest entrepreneurial activity rates. When compared to retail investments, direct selling costs represent a fraction of the costs of renting store space and purchasing inventory to start the store.

Freedom to decide their schedule and priorities

The struggle to balance personal/familial commitments and running a business is real and only become more serious with the pandemic, especially for women who are also mothers.

Direct Selling sits on the other side of this spectrum. Even though it requires the same commitment and effort as other business models, the industry enables women to determine their own schedules. They can fit her work around

her other commitments. The added convenience of technology and e-commerce provides them with flexibility and independence to build the business at their own pace.

When it comes to resilience too, both, direct selling and women have this one characteristic to rely on. The Direct Selling model adapts quickly and efficiently to changes in market conditions –even the pandemic – while providing consumers with the products they want. During the peak of COVID-19, a new generation of direct sellers was able to harness mobile technology and e-commerce to discover new opportunities in this time-tested distribution model.

As many industries have struggled during the COVID-19 pandemic, direct selling set record sales in 2020 of US$76 billion in Asia alone, according to the 2021 WFDSA report. Countries such as India and Kazakhstan demonstrated some of the highest year-on-year growth in the region. The global direct sales industry was worth more than US$180 billion. And – no surprises here – women are generating an overwhelming portion of this wealth.

Steering their own ship with the right skills and education

Direct selling does not require specialised skills to get started. However, many direct selling companies provide their independent representatives with training, mentoring and education to develop the skills and knowledge needed to run successful businesses and grow personally as well.

Digital India’s alignment with technology is shaping the industry’s new norm. Besides using technology for marketing and distribution, companies are increasingly investing in online training and development tools, which are creating transparent self-sustaining business models in entrepreneurship, with better governance.

Women in Direct Selling – force to reckon with

Today, direct selling companies across the world have built a reputation for shattering glass ceilings and putting the spotlight on nurturing and empowering women leaders

Challenges in funding – like smaller loan amounts for women entrepreneurs and a falsehood that phones, banks, and services are too smart for women – limit how much women can invest in their business and stunts their potential

Besides using technology for marketing and distribution, companies are increasingly investing in online training and development tools, which are creating transparent selfsustaining business models in entrepreneurship, with better governance

across the globe. Multinational giants are actively investing in digital-based direct selling platforms, tapping into their largest demographic, and transforming it into a pipeline of women entrepreneurs in the present and well into the future.

In my opinion, it’s the result of the hard work that generations of women before us have put in. Stay-at-home mothers and enterprising young women have broken gender stereotypes to build the multibillion industry that we know today. Even though I’ve been in the industry for more than 11 years, witnessing women from all walks of life has never ceased to inspire me. They demonstrate passion, tenacity, and drive, and emerge feeling empowered when their entrepreneurial journey brings them success.” By empowering women entrepreneurs, direct selling is also building a stronger global economy for all. And when women are economically empowered, they drive growth, reduce income inequality, and contribute to building a more inclusive, robust economy for everyone.

Empower one, and you free the world

A famous saying goes that ‘Give a man a fish, and you feed him for a day; teach a man to fish, and you feed him for a lifetime.’ Direct Selling and women are connected the same way. The industry teaches women to become independent, earn their own income and manage their own time in a way that allows them to grow into successful entrepreneurs. And when you teach one woman in a household to rise above her current situation, you empower the future of her future generations.

BUSINESS WOMEN

HARSHA SOLANKI

DIRECTOR – INDIA, BANGLADESH, NEPAL & SRI LANKA, INFOBIP

Leading with Compassion and Empathy

Harsha Solanki is the Managing Director at Infobip, the world’s leading tech-based communication solutions provider. She currently spearheads India, Bangladesh, Nepal, and Sri Lanka. Harsha has worked with some of the leading IT brands and brings a wealth of experience in tech & cloud communication space. At various national and international events, Harsha has been recognised and honoured with awards

and accolades for her influential leadership and outstanding contribution to the field of IT and technology.

As a leader, Harsha believes it is vital to stay true to oneself, which has been one of the key mantras behind her success. This has, therefore, resonated in how Harsha tackles challenges with a problem-solving approach instead of viewing them as roadblocks. She is indeed a pioneering leader and an inspiration to many.

