“A woman is the full circle. Within her is the power to create, nurture and transform’.” – Diane Mariechild.
‘I am Woman’ Awards initiative is a movement that believes and celebrates the fact that women are reservoirs of strength, and awards the inspiration of women. On this platform every year, powerful women speak about their personal and professional life and inspire many others.
The brainchild of Harvard Alumni Karan Gupta, the founder of Karan Gupta Education Foundation and the Managing Director of IE Business School, I Am Woman derives its name from the lyrics of a 70s song, ‘I am a woman… hear me roar, in numbers too big to ignore.’ If I have to, I can do anything, I am strong, I am invincible, I am a woman.
The recipients of the ‘I Am Woman Award 2017’ include Amruta Fadnavis – Social Activist & Banker, Farah Khan Ali – Jewellery Designer, Krishika Lulla – Producer & Filmmaker, Gauri Sawant – Transgender Activist, Laxmi Agarwal – Campaigner – Stop Acid Attacks, Malini Agarwal – Founder & Creative Director of Miss Malini and Shaheen Mistri – Social Activist & Educator, each being a woman who has carved a niche for herself. Besides host Karan Gupta – a Harvard University Alumni, guests at the award ceremony included Madhoo Shah, Mansi Joshi Roy, Rohit Roy, educationists Nitish Shah and Dr. Kamal Gupta, Zarine Khan, Malaika Khan, Reshma Merchant, Kiran Bawa, Maheka Mirpuri, Bina Aziz among many others.
Says Karan Gupta, “I have been working in the field of education for the last 17 years. Initially, when I started my journey I found that there is still a gap which we need to fill when it comes to women in our society. Nothing can be more inspiring than listening to the success stories of our power women. With I Am Woman, we aim to sow the seeds of courage, resilience and empowerment to thousands of women. KGEF and IE Business School are committed to the success of women and IE welcomes women to study in the various programs that the school offers.
A brief on this year’s I Am Woman award winners
Amruta Fadnavis – Social Activist & Banker
Our First Lady of Maharastra is working for women empowerment and development of rural India by adopting villages ‘Fetri’ and ‘Kawdas’ to improve sanitation and infrastructure. She supports BMC in the wellness of the ‘Sweeper Community’ as well as ‘Film City’ in the welfare of film workers.
Farah Khan Ali – Jewellery Designer
She is a renowned gemologist and jewellery designer for top Bollywood celebrities and India’s foremost business families. Farah is promoting and supporting the ‘Antarctic Treaty’ to preserve our planet recycling renewable energy and sustainable living.
Shaheen Mistri – Social Activist & Educator
As a young student she started Akanksha Foundation, an NGO to impact the lives of underprivileged children. Over two decades they have 3500 children in 58 centres and 6 schools. In 2008, Shaheen took on leadership at Teach For India to enlist teachers in low-income schools.
Krishika Lulla – Producer & Filmmaker
One of India’s youngest and most successful movie producers who has created several successful and women-centric films like NH10 and Tanu Weds Manu. She has made regional cinema with movies like Phuntroo and Jara Hatke.
Malini Agarwal – Founder & Creative Director of Miss Malini Entertainment
India’s first famous celebrity blogger and social personality. She creates highly engaging multi-platform content towards India’s Internet Generation. Malini reaches over 4 Million visitors from 200 countries of which over 80% are women.’
Gauri Sawant – Transgender Activist
Motherhood goes beyond biological ties and she has proved that by adopting a child of a sex worker. Gauri heads an NGO, Sakhi Char Trust that helps victims of HIV and AIDS. Gauri has dedicated her life to providing safety and freedom to transgender, hijras, and LGBT people.
Laxmi Agarwal – Campaigner – Stop Acid Attacks
She was attacked in 2005 at age 15, by a man whose advances she had rejected. Laxmi advocated to the Indian Supreme Court to curb acid sales. She is the director of Chhanv Foundation, an NGO dedicated to help the survivors of acid attacks.
Source – Karan Gupta’s LinkedIn Page
