Women’s Day Special 2025: Success Stories of 10 Inspiring Women Who Dare to Dream

This Women’s Day, we celebrate the indomitable spirit of Indian women who have dared to dream and defied all odds to turn those dreams into reality. From trailblazing entrepreneurs and visionary leaders to social changemakers and creative pioneers, these ten extraordinary women embody resilience, courage, and innovation.

Their journeys are not just personal triumphs but also a testament to the boundless potential of women in shaping a brighter, more inclusive future for our nation. Through their inspiring stories, we honor their achievements and strive to ignite the same fire of determination in every woman across India.

Abhaia Sharma, Founder – Regally Legal

Abhaia Sharma is a lawyer specializing in intellectual property and fashion law, carving a niche at the intersection of legal precision and the fashion industry. As the founder of Regally Legal, she has built a pioneering platform dedicated to making legal insights in fashion and business law more accessible for professionals, entrepreneurs, and creatives.

Her journey into this field was driven by a passion for both law and fashion. While pursuing her LLM in International Business Law at Queen Mary University of London (QMUL), she developed a strong interest in intellectual property law and its role in shaping the fashion industry. Upon returning to India, she recognized a significant gap in awareness about fashion law and its impact on businesses. This realization led her to launch Regally Legal, a platform designed to break down complex legal concepts into engaging and practical content.

Abhaia draws inspiration from pioneers like Susan Scafidi, who redefined the legal landscape of fashion, and business leaders who have strategically used intellectual property to build powerful brands. However, her journey was not without challenges. When she first introduced Regally Legal, fashion law was still an emerging field in India, and many underestimated its relevance. Establishing credibility, growing an audience, and proving the value of legal expertise in fashion required persistence, strategic content creation, and a deep commitment to educating her audience. Balancing her legal career, entrepreneurship, and content creation was demanding, but her vision kept her motivated.

Beyond her legal practice, Abhaia is deeply involved in mentorship and thought leadership. She has been invited to speak at institutions like Jesus and Mary College (JMC) and Pearl Academy, where she guides students on alternative career paths in law, fashion, and intellectual property. She also provides legal consultations for entrepreneurs and small business owners, helping them protect and scale their brands. With a focus on expanding Regally Legal, she is working on collaborations with major fashion brands and developing more resources for young lawyers and business owners.

Her message to aspiring entrepreneurs and professionals is simple: success doesn’t come from following a traditional path—it comes from creating your own. She believes industries are increasingly interdisciplinary, and the biggest opportunities lie at the crossroads of different fields. Whether it’s law and fashion, tech and business, or art and innovation, those who can blend their passions into something impactful will shape the future.

What started as a small initiative has now grown into a recognizable name in the field of fashion law. Abhaia’s work has caught the attention of major fashion brands and legal professionals, validating the demand for legal education in creative industries. She now aims to scale Regally Legal into a larger platform—one that educates, collaborates, and influences decision-making in the fashion and business world.

Pooja Jambotkar, Country Leader – Kangatraining India

Pooja Jambotkar is a Postnatal Fitness Trainer, the Country Leader for Kangatraining India, and a content creator behind Kangatraining India, where she shares parenting and lifestyle insights.

Her journey began with the birth of her son. Wanting to build a career where her baby could be a part of her work-life, she traveled to Vienna, Austria, when he was just four months old to study Kangatraining, a specialized postnatal workout for moms with their babies. Bringing this concept to India marked the start of her entrepreneurial and content creation journey, which she has nurtured for the past seven years.

Pooja draws inspiration from all mothers, who embody strength and resilience. One of the biggest challenges she faced was educating new moms about the importance of postpartum fitness and creating a safe space where they felt supported. Changing mindsets and spreading awareness was tough, but her passion kept her going.

Beyond fitness, Pooja wears multiple hats—she is a lawyer, a mother, a content creator, and a social media consultant for brands. She believes that growth comes from consistency, self-belief, and the willingness to unlearn and relearn. “It’s important to keep upgrading your skills and adapting to change,” she says.

For her, success is not just about achievements but about evolving through the process. Every small milestone fuels her motivation, and she remains committed to helping more mothers embrace fitness, confidence, and self-care.

Dr. Suruchi Puri

Dr. Suruchi Puri’s journey is a testament to resilience, passion, and the profound impact one individual can have on the lives of others. A distinguished expert in trichology and aesthetics, she is deeply committed to helping her patients regain confidence and enhance their well-being through exceptional skin and hair care.

Her path to success was not without challenges. Balancing the rigorous demands of medical training, motherhood, and managing a thriving practice, Dr. Puri also faced personal hardships, including the loss of her father and her sister’s illness. However, these struggles only strengthened her determination to excel and fueled her passion for making a meaningful difference in her field.

Dr. Puri’s dedication to dermatology was shaped early on by her fascination with the complexities of skin and hair care. Inspired by her family, particularly her mother’s resilience and strength, she has built a career marked by compassion, expertise, and an unwavering commitment to excellence.

Throughout her career, she has achieved significant milestones, including serving as the official dermatologist for Femina Miss India and Clean & Clear Fresh Face contests for six consecutive years. With a patient base exceeding 500,000, she has delivered remarkable results in dermatology and hair care, many of which she shares on Instagram. From starting with a small one-room clinic to establishing a prominent center in the heart of Delhi, Dr. Puri’s journey reflects her relentless drive and vision.