MANAGING

Harsha Solanki Managing Director – India, Bangladesh, Nepal & Sri Lanka, Infobip

We forge genuine human connections between companies and their customers, giving us a competitive edge over our peers

A Successful Career Trajectory

Harsha is a Telecommunication & IT alumnus of Symbiosis Institute of Management Studies (Pune) and holds a bachelor’s degree in Computer Science from Fergusson College. She began her career in 2005 as a Sales & Marketing Manager at Starcorp and later held executive positions at Smart Wireless Pvt Ltd and Bsmart Tech Pvt. Ltd (previously owned by Infobip).

In 2017, Harsha joined Infobip as the Managing Director (India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka & Nepal) and helped quadruple the company's turnover (India region) in the first

Working towards its goal of changing how the world communicates, Infobip offers natively built technology with the capacity to reach over seven billion devices worldwide connected to 700+ direct telecom connections, which means reliable, always-on communication, and 40+ data centres, meaning uninterrupted business

four years of her tenure. In her current role, she aims to build Infobip as an engineering giant with the CPaaS infrastructure as its defining feature and an innovation-centric perspective. Under her administration, the Cloud Communication & IT giant Infobip launched three trailblazing SaaS products in 2021 – chatbot building platform ‘Answers,’ customer engagement solution ‘Moments,’ and omnichannel cloud contact centre solution ‘Conversations.’ Currently, she is working on strengthening the company's core leadership by channelling the post-pandemic demands into innovative services and solutions that may help businesses and individuals interact more effectively.

Infobip: The Global Communications Platform for Businesses and Developers Established in 2006, Infobip is a global leader in omnichannel engagement, powering a broad range of messaging channels, tools and solutions for advanced customer engagement,

authentication, and security. Moreover, Infobip’s products, such as Moments, Conversations, Answers, People, and Mobile Identity, are not only easy-to-use but also do not involve higher investment in sophisticated hardware. This makes Infobip the preferred choice among customers.

“We forge genuine human connections between companies and their customers, giving us a competitive edge over our peers,” reveals Harsha. Working towards its goal of changing how the world communicates, Infobip offers natively built technology with the capacity to reach over seven billion devices worldwide connected to 700+ direct telecom connections, which means reliable, always-on communication, and 40+ data centres, meaning uninterrupted business. Likewise, the company’s Partner Connect Program allows partners and their customers

to leverage its global experience, connectivity, communication solutions, and industry expertise to create innovative client solutions that drive business growth.

Owing to its uniqueness, Infobip has been recognised globally and honoured with numerous prestigious awards. To name a few: Infobip has been named as a Representative Vendor in the September 2022 Gartner Market Guide for Communications Platform as a Service, a ‘Leader in the CCaaS Leaderboard’ by Juniper Research 2022, Leader in the CPaaS Universe 2022 Report by Omdia, ‘the leading service provider in CPaaS’ by Juniper Research in its new Competitor Leaderboard CPaaS Vendors, a ‘Leader in the IDC MarketScape’ (CPaaS) 2021 Vendor Assessment, ‘Best A2P SMS provider’ for the fourth year running by mobile operators and enterprises in ROCCO’s annual Messaging Vendor Benchmarking

Report, ‘Best CPaaS Provider of the Year,’ ‘Best RCS Provider of the Year,’ and ‘Mover & Shaker in Telco Innovation’ at the 2021 Juniper Digital Awards.

Onwards & Upwards Growth Over the Years

Infobip has over 70+ offices across six continents, directly connected to 700+ telecom networks and 40+ data centres. The

company’s 3700-people-strong team works dedicatedly towards its mission to change how the world communicates. The company acquired five companies including voice solutions firm Peerless Network Inc., mobile messaging systems provider OpenMarket, Shift Conference, Anam Technologiesthe world’s leading text message firewall provider, and most recently (in July 2022) Netokracija – one of Europe’s leading business

Infobip’s 3700-people-strong team works dedicatedly towards its mission to change how the world communicates

& tech magazines. As a result, Infobip has become the world’s most connected cloud communications platform.

Empowering Clients to Enhance their Customer Journeys & Experiences

According to Harsha, digitalisation has taken the world by storm in the post-pandemic world, with industries reshaping their engagement strategies while focusing on building an online presence. She further states, “As a tech-based and an innovative communication company , we are in the right position to enable our clients to enhance their customer journeys and experiences.”

