"The corporate sector may consider introducing ‘Return to Work’ programs for returning mothers, focusing on capacity building and mentorship to facilitate their seamless re-entry into the workforce," said Ms. Deepshika Arora, IRS, Commissioner, GST, at YES PowherUp, an event organized by YES Bank in association with WTC Mumbai and FICCI FLO. The event celebrated the resilience and spirit of women entrepreneurs, shedding light on the challenges they face and strategies to overcome them.

Speaking on the untapped potential of women in the labor force, she added, "Despite making up nearly half of India’s population, women's participation in the workforce remains low. Ensuring access to quality education and skilling program for women in enabling better integration of women into the formal economy. Women in leadership positions must mentor and support aspiring women professionals in their journey. Government can also look to implement a flexible parenting policy to further facilitate women participation. "

Addressing challenges faced by women in international trade, Ms. Rupa Naik, Executive Director, WTC Mumbai, remarked, "The only thing stopping a woman is her own inhibition. From my experience, women tend to target nearby markets for their products. They need to take advantage of the supportive ecosystem created by government policies, both at the national and state levels. Social media has provided a significant boost, offering a global platform for women entrepreneurs. Additionally, organizations like WTC Mumbai facilitate access to trade delegations, international fairs, and capacity-building programs to help women expand their businesses globally."

She further emphasized, "For women to succeed in business, they must focus on their product, assess market demand, and ensure their offerings align with consumer needs." She also underscored the importance of crèche services in all firms and industries, allowing working mothers to leave their children in a safe environment while they rejoin the workforce.

On the government’s role in increasing women’s workforce participation, Ms. Aarmeen Dordi, Chairperson, FICCI FLO Mumbai, stated, "The government must prioritize women's access to finance and markets. There should be targeted initiatives for capacity building, mentorship, and financial literacy. It is also crucial to ensure continuity in the implementation of these measures. Additionally, the government can enhance accessibility to care services by exempting crèche services from GST, making them more affordable for working mothers.”

The event also featured two insightful panel discussions. The first panel, titled "Navigating Challenges and Paving the Way Forward," brought together prominent women entrepreneurs, including Ms. Aparajita Toor, Founder, Aparajita Toor Footwear; Ms. Poonam Gugale, CEO, FollowG; Ms. Sanjam Gupta, Founder, Maritime SheEO; and Ms. Yogita Ajgaonkar, Founder and CEO, TIWIW. The discussion shed light on the challenges faced by these entrepreneurs and the strategies they employed to overcome them. The panelists emphasized the importance of establishing one’s own ethos and ethics in business. They also highlighted the five Ps of entrepreneurial success: Passion, Purpose, Patience, Persistence, and Perseverance.

The second panel discussion, "Redefining Leadership Amidst India’s Evolving Corporate Culture," featured Ms. Neha Yadav, Executive Director, Savills Group; Ms. Mini Nair, Country Head, LOGPAC; Ms. Garima Dutt, CEO, YES Foundation; and Ms. Rohini Sharma, Head – Branch Banking Transformation. The session explored the factors that often deter women from pursuing leadership roles and how the panelists successfully navigated these challenges to attain senior positions in their respective fields. The discussion also underscored the significance of practical mentorship in building confidence and the importance of work-life balance in fostering professional growth.

During the event Ms. Priya Pansare, Director – Trade and Investment Promotion, WTC Mumbai invited the women entrepreneurs to leverage trade services by WTC Mumbai by becoming members of the organization.

The event was attended by women entrepreneurs from diverse sectors, reflecting the growing influence and contribution of women in business and leadership.

Ms. Rupa Naik, Executive Director, WTC Mumbai (4th from right) at the event. Also seen in the picture (from left to right): Mr. Percy Adajania, Head- Program, Product and Policy and SME Banking, YES Bank, Ms. Aarmeen Dordi, Chairperson, FICCI FLO Mumbai, Ms. Deepshika Arora, IRS, Commissioner, GST, Ms. Mona Kishore, Head- Business Strategy and Customer Value Management, YES Bank and Ms. Aloka Rajan, Senior VP, YES Bank

(from left to right): Mr. Percy Adajania, Head- Program, Product and Policy and SME Banking, YES Bank, Ms. Priya Pansare, Director – Trade and Investment Promotion, WTC Mumbai, Ms. Poonam Gugale, CEO, FollowG and Ms. Aloka Rajan, Senior VP, YES Bank