Beyond her clinical practice, she is also the founder of Grorootz Pro, a specialized hair care brand, and a dedicated content creator. As a mother and a professional, she continues to inspire aspiring dermatologists and women everywhere with her belief that perseverance, passion, and hard work are the keys to overcoming adversity and achieving success.

Shivangi Gupta, Founder – Bespoke architectural & interior design firm

Shivangi Gupta is the founder of Bespoke architectural and interior design firm, where she transforms spaces into aesthetically pleasing yet functional environments. Her journey into design began in childhood, where her love for drawing and a natural aptitude for both art and mathematics paved the way for a career in architecture. Influenced by nature, travel, fashion, and personal experiences, she strives to create spaces that hold meaning beyond just their visual appeal.

Her biggest inspiration comes from fearless women who push boundaries and redefine success. She credits her parents for being her strongest supporters and her partner for continuously encouraging her to grow. However, breaking into a male-dominated industry wasn’t easy—establishing herself required determination and perseverance. But with passion as her driving force, she overcame the challenges and made her mark.

Beyond work, Shivangi enjoys traveling, creating art, and spending quality time with her family and her beloved fur baby.

Her message to aspiring entrepreneurs is clear: Success takes patience, focus, and continuous learning. Pursue what you love, stay true to yourself, and don’t be afraid to break barriers—especially as a woman in any industry.

For Shivangi, design is more than aesthetics; it’s about evoking memories, bringing joy, and crafting spaces that truly resonate with people. As she puts it: “Let your work speak for itself.”

Riddhi Thakkar, Founder & CEO – EVORA

Riddhi Thakkar is the Founder and CEO of EVORA, a wellness brand focused on helping individuals evolve by improving their mindset and thought processes. As a Mindset Coach, she empowers clients to work on themselves and transform their lives by adopting high-vibrational and positive practices.

Riddhi’s journey into coaching began in 2021 when she discovered the transformative power of the subconscious mind through books like The Power of Subconscious Mind and You Can Heal Your Life. Attending workshops by Bob Proctor further fueled her passion and led her to explore spirituality, mindset, and personal growth. With a desire to make this her full-time profession, Riddhi earned certifications as a Senior Certified Professional Coach from Coach Transformation Academy, UAE, and as a Certified Meditation Teacher from The Priority Academy Ltd. This training laid the foundation for her to start coaching and conducting meditation workshops for her clients.

Riddhi finds inspiration in people who step out of their comfort zones to lead authentic lives. She admires Coach Saloni Suri for becoming a neuro coach without a science background and looks up to Virat Kohli for his resilience and dedication to self-improvement. Her own journey has not been without challenges—shifting from a traditional job setting to entrepreneurship was a major adjustment. Additionally, she recognized the importance of seeking guidance and support from a coach to overcome personal mental barriers, which reinforced her belief in the transformative power of coaching.

Beyond her coaching profession, Riddhi has recently ventured into anchoring, sharing her journey as Anchor Ridhi on Instagram. This new avenue has been both exciting and challenging, allowing her to engage with diverse audiences, enhance her presentation skills, and grow personally and professionally.

Riddhi’s message to aspiring entrepreneurs and professionals is simple: Just do it! She encourages individuals to overcome the fear of the unknown and follow their inner calling. Building a growth mindset, she believes, is the key to unlocking potential and achieving extraordinary results.

While Riddhi is proud of how far she has come, she views herself as a work-in-progress. She values the importance of balance, rejecting the hustle culture in favor of aligning with divine flow. Taking regular breaks and reflecting on both achievements and challenges has been crucial to her success, allowing her to attract opportunities instead of constantly chasing them.

Anushka Singh, Financial advisor, Fitness coach, Nutritionist

Anushka Singh isn’t just one thing—she’s a financial advisor, a fitness coach, a nutritionist, a national-level basketball and kettlebell player, and a TEDx speaker. Her journey is a testament to resilience, passion, and the refusal to be put into a box.

With an MBA in Finance, Anushka started her career at Ameriprise during the COVID era. But in 2020, she took a personal coach to kickstart her fitness journey, and everything changed. She realized she wanted more than just a corporate career—she wanted to merge her love for fitness and finance. So, she took the leap, quit her job, and built her own venture from scratch.

Her biggest inspiration is her grandfather, a man who worked his way from a small village to a respected government position, laying the foundation for future generations. Though she never met him, his legacy of hard work fuels her every move.

The road wasn’t easy. Self-doubt crept in, and criticism followed. People dismissed her content, mocked her scars from basketball, and told her she should “stay at home.” But she pushed forward, proving that persistence beats doubt every time. Over time, the same people who doubted her started to take notice.

Outside work, Anushka is always on the move—literally. She supports her parents financially, plays basketball, trains in kettlebell lifting, skates, reads (her favorite book is The Fountainhead), and is now learning the guitar.

Her advice? “It’s just a bad time, not a bad life. Keep going.”

People will call success “luck.” But luck doesn’t work 16-hour shifts. Luck doesn’t fight through self-doubt. Hard work does.

Nalini Gupta

Dr. Anubhuti Dhanuka