Over the years, Harsha and her team have assisted renowned brands and organisations such as Uber, Brihanmumbai Corporation (BMC), Delhi Government, LankaBangla, etc., in building exceptional solutions for advanced customer engagement, authentication, and security. The company developed a chatbot solution for Uber in India that enables customers to order rides via WhatsApp, making the entire booking experience seamless. “We also developed a chatbot for BMC in partnership

with WhatsApp for citizens to find information on nearby amenities, schools, civic services, BEST services, tourist destinations, etc.,” shares Harsha. This chatbot allows users to file complaints and submit applications for festival permissions, license renewal, and payments directly. Furthermore, Infobip developed an intuitive chatbot over WhatsApp in partnership with Delhi Government & Meta to boost awareness about EVs & educate the citizens. Infobip’s CPaaS capabilities empowered LankaBangla to channel the power of SMS and Email via a single communication platform with engagement metrics throughout the customer journey.

Nurturing an Innovation & Empathy Rooted Work Culture

Over the last two years, the workforce dynamics have changed worldwide, putting forth the need for re-evaluating organisational culture. Fostering Infobip’s two important pillars of innovation and empathy, Harsha and her team are making concerted efforts to bring about specific changes in the company in terms of culture, functionalities, strategies, capabilities,

Fostering Infobip’s two important pillars of innovation and empathy, Harsha and her team are making concerted efforts to bring about specific changes in the company in terms of culture, functionalities, strategies, capabilities, etc.

etc. They also ensure cross-functional collaboration among the team members for open communication and exchanging of ideas.

“Our focus is on empathising with the team members’ personal and professional lives, which ultimately paves the way for higher morale and greater levels of teamwork,” asserts Harsha. “We also strive to provide a friendly, creative environment, ensuring the workforce has immense opportunities for personal and professional growth.”

Investing in Right Technology while Balancing the ROI

When it comes to investing in the right technology, Infobip is accurately positioned. This is so because Infobip’s team first ensures to understand their customers’ evolving needs. They then create solutions and strategies accordingly. This allows Infobip to invest in the right technologies in demand, generate ROIs, and stay ahead of the game. Moreover,

Infobip’s products come with scalability and ease of deployment features, putting lesser financial constraints on customers to avail of its services.

Motivating & Engaging Employees at the Workplace

As a proficient leader, Harsha feels that boosting employees’ morale and ensuring they are motivated is a major challenge. She further shares, “I believe compassion and empathy play an important role in shaping one’s company culture and also help in keeping the workforce motivated and engaged.” Another factor is giving them time to adjust to the new normal and focus on keeping them positive. In addition, leaders must also practise empathy throughout an employee’s journey with the organization. “At Infobip, we follow the people-first approach as we value our team members, and their well-being is our priority,” shares Harsha with pride.

A Day in the Life of a Dynamic Leader

Harsha’s typical day at work is jam-packed with meetings, calls, and brainstorming sessions. She is actively involved in internal team discussions to seek updates on the nearly completed projects and is eager to resolve any challenges her team members face. She considers connecting with industry peers and staying abreast with industry trends important for introducing innovations, which she personally follows.

Apart from this, Harsha continues to meet two employees from the region almost every day (across levels) for a candid conversation to get to know what’s happening in their lives and if they need any help dealing with personal or professional challenges. “When employees can share and voice their opinions, they feel valued,” shares Harsha. “When we as an organisation empathise with them, their faith is strengthened, and their morale is also boosted.”

When it comes to handling stress, Harsha opines that working in a high-pressure

industry, having patience, and remaining calm come with the territory of being a leader. During such times, self-motivation plays a key role in handling the pressure and meeting strict deadlines. Harsha’s main stress busters are working out, reading, and spending quality time with her loved ones.

Future Plans

“For India’s rapidly growing digital payment market, we are focusing on enhancing customer experience by working on the end-to-end experience,” reveals Harsha. Going ahead, Infobip will be expanding both vertically and horizontally in this space to give tools to the hands of its clients and customers to build delightful experiences. On a global level, Infobip’s plans include expanding into Conversational Commerce which is at the intersection of eCommerce and messaging apps, WhatsApp, and text messaging. Undoubtedly, Infobip will stand by its commitment to helping businesses improve the lives of their customers.

