The Mahratta Chamber of Commerce, Industries and Agriculture (MCCIA) conducted an exclusive round table on November 23, 2023, at 4 PM, at the Bajaj Conference Hall, MCCIA S.B. Road office. This groundbreaking event, titled “Women Professional Bodies Roundtable,” marks MCCIA’s first initiative dedicated to connecting women’s professional groups in Pune, promoting women’s empowerment, women entrepreneurs, and women in leadership.
The round table organised by MCCIA witnessed participation from various esteemed organisations, including BBNG – Women’s Group, Cummins, eChai – Women Empowerment Group, IEEE – Women in Engineering, INCOSE, Machine Maker and many others. The event provided a vibrant platform for women empowerment groups to share their work, exchange ideas, and foster effective collaboration. The round table was expertly led by Dinanath Kholkar, Executive Committee Member of MCCIA, and Rujuta Jagtap, Board Member of MCCIA, whose visionary leadership and commitment to fostering women’s empowerment in the professional sphere were the driving forces behind this groundbreaking initiative.
Discussions revolved around personal struggles, victories, and challenges faced by women professionals. The interactive and open dialogues were thought-provoking and humorous, creating an atmosphere of understanding and inspiration. The emphasis was on the importance of unity among women to create a robust ecosystem for the community.
A Confluence of Expertise and Experience of Women Professionals
The round table was graced by the presence of esteemed professionals from diverse sectors, all united in their commitment to women’s empowerment. The participants included:
- Dinanath Kholkar, Rujuta Jagtap, Anuja Deshpande, Manasi Bidkar, and Anjali Sahastrabudhe from MCCIA, leading the charge in industry-related women’s empowerment.
- Shweta Inamdar from BBNG – Women’s Group, a leader in community development and women’s initiatives.
- Kavita Kaushik and Nazneen Husain from Cummins, who have been instrumental in driving gender diversity and inclusion in the engineering sector.
- Pratiti Desai representing eChai – Women Empowerment Group, known for her work in entrepreneurial development.
- Surekha Deshmukh from IEEE – Women in Engineering advocates for women in STEM fields.
- Stueti Gupta of INCOSE, a champion of systems engineering and interdisciplinary approaches.
- Karishma Pardesi of IWSA – Indian Women Scientist Association, inspiring the next generation of women in science.
- Hari Shanker from Machine Maker has been a vocal supporter of women in manufacturing.
- Sunita Karad of MIT ADT, a pioneer in educational leadership.
- Priya Nagraj of PKC – Pune Knowledge Cluster, focusing on knowledge sharing and community building.
- Manjoo Phadke from Rotary, contributing to social welfare and community service.
- Vinita Gera of SEAP is a critical software and IT development player.
- Vandana Chavan and Sanjivani Joglekar from SMILE, working towards societal upliftment and empowerment.
- Ashwini Joshi and Surabhi Chauhan of Sterlite CSR Foundation, known for their corporate social responsibility initiatives.
- Garima Yadav from SWE – Society of Women Engineers, advocating for women’s roles in engineering.
- Mangesh Khakde from Lean to Lead, building a constructive community for women to excel
- Sucheta Dhere from WiMLDS – Pune, promoting machine learning and data science among women.
These participants, with their varied and rich experiences, contributed significantly to the discussions, sharing their unique perspectives on challenges and successes in their respective fields. Their collective wisdom and insights were invaluable in shaping the narrative of the event and setting the stage for future collaborations and initiatives.
The event transcended symbolic gestures, marking the beginning of tangible actions with the announcement of workshops, seminars, and mentorship programs. These initiatives are aimed at creaeg a nurturing space for women to learn, grow, and support each other. With inclusivity at its core, the event recognized the diverse experiences of women, ensuring that women from all backgrounds felt included and represented.
The event saw the presence of MCCIA President Deepak Karandikar, who pledged full support to the initiatives. Hari Shanker, Managing Editor of Machine Maker, highlighted the dual needs of women in society – those from weaker sections and those impacted by societal norms and traditions. He urged industry bodies like MCCIA to build confidence and foster an ecosystem for professional women to contribute significantly to India’s growth and economy. The Mahratta Chamber of Commerce, Industries and Agriculture is a dynamic and forward-looking institution committed to promoting the industrial and economic development of Pune and its surrounding areas.
