As part of this series, LWL hosted an exclusive evening in Mumbai in partnership with HSBC, complemented by a jewellery showcase by House of Yarane, at Fielia—Mumbai’s first cocktail cinema bar designed by Gauri Khan. The gathering brought together prominent leaders including Deepthi Sirvuri, Head – Credit Cards and Retail Lending at HSBC; Almona Bhatia, Chief Strategy Officer at Tata CLiQ Luxury; Gauri Devidayal, Co-Founder of Food Matters; Darshana Shah, Chief Marketing Officer at Aditya Birla Capital; Naiyya Saggi, Founder of BabyChakra (ext) and Co-Founder of The Good Glamm Group; and Neha Motwani, Founder and CEO of Luma Fertility.
The Mumbai chapter also featured closed-door sessions, including a mentor session with Pallavi Mohadikar and Dr. Amol Patwari, Co-founders of Palmonas, a Lessons in Excellence session with Ronnie Screwvala, and an earlier mentor session with Aparna Saxena, Founder & CEO of Antinorm, focused on building and scaling consumer brands.
Aabha Bakaya, Founder at Ladies Who Lead, said, “Our approach is centred on curating thoughtful, high-value interactions for women leaders. The Mumbai and Bengaluru gatherings brought together a diverse mix of voices, enabling conversations that are both relevant and impactful for today’s evolving leadership landscape.”
As part of its Bengaluru series, LWL hosted curated engagements including an International Women’s Day Conversation Over Cocktails with Bhakti Modi, Co-founder and CEO of Tira, and Kulsum Shadab Wahab, Founder of Ara Lumiere and Ara Prêt. This was followed by a From Farm to Table soirée at Farmlore, known for its globally recognised, Michelin-level approach to sustainable dining, offering a thoughtful setting for reflection and meaningful dialogue.
Rooted in the Give to Gain theme of International Women’s Day 2026, the Bengaluru gathering brought together esteemed guests such as Savitha Nanjappa, Founder of Success With Savitha; Varna Bhat, Founder & CEO of Blisswater Industries Pvt Ltd; Rashmi Attavar, Joint Managing Director at Indo American Hybrid Seeds (India) Pvt Ltd; Sreepriya N S, Co-founder & Director at Entrust Family Office; Nishita Thakurdas, Founder & Designer at Nishita Design; and Rashmi Somashekar, Partner at BSR & Co (KPMG).
Through these gatherings, Ladies Who Lead continues to create accessible spaces where women professionals can engage in organic conversations, share experiences without rigid formalities, and build meaningful connections that extend beyond the events. Over time, these interactions are shaping a more connected and supportive community of women across industries, reflecting a simple yet impactful approach that continues to resonate with its members.
Founded in 2021 by veteran business journalist Aabha Bakaya and business leader Aditya Ghosh, Ladies Who Lead is a premium, members-only leadership and networking platform committed to empowering women professionals across India. With a diverse community of over 1,500 women leaders across more than 50 industries, LWL delivers curated events, high-intent networking, mentorship, and a robust digital platform to enable women to connect, collaborate, and grow. The platform’s vision is to see more women in leadership roles while fostering an ecosystem where women can lead boldly, drive impact, and inspire change.
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