SlimYoo slimyoo.com

LEADER’S INSIGHTS

GAME ON: WOMEN ARE LEVELING THE PLAYING FIELD IN GAMING

Parinitaa Rajgarhiaa, Founder, Zero Latency, Mumbai

From Ranchi, Jharkhand to the City of dreams Mumbai with the mindset and exposure to grow ahead and excel in life, from being an investment banker to becoming a Passionate Apparel Entrepreneur, she is now taking over the Virtual Gaming World. This Shepreneur who explores and enjoys traveling experienced Zero-latency back then in 2019 and was blown away by the experience. Being an Indian who yet was aware of the usual monotonous office dinners and off-sites. It is something revolutionary and VR is the future of gaming, that’s how the idea of getting this to India cropped, and here we are – with the mind-blowing revolutionary experience in Mumbai, and now has also launched in Hyderabad.

The Indian gaming business has benefited greatly from the current pandemic (which is mostly due to online gaming), as it was the only form of entertainment available prior to the OTT platforms. As a result of the epidemic, gaming is now seen as an enjoyable hobby to do with family and friends while staying at home. Furthermore, gaming is now being adopted by a bigger audience in India, and its base is rapidly expanding.

There has been no major shift in the gender equation in the gaming space due to the pandemic. Even though gaming in the past was always stereotyped to be men's dominant hobby, women, and girls were actively becoming a part of the gaming ecosystem. For instance, even at our arena 40-45% of the players have always been women. We have not witnessed any surge or dip in the same period while we opened for a brief period between the 1st and 2nd waves

With the larger global companies already on it, I believe, it is a matter of few years when the Indian gaming companies will also catch up and then the complete evolution of the gaming industry involving women at par will be witnessed

of the pandemic. Hence, I believe it's not the pandemic, per se, which has led to any change in the gender equality of the players’ mix but there is an overall evolution in the mindset of Indians and everyone is now moving away from the stigmatized belief that gaming is only for men. Women are actively enjoying gaming, be it as a casual experience or as a serious gamer!

Women are rapidly catching up to male dominance in the VR gaming arena, with nearly 45 percent of players currently being female! Women today are motivated by the YOLO mentality and are more open to experiencing revolutionary and heart-pounding experiences, so it's only logical that they'd gravitate toward gaming and virtual reality. Based on my own

experience, I feel that the growing number of women in VR gaming can be divided into two groups: those who want to test unique VR experiences that allow them to escape reality and enter a whole different universe, and those who are hardcore gamers!

The gaming industry may not have been constructed to meet the unexpectedly increased demand from female gamers, but as the saying goes, ‘Visibility brings Change,' and this burgeoning development of women in the gaming industry is causing the entire gaming ecosystem to adapt and fulfill their wants.

As we all know, there are two types of female gamers: hard-core gamers who appreciate the competitiveness and adrenaline of gaming, and casual gamers who prefer gaming as an experience. There are ongoing developments and modifications to catch both of them in order to grow the gaming community as a whole.

Industry Growth

Women entering the gaming space are acting as disruptors and pushing for the creation of content that meets their tastes and liking. Driving for better innovation and making gaming an experiential activity, has helped in growing past the gaming content of shooting and racing games only (games largely associated to provide a thrill to men) and led to the creation of games of different genres such as role-playing games, adventure games, puzzle games and so on.

Another big adaptation within new content has been the inclusion of female characters in the games and the overcoming of sexism. Developers are now coming up with more games that have female protagonists compared to only male protagonists previously. In 2020

alone, the new games with more female leads were ~18% higher compared to an average of 5% over the past years!!!

Further, more and more women workforce are joining the industry and taking entrepreneurial roles in the gaming industry. Global industry efforts like, UK based , #RaisetheGame campaign, Ubisoft announcing appointment of more women leaders to accelerate cultural shift within the organization, are all in the direction of inclusion and acceptance of women in the gaming industry. With the larger global companies already on it, I believe, it is a matter of few years when the Indian gaming companies will also catch up and then the complete evolution of the gaming industry involving women at par will be witnessed.

