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The SheThePeople Digital Women Awards, for the last eleven years, has honoured women who create their own path in the digital world. Since 2015, the stage has welcomed founders, creators, and policy voices who are shaping how India works online.
This year’s edition will be held on November 29 at The Westin Mindspace in Hyderabad, with the theme Lead The Leap, which captures the moment well.
Women today are no longer waiting for permission. They are opening their own doors, taking charge of their work, and choosing the future they want to build.
Join the movement! Register to attend the Digital Women Summit 2025.
Technology has helped make this shift real. Women no longer depend on old networks or family wealth to begin. A simple smartphone can be enough to try out an idea and slowly build it.
Selling, marketing, and learning have all moved online, and this gives women access to customers and skills that reach far beyond their immediate surroundings.
New jobs appear, and young women see new possibilities. What once felt out of reach now feels achievable, and that change is reshaping the future of work across India.
This change carries real impact. When women outside metros build businesses, families earn more and communities become stronger.
Here are five Indian women entrepreneurs from outside Tier-1 cities who exemplify this shift.
Sonali Mehndi Artist
Sonali grew up in Shahupuri in Kolhapur, Maharashtra, and learned mehndi when she was ten. She paid her fees on her own, working whenever she found a client.
Life was busy, but something shifted when she began posting videos on social media. Her reels felt warm, honest, and close to the viewer, and people responded to that sincerity.
Sonali once shared that she grew up in a basti, wanting to speak English, and feeling nervous about being seen. Today, she speaks the language with ease, runs a growing mehendi and makeup business, and handles social media like a pro.
Ruma Devi
Ruma Devi’s journey began in Barmer, Rajasthan, where embroidery was part of daily life but had little value in the market. She dropped out of school in Class 8, but continued to practise the craft.
The turning point came when she brought together a small circle of local women who stitched in their courtyards. That group slowly grew into a community of thousands across Rajasthan.
Ruma taught women to see their skill as labour that deserved pay, not something done quietly and for free. She overcame barriers and founded an eponymous social enterprise and a non-profit organisation.
Today, her collective produces clothing and home goods that carry both traditional and modern design. Ruma has taken rural women’s work to national and global platforms.
Yashoda Lodhi
Yashoda Lodhi grew up in Sirathu Nagar panchayat, Uttar Pradesh, where English felt out of reach. There were no classes, tutors, or libraries.
She learned the language through YouTube while doing chores, repeating lessons until they felt natural. She knew others like her wanted to learn but felt embarrassed.
So she created a channel called English with Dehati Madam. The name was deliberate. She wanted rural learners to feel seen, not judged.
People connected with her because she was learning alongside them. Her channel now helps students, homemakers, and job seekers who have never had access to formal English education.
Kaushalya Chaudhary
Kaushalya Chaudhary from Kuri, Rajasthan, is the founder of Sidhi Marwadi, a brand that sells preservative-free products like spices, cold-pressed oils, and traditional fabrics.
She started her journey as a food content creator and went on to join the reality show, MasterChef India, where her authenticity inspired many.
Her family wasn’t convinced at first, but things changed as her videos gained traction. Today, she runs a growing food channel and F&B business, bringing Marwari cuisine to a national audience.
Ghamu Saran
Ghamu Saran from Rajasthan is a teacher and one of India’s most-watched daily-life YouTubers with over 8.7 million subscribers.
She cooks, makes handmade clothes and accessories, looks after her children, and captures small moments around her house. She connects with people because she presents life as it is, and her world seems close to their reality.
Ghamu's rise to fame has not been easy, with alleged family disputes and online scrutiny. However, her resilience and consistency have helped her build a loyal audience who admire her authenticity and creativity.
Why These Stories Matter
These journeys show how digital spaces, when accessible, become equalising spaces. These women prove that ambition doesn’t need perfect conditions. It needs a chance, a skill, and perseverance that refuses to shrink.
At the Digital Women Awards, we are committed to celebrating such stories. The journeys built with honesty, hard work, and the power of digital.
From Mumbai to Morena and Bengaluru to Barmer, DWA recognises every woman who dares to create, grow, and lead in the digital age. Join the movement! Register to attend the Digital Women Summit 2025.