From Margin to Mainstream: Women lead at IDEATE 2025

THEBUSINESSBYTES BUREAU

NEW DELHI, SEPTEMBER 24, 2025

The Bansidhar & Ila Panda Foundation (BIPF), in collaboration with the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI), successfully concluded the 14th edition of its annual flagship conference, IDEATE 2025, at the FICCI Commission Hall in New Delhi. With the theme “Margin to Mainstream: Empowering Women to Lead”, the conclave brought together policymakers, industry leaders, and changemakers to address the structural barriers to women’s leadership while charting strategies to create an ecosystem that empowers women to lead with confidence and impact at every level.

Delivering a special address, Shobhana Bhartia, Chairperson and Editorial Director of HT Media Limited, underscored the urgency of gender inclusion in leadership. “Empowering women is not charity; it is a necessity. Half of India’s population is women, yet they remain underrepresented in decision-making. We celebrate achievers but deny millions the opportunity to realize their potential. A gender-inclusive approach is essential, for women bring empathy, collaboration, and fairness to leadership. Bridging India’s gender gap could add nearly a trillion dollars to our GDP. Empowerment is both an economic imperative and a moral one, and India simply cannot afford not to empower its women,” she said.

In her welcoming address, Shaifalika Panda, Founder and CEO of BIPF, emphasized the transformative role of women’s leadership in building a resilient and equitable India. “As our nation strides toward the vision of Viksit Bharat@2047, harnessing *Nari Shakti* is crucial. As we follow the path of women-led development, we must view women as architects of change and invest in their agency as much as in their access,” she said.

The panel discussion, “Margin to Mainstream: Strategies for Empowerment”, featured a thought-provoking exchange on addressing systemic gaps in education, training, and mentorship.

Sara Abdullah Pilot, Founder and Chairperson of CEQUIN, highlighted India’s progressive history on women’s rights and the urgent need for deeper reforms. “India has been progressive on women’s rights since the Constitution gave women the right to vote while many nations were still struggling. From domestic violence laws to panchayati raj, important reforms have been made, but the statistics show much more needs to be done. We must adopt a life-cycle approach, supporting women from birth to adulthood, beyond just maternity. Platforms like the Ideate Conclave are vital to share experiences, discuss challenges, and work together on solutions,” she said. Joining her on the panel were Vijay Mahajan, Founder of BASIX Social Enterprise Group, and Aradhana Rai Gupta, Co-Founder of Project Baala. The session was moderated by Roshika Singh, Principal Country Officer, IFC India.

Another highlight of the conclave was the fireside chat titled “Invisibility and Influence”, featuring Naina Lal Kidwai, Chairperson of Rothschild & Co India and Past President of FICCI, in conversation with Muskan Kushwaha, KARM Fellow. Kidwai stressed the importance of building ecosystems that enable women’s socio-economic independence. “The role of women leaders in building a Viksit Bharat@2047 is to recognize that each of us has a responsibility to shape the ecosystem. To truly create change, we must become mid-managers to other women helping them find opportunities, education, and chances to shine. Even the smallest actions can make a powerful difference. Progress will come when both women and men commit to bringing equity and take charge of transforming lives together,” she said. The session was moderated by Shaifalika Panda.

IDEATE 2025 concluded with a strong call to action for cross-sector collaboration, underlining that inclusive leadership is not just a social aspiration but an economic necessity. By engaging with pressing issues and spotlighting solutions, the conclave reaffirmed its role as a vital platform for enabling women’s leadership transformation from the margins to the mainstream, thereby advancing India’s journey toward a gender-equitable future.