Hence, with the entrance of women in the gaming industry which was not really designed for them, companies are coming to terms with the fact that for thriving in this space the bridge of gender inequality which existed here needs to be overcome (and real soon) as tapping them will definitely add to their next level growth!

Women are rapidly catching up to male dominance in the VR gaming arena, with nearly 45 percent of players currently being female!

PUNEET KAUR KOHLI

Leading with Passion, Purpose, & Precision

Puneet Kaur Kohli is an awardwinning IT leader, author, speaker, and innovator. She brings on board her 25 years of global experience in developing and implementing strategic plans and end-user services by addressing company needs and promoting growth. Puneet is also a leading security evangelist with versatile experience in Information Security, Data Privacy, and Risk Management. She is a regular speaker & panellist in professional public forums and different domains.

Puneet is recognised and admired in the corporate world for her fearless attitude, professional acumen, and influential leadership style. Her journey to success is, therefore, a shining inspiration to many.

A Brief Glimpse into the Educational Background

Puneet was a remarkably bright student. Her schooling in a Naval Public School instilled deep-rooted values such as discipline, integrity, compassion, social sensitivity, and duty. She also had a passion for learning new

With a career spanning over two decades, Puneet has worked in diverse industries such as telecom, power, manufacturing & financial services and held numerous leadership positions in esteemed organisations

Puneet Kaur Kohli

things, whether knitting, driving, or flying a plane. Challenges never scared her; instead, she looked them in the eye and defeated them. She takes this fearless attitude from her father, who was her biggest supporter and confidant. He dreamt of becoming a pilot or taking up a technical field but couldn’t bring them to reality. Therefore, when it came to choosing a career for herself, Puneet did justice to her father’s ambitions and decided to pursue a career in IT and computers over commercial flying, as women pilots were not accepted with open arms in those days by the airline industry.

After high school, Puneet pursued engineering from Delhi College of Engineering and an MBA in Information Systems from FMS Delhi. She later completed her research doctorate in Excellence in Management from Young Scientists University, USA.

Perfecting the Art of Work-Life Balance

Before turning twenty-one, Puneet was married to a supportive family who acknowledged her passion for her career. Her husband, just like her father, was highly supportive of her studies and profession. Camaraderie is what they brought into their harmonious relationship. While one

Puneet has been bestowed throughout her professional journey with numerous coveted awards and accolades

was away for travel or immersed in other work commitments, the other held the fort.

Even though Puneet’s responsibilities multiplied by several folds after embracing motherhood, she managed them all with confidence and finesse. Her sons were sent to boarding school after they turned eleven to

grow up in a holistic learning environment. Being a 21st-century mom, Puneet was very clear about her decision. Today, both her sons have inculcated her values and ethics towards life and work.

Bringing Varied Industry Experience to the Table

With a career spanning over two decades, Puneet has worked in diverse industries such as telecom, power, manufacturing & financial services and held numerous leadership positions in esteemed organisations. But before taking on a new role, she has always understood the organisation's business processes and then found ways to merge those business processes with IT to help them function more flexibly. In addition, she ensured to resonate with the company’s CXOs, CIOs, and stakeholders to deliver the expected results. During those times, technology was her biggest weapon.

Prestigious Awards & Recognitions

Puneet has been bestowed throughout her professional journey with numerous coveted awards and accolades. She received the “Jewels of Punjab” award from Dr. Manmohan Singh (Former Prime Minister of India). She was crowned as one of the top five women entrepreneurs in India (June 2021), awarded the title of Global CIO of the Year amongst 1,00,000 women in Tech in 102 countries and honoured with the Business Transformation Leaders Award from Tech Circle, 2020. Puneet was also a recipient of the Best CIO (Insurance) award at the BFSI Innovation Technology Summit, 2020 and the winner of ‘NBFC Tech 100’ award for Disruptive

Technologies in 2019 and 2020. Likewise, she was recognised by Forbes Magazine under the ‘Fortune 50’ category in the AsiaPacific region for her efforts to literate 1 lakh women and children through CSR initiatives. She was also featured on the cover of Digital First Magazine.

