Leading The Leap: A Front Row Seat To The 11th SheThePeople Digital Women Awards

There is something energising about being in a room full of women beaming with ideas that shape how India builds, leads, and connects in the digital world. At SheThePeople's Digital Women Awards & Summit 2025 on November 29 in Hyderabad, that energy was evident as a dynamic mix of founders, innovators, creators, and allies gathered under one roof, ready to 'Lead The Leap.'

In its 11th edition this year, the Summit - presented by IDFC FIRST Bank in partnership with the Government of Telangana, and supported by the Government of India's AI Impact Mission - became a testament to how women are no longer just participating in India’s digital economy, they’re defining its future.

Shaili Chopra, Founder of SheThePeople& Gytree, and Titan on Zee TV's Ideabaaz, said, "We've got all the people that women entrepreneurs need as enablers here at the Digital Women Awards. It reflects how women are scaling companies and ringing the bell on the stock exchange. It's a huge moment for the Indian economy!"

What Went Down At The Digital Women Summit 2025?

The agenda was packed with powerful conversations on women-led innovation, artificial intelligence, technology, finance, health, and social impact. Speakers from various industries commanded the room with their candid stories, insightful strategies, and a fresh lens on what it takes to build and scale in digital India.

Kamala K, Chief Regulatory Officer of the Bombay Stock Exchange, discussed the indispensable role of women in India's growth story. "Today, many companies in our country have women CEOs, who have grown along with the company. We have made impressive progress in corporate India," she expressed.

However, Kamala noted that India has a long way to go, with small and medium enterprises still falling behind in female leadership. "But seeing the gathering here, I am convinced that the pipeline will grow," she shared, emphasising the importance of systemic support in scaling women-led initiatives.

This was exactly the aim of SheThePeople's Digital Women Awards and Summit: to not just cheer on women's achievements, but make the hidden challenges and efforts behind these wins feel seen. The event's goal was to build collaborations and pathways that turn ideas into scalable enterprises.

Championing Founders Through Stories And Support

The team of India's biggest startup show, Ideabaaz, was also at the event, bringing their unique lens on storytelling and visibility for women and small-town entrepreneurs. Pratik Gandhi, Actor and Ambassador, Ideabaaz, and Mudit Kumar, Co-Founder, Ideabaaz, engaged in a lively conversation with Shaili Chopra.

While women are often dismissed as "too emotional" to be leaders, Pratik emphasised that this emotional intelligence is actually a strength, not a barrier. "India is a country of emotions... we always believe in the founder. Because an idea can change tomorrow, but the faith in the founder can go a long way."

Shaili concurred, "That's why the idea of emotional quotient in business matters. That's where women leaders have the power." And at the Digital Women Awards and Summit, this spirit of empathy and conviction came alive through the warm and supportive sisterhood that was built. 

Biggest Takeway: Risks And Failures Matter Too

The conversations did not just focus on the glamorous wins, but also on the rocky roads that it takes to get there. Krishna Priya Akella, Founder of Starbuzz.ai, spoke about the challenges of building a tech startup from the ground up and learning from failures along the way.

"As an entrepreneur, the balance between taking risks and forgiving yourself is very important," Krishna Priya expressed. "When you're building a startup, you can experience the biggest success and the biggest setbacks on the same day. So it is very important to remind yourself that, 'Hey, you're a human', take a step back, and try again."

Standup comic Jeeya Sethi also shared her trailblazing journey. "When I first started, there were not many women in comedy. Men did not give us a platform; we had to create our own," she recounted. "But now, there are a lot more women supporting each other in comedy and every other field, and I am very proud of that.”

Jeeya's words aptly exemplified the uplifting community that SheThePeople aimed to foster at the event. Her story was a reminder that visibility, mentorship, and collective support can do wonders for women breaking into male-dominated spaces, whether it’s comedy, tech, or entrepreneurship.

The Digital Women Awards honoured women entrepreneurs across AI, solopreneurship, content creation, impact, leadership, and storytelling. It threw a spotlight on leaders making waves all over the country - whether it is big cities like Bengaluru and Pune, or towns like Satara and Pollachi.

The event also opened up a marketplace for small and local women-led businesses to showcase their work, connect with fellow entrepreneurs, and build networks. It wasn't just another token awards ceremony, but a powerful statement: women-led innovation belongs at the heart of India’s growth narrative. 

Pratik Gandhi rightly put it, "India is far ahead of what the world thinks about us." And if the Digital Women Awards and Summit taught us anything, it is that women are at the centre of this progress; they are building ventures and communities that inspire the next generation of Indian leadership.