SAWiT envisions a future where women emerge as influential leaders in the ever-evolving landscape of technology. By facilitating continuous learning, meaningful connections, and career advancement, SAWiT is resolute in fostering a supportive ecosystem which helps women scale new heights in tech careers and positions of leadership.
Roshni Nadar Malhotra is the Chairperson of HCL Technologies, a leading IT services company. She has steered HCL's expansion, achieving the distinction of being the first woman in India to helm a tech titan. In addition to her corporate leadership role, Roshni is a dedicated philanthropist who has been actively involved with the Habitats Trust, a non-profit organization committed to preserving India's natural habitats and wildlife. Her philanthropic endeavours extend beyond corporate boundaries, demonstrating her dedication to environmental and biodiversity conservation.
Samantha Ruth Prabhu is a renowned Indian actor celebrated for her contributions to Indian cinema across industries for her excellence in acting. With four Filmfare Awards and many other accolades to her name, she’s not only excelled on screen but also become a vocal advocate for women’s empowerment and wellness. Beyond her acting prowess, Samantha champions gender equality and mental health awareness, inspiring millions to embrace authenticity and self-care. Her dedication to excellence, empowerment, and holistic living continues to leave a lasting impact on both the entertainment industry and society as a whole.
Shobana is the Senior Director of Engineering at Google, where she spearheads the advancement of next-generation television technology through collaboration with product and research teams across Google. Before joining Google, she held key technical leadership positions at Roku, Mindflash Technologies, Yahoo, and Netflix, specializing in the development of high-scale consumer systems. Shobana is also a prolific speaker at major international conferences, including Amazon AWS Reinvent, Streaming Media Connect, and Yahoo Conferences.
Asu is the Department Head for Electrical Engineering and Computer Science at Massachusetts Institute of Technology. She is also an acclaimed leader in optimization theory, and a committed educator and mentor at the Schwarzman College of Computing. Her notable work spans optimization theory, economic and social networked systems, and game theory. She has made significant contributions to optimization theory, encompassing convex analysis, duality, and innovative algorithms for large-scale systems and data processing. Notably, she co-authored the book "Convex Analysis and Optimization."
Dr. Kuwarani Ritu Singh is a visionary and transformative leader who combines a commitment to quality education, cultural preservation, and social responsibility, particularly in Jammu & Kashmir. Businesswoman, Founder, and Partner at Green Living Solutions and Director of Hari Niwas Palace Hotel, Jammu, she brings an entrepreneurial spirit to all her endeavors. With a trailblazing approach, she established four DPS schools, offering world-class education across the region, and her initiatives have uplifted over 50,000 students. Her projects, such as Roshni and Vriddhi, focus on digital literacy for differently-abled and rural girls, bridging educational divides through technology. She also pioneered J&K's first Design Council and founded "Dastoor," a free legal aid cell for underprivileged communities. As the founding Chairperson of FICCI FLO Jammu, Kashmir & Ladakh, she champions women’s empowerment, entrepreneurial growth, and mental health advocacy.
Farzana Haque is one of the world’s leading voices and influencers on building large organisations, women empowerment, technology, youth development, and education. As a Senior Leader at TCS (Tata Consultancy Services), she has played a crucial role in the transformation and institutional building of the organization. As an Angel Investor and mentor to numerous entrepreneurs worldwide, Farzana’s vast network has allowed her to empower aspiring and established entrepreneurs alike. She serves on various boards, including those of global women-centric funds, and is an investor in women-led startups and organizations, solidifying her reputation as a global brand ambassador for Catalyst for Women Entrepreneurs.
Dr. Aarti Gupta is the Chief Investment Officer at Anikarth Ventures and leads the DM Gupta Family Office. She supports women's entrepreneurship as National Head for FICCI FLO Start-ups and founded the Anikarth Foundation. A TEDx speaker and investor on "Horses Stable," she has been recognized by Inc42 and Priwexus. Dr. Gupta holds a PhD in Economics from IIT Kanpur and degrees from Harvard University and Northeastern University.
Arjun Malhotra is an accomplished Indian entrepreneur, industrialist, philanthropist, and co-founder of HCL, where he served as vice chairman. His entrepreneurial spirit also led to the establishment of TechSpan and served as CEO of Headstrong, a US-based firm. Mr. Malhotra is on the Board of Governors for esteemed institutions such as the Indian Institute of Technology Foundation in Kharagpur, the Indian School of Business, and the Rajiv Gandhi Indian Institute of Management.
Robin Abrams is a distinguished tech industry leader, having served as interim CEO at ZiLOG and President of Palm Computing. With a proven track record, she led VeriFone as CEO and held key roles at 3Com, Apple, and Unisys. A University of Nebraska alumna with a BA and JD, her strategic vision and leadership extend to board roles in US public companies and the Anita Borg Institute. Robin is a dynamic force, blending legal acumen with a profound impact on technology companies, making her an influential figure in the industry.
Manoj Kohli is an experienced entrepreneur with a track record in industry transformations across mobile internet, satellite TV, renewable energy, digital unicorns, and electric vehicles. Former Country Head at SoftBank, Executive Chairman of SB Energy, and CEO of Bharti Airtel. Committed to creating impactful businesses with excellence and integrity. Active in industry leadership and fitness.
Sarita is the founder of For Young India a creative marketing agency. With over 18 years of experience in curating and executing initiatives for the betterment of urban spaces in India, she has a keen interest in the constantly evolving architecture of content, design and communication. Before this, Sarita held senior editorial positions at Business India and Jasubhai Media and continues to consult with leading brands, NGOs, and infrastructure and design companies on initiatives in Experiential Marketing, Advertising and Design.
Priyanka has adorned several hats in her career such as architect, designer, entrepreneur, and more. She has been with Fractal Ink since its inception in 2010, and the firm was acquired by the Dentsu group in 2016. After leaving Dentsu, Priyanka started an innovation consulting practice called Forward Slash, focusing on digital transformation for Fortune 500 companies in the US. Prior to that, she worked in design roles at The Daily Mail Group Trust (DMGT) in London. She is currently a partner and co-founder at Punt Partners Mumbai.
Ashvin Sologar, Co-founder and CTO of Kalido, an AI-driven real-time opportunities platform for individuals, businesses, and communities. Formerly an associate principal at McKinsey, he was instrumental in increasing asset productivity and led front-line change management and operations advisory.
Sanjay Varma is the Co-founder of Kalido, a platform that maximizes organizational and societal prosperity through AI-powered people and opportunity matching. Having joined Jack Ma in the early days, Sanjay was the No. 3 member of Alibaba’s core team and early investor. He is also the Co-founder of JMATEK, a global leader in the niche market of portable air cooling and an active angel investor.