In addition, Puneet was honoured with the Global Excellence Award by the House of Commons, UK. She was also a recipient of the ‘Top 100 CISO’ award for five years in a row, ‘Infosec Maestros’ award, ‘Hall of Fame CIO Award’ for 2017 (for bagging CIO 100 for four years in a row), ‘Business World Award’ for ’IT Acceleration for Innovation in Storage’, and ‘CIO of the Year’ 2006 in Manufacturing Segment.

Most recently, Puneet bagged the 2nd runner-up title at ‘Mrs Universe 2022’ held in Seoul, South Korea, on 05 July 2022. Adding another feather to her cap, she is now ready to grace Vogue Magazine’s October issue cover.

Discipline is the Key Ingredient of Success

For Puneet, a disciple is a crucial ingredient to her success. She has and continues to lead a very disciplined life on a personal and professional front. She strives to deliver results before deadlines, goes above and beyond to fulfil the company’s expectations, and leads by example. Puneet also strongly believes that discipline helps individuals to stay focused on reaching goals, gives them the gumption to stick with complex tasks, and allows them to overcome obstacles and discomfort. Therefore, if one practises discipline in his/her personal life, they can lead an equally disciplined professional life.

Most recently, Puneet bagged the 2nd runnerup title at ‘Mrs Universe 2022’ held in Seoul, South Korea, on 05 July 2022

Pearls of Wisdom

Puneet is a firm believer in the ‘being the change’ philosophy. She suggests that aspiring leaders and young professionals must start by themselves if they wish to bring a change. Today, the young women of India need to be the change agents as the corporate world is not a kind place, especially for women in leadership positions. “We must be a catalyst for change to happen only when it is the absolute need of the hour,” adds Puneet. She further says that one must stay immune to herd mentality. It is important to note that companies that have women in top executive positions have prospered even during tough times. In addition, Puneet advises aspiring leaders to be coachable, be good listeners, do a good deed, and forget it.

The Future of Ayurveda and its Importance in Wellness and Beauty Space

Krishna Tamalia Vohra, Founder, Mom’s Therapy

A professional lawyer with an experience of over 10 years turned into wellness and Ayurvedic expert and entrepreneur at the age of 35. Mrs. Krishna Tamalia Vora, is a passionate enthusiast of Ayurveda and everything clean and herbal. She started "Mom’s Therapy" with an aim to spread awareness and give back to the society in the most authentic and meaningful way.

According to me, I strongly believe that Ayurveda and Wellness or beauty goes together, you cannot segregate them. Ayurveda means Inner beauty and without having a pure body or body chakra you can't get wellness or Beauty. Ayurveda is the ancient system of medicine which heals our physical, mental and spiritual health. According to Ayurveda beauty has the main role. Ayurveda concentrates on both internal and external beauty. Ayurvedic beauty concepts have a bright future and if you see in today's market also there are a lot of products or more than 80% of the products claimed to be based on Ayurveda, which itself shows that you cannot segregate importance Ayurveda from wellness and beauty space.

In today's day people are not only looking for outer beauty but they are also looking for inner beauty which can give you beautiful healthy and glowing skin along with a strong and powerful body and that's what is important in today's modern world. If today I have to talk about Ayurveda and its importance, let me take you through the journey of Ayurveda.

Ayurveda was introduced or revealed to India or Indians thousands of years ago by our "Rishis". According to me the meaning of Ayurveda is to promote a healthy lifestyle, natural beauty and positive long life. After centuries also, if today we are talking about Ayurveda itself shows how important it is in our day today life. According to me the future of Ayurveda is highly bright, and people are understanding more about Ayurveda and Ayurvedic stuff. Today people do want to know what they are eating or what they are applying on their Skin, and yes thanks to the technology now you get good knowledge about the ingredients which have been used in any & all kinds of products.

As an Indian we all are using Ayurveda in our day-to-day routine which is also a part of wellness. for i.g. the spices we use like Turmeric you can eat also and apply also, and this is the beauty of Ayurveda. We all use Ayurveda in our day-to-day routine knowingly or unknowingly, for example in our eating habits having Turmeric in our spice or eating Jaggery post lunch or dinner these are for wellness example and same way applying Besan Pack on skin or applying

Hair Oil is also a routine which we follow is a part of Ayurveda. And now Ayurveda is no more of Indian thing or only Indian's are following but seeing the positivity of following Ayurveda in Routine, Wellness and Beauty the whole world has included Ayurvedic lifestyle, Yoga and Ayurvedic beauty regimen in day-to-day life it shows the strong power and believer and follower of Ayurveda in wellness and beauty."

