In a village in Uttar Pradesh, five women are showing how access to skills, financial independence, and the right support can turn a small rural initiative into a growing business. In many rural communities, women contribute to their families through household work, farming, and childcare. Yet opportunities to earn an independent income and take part…
What if the snacks we grew up eating could be made healthier without losing their taste? That question became the foundation of Open Secret, founded by Ahana Gautam, an entrepreneur who turned her personal experiences into a fast-growing food brand. Raised by her mother in Bharatpur, Rajasthan, Ahana worked hard to build her career. She…
A good harvest should bring profits, not losses. But for many onion farmers, the real challenge begins after the crops leave the fields. Growing up in Lasalgaon, Maharashtra, a major onion trading hub, Kalyani Shinde saw how much farmers could lose when onions spoiled during storage. She decided to look beyond the problem and find…
What if a corporate career could lead to a completely different kind of success? In 2014, Pratibha Krishnaiah, a computer science graduate working in Bengaluru, left her corporate career and joined the SBI Youth for India Fellowship. Her journey took her to Khetikhan, a remote village in Uttarakhand. There, she noticed something special. Women in…
Sometimes, a change in plans can lead to an entirely new path. For Sona Misra, that path began far away from the farms she runs today. Coming from Kanpur, Sona built her academic career around science. She studied Biology, completed her Master’s in Biotechnology, and worked as a researcher in laboratories across Delhi-NCR. In 2012,…
What started with a passion for design turned into a new age jewellery business backed by a legacy gold company. Namita Kothari, a Mumbai based entrepreneur, began her career as a preschool educator before moving to London to study etiquette and grooming. She later explored entrepreneurship through her own book and toy library. Her interest…
Sometimes, a business opportunity is waiting in a place we already call home. For Tarana Chauhan, that opportunity was hidden inside her family’s old house in Rohru, Himachal Pradesh. At 33, Tarana stepped away from a corporate career that paid around ₹24 lakh a year. Before making that decision, however, she spent time understanding whether…
In Haldwani, Uttarakhand, a traditional craft is becoming a source of income and opportunity for local women. Kritika Pokhariya, president of the Sahyogini Self Help Group, is working with women to turn crochet skills into marketable handmade products. From crochet flowers and soft toys to bags, cardigans and mufflers, the group is building a diverse…