Today people do want to know what they are eating or what they are applying on their Skin, and yes thanks to the technology now you get good knowledge about the ingredients which have been used in any & all kinds of products

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EXPERT OPINION

Meenakshi Kalsi, Managing Partner, Metro & Metro Shoes

With the succession and years of hard work, Kalsi became one of the first women entrepreneurs to hold a position in the upper echelons of the company. Once married into the Kalsi household, Meenakshi joined the family business and took her time to not only comprehend the various functions of the business but also gradually yet confidently improvise by adding value to the product and helping in the growth of the company. Seven years later, Meenakshi finally took the Managing Partner position.

With the constant change in the technologies and increased number of competitors in the market. There is a need for enhancements to stay in the market. Online deals are supposed to drive future development in the extravagance products market. But one thing is sure no matter what the circumstances are around the constant evolving cycle of buying and selling in the market or either purchase and the sales of the products online has a very shining and promising future as the demands of the people can never really come to an end.

As a fact, every seller tries to come up with a new marketing strategy to compete with other companies and to satisfy the customer's needs with the best quality and services. Nowadays the word e-commerce as the name suggests has taken over the market with its incredible and unusual benefits that bring together the top premium brands and sellers under one roof and make it easier for the buyers to choose from a variety of options available online. Various luxury E-commerce giants like Amazon, nykaa , flipkart have also started roping in premium brands to grab the attention of more and more people through their online businesses.

As In the past, we all have suffered due to the pandemic (covid-19) that got the world over its knees. People were stuck in their homes, and were not able to go out of their homes to meet their basic needs. In this scenario, Premium brands were no exception, they were also going through a huge loss as nobody was turning up to their stores and there was a massive amount of decrease in the sales but, this does mean that the brands have stopped experimenting, on the contrary, to compensate for these misfortunes, E-commerce has been the greatest support for many entrepreneurs as well as for the people as needs of the customers were fulfilled just by accessing the e-commerce sites and buying the products on those sites. In this way, none of us was deprived of anything. E-commerce helped

businesses to get through the hard times also. That is why the Luxury E-commerce giants are also successfully roping in premium brands as without any second thought E-commerce has always been in the favour of both the buyers and the sellers.

The scope of buying, selling, marketing, delivery and the payment of the products online has always been a safe and quick approach. Nowadays, even individuals prefer to buy their choice of products online without wasting much of their time or money. Online shopping is more convenient and hassle-free as you can easily choose and buy your favourite products with a wide range of options available online. The exchange and refund process of the product is also very smooth and does not create any kind of problems for the buyers or the sellers at all. Almost every product is available online for the customers and now premium brands have also vowed to embrace eCommerce and advanced development.

In the past, premium brands were not a part of the E-commerce chain but now things have taken a turn and there has been a shift towards their way of selling the products. Premium brands are also taking interest in making their products accessible online with some good selling options to a wide extent. Whether it is joining hands with multi-brands online sites or launching their very own sites digitally, they are very much keen to

promote their brands, as this further helps their brands to reach a large number of people, their products get widely recognised and it eventually helps to boost the sale of their products.

So far, these digital networks of e-commerce sites have successfully provided support and extraordinary benefits to premium brands and provided an amazing web-based shopping experience to its customers for worldwide reach. Ecommerce has helped to transform the luxury industry and had a larger impact on the marketplace. For luxury retailers, it is an immense opportunity to start over with a fresh and innovative approach and to take over the marketplace once again. Even now the Premium brands have already started to gain benefits from e-commerce post quarantine as people are more reliable on digital platforms and feel more confident while shopping from the sites.

Every other individual would be comfortable shopping online rather than going to the stores. Indeed, the pandemic has changed the overall way of living and transformed the shopping experience for every individual and will continue to show exceptional growth in the marketplace. Premium brands are taking a lot of advantages from these swift changes and their sales are on boom as now their brands are easily accessible in stores and on luxury e-commerce giants.

The scope of buying, selling, marketing, delivery and the payment of the products online has always been a safe and quick approach

OPINION

Meghna Saraogi, CEO and Co-Founder, mirrAR

Meghna Saraogi, the CEO and co-founder of mirrAR, has built the world’s first-of-its-kind augmented reality (AR) tech platform that lets shoppers virtually try-on jewelry without actually wearing it and get fashion advice before making a purchase. Meghna was a visionary who could see how the world was transitioning to a digital domain and how social media was changing people's lives. She foresaw how Augmented Reality (AR) might fundamentally revolutionize the user experience in the eCommerce industry, and founded Styledotme in 2014, following with mirrAR in 2017.

Retail is the offer of labor and products to consumers. A retailer buys merchandise in huge amounts from makers, straightforwardly or through a distributor, and afterward offers in more modest amounts to customers for a benefit. Retailers are the last connection in the production network from makers to customers.

The boost in AR after technological improvement, has been enhanced to every industry, including healthcare, gaming, and retail, and the market for AR has become so enormous that forecasts indicate it will be worth $61.4 billion by 2023. When we focus on AR in retail, Wikitude estimates that 32% of customers regularly utilize the technology and that 73% of smartphone AR users are very satisfied with their experiences. These retail data for augmented reality show how the market has embraced the technology and is expanding rapidly.

This can clearly be defined as the future of retail business from age-old techniques, now after the pandemic when businesses opted for AR, many even went omnichannel. This basically helped them to save inventory space and provided consumers a wide variety of options to choose from.

AR with great ease solves age-old problems of inventory and customer management in the jewelry, beauty, fashion and decor industry via digitized versions of SKUs that could be carried and tried on anywhere and everywhere across the globe. The technology today aims at curating online and offline (in-store) virtual experiences to set brands apart from their competitors and increase their conversion rates. The integration has helped brands increase their sales by up to 30%, elevate customer engagement by up to 160% and reduce return rates by up to 37%, over & above creating an impeccable world-class experience for their customers!

It has also proven effective in distinguishing companies from their rivals and boosting conversion rates by designing immersive in-store experiences. Several wellknown brands like Tanishq, Kalyan Jewellers, Hazoorilal

Legacy, Bhima Jewellers and Forevermark have adopted the AR technology by integrating the solution into their websites, branded apps, social media profiles, and offline retail stores.

The Indian fashion industry is using expanded reality to associate with the new advancement in the market. With maybe a couple of exemptions, the innovation that is presently accessible hasn't yet been used to its maximum capacity. The achievement pace of computer generated reality as a medium is at this point unclear, however, as it is virgin ground. The computerized system arrive voluntarily without a doubt increment, however for design tech, the emphasis is on the matter of style, not the scope. AR necessities to turn into a real business to get acknowledgement. All what's more, the present moment, its local impact is seen capably in India's significant urban communities.

Fashion is a recurrent and groundbreaking industry, very much like innovation. From the improvement of the sewing machine to the development of web-based business, the design business has forever been at the cutting edge of advancement. The design business is one of the greatest on the planet and is supposed to be valued at more than $3T before the decade's over. Right now, style tech is growing more rapidly than any other time. Various forward leaps show how innovation is robotizing, customizing, and speeding up the design business. These developments incorporate robots that sew and cut texture, AI calculations that gauge style, and apparel that can be worn in augmented experience. Meanwhile, the business is looking into processes all through the value chain to reevaluate itself as it faces a very much past due conflict with its ecological and social outcomes.

With insignificant inclusion, Augmented reality (AR) means to overlay computerized

highlights over genuine viewpoints. Markerbased and markerless expanded truth are the two subtypes. Your capacity to show your pictures and data will rely upon which of these AR sorts you select. Independent of the kind, all clients of expanded reality get a vivid encounter. The most famous ways of encountering augmented reality (AR) as of now incorporate glasses or a camera focal point, however as interest in the innovation develops, new equipment and focal point choices are being made accessible. AR is commonly composed of five significant parts; Artificial insight, AR programming, Processing, Lenses, and Sensors.

It's amazing the way that the intelligent learning model tracks buyer's appearances and hands to find and place things unequivocally where they should be. As more & more data is dealt with into the AI model, it turns out to be more sharp and more fluid.

With insignificant inclusion, Augmented reality (AR) means to overlay computerized highlights over genuine viewpoints