Introduction

The Centre for Women Development (CWD), IFHE, in association with Club Aaina, IBS Hyderabad, successfully organized Feminaxcel Conclave 2.0 on Monday, November 3, 2025, at the IBS Hyderabad campus.

Feminaxcel Conclave 2.0 was conceived as a platform to bring together industry leaders, entrepreneurs, professionals, academicians and students to engage in meaningful conversations on women's empowerment, leadership, entrepreneurship, innovation and inclusive growth.

In today's rapidly changing economic and technological environment, women's participation in leadership, entrepreneurship and decision-making has become increasingly important. While significant progress has been made, women continue to encounter several challenges in accessing leadership opportunities, entrepreneurial capital, professional networks, mentorship and supportive ecosystems. The conclave therefore sought to create an open and inspiring platform where these issues could be discussed through the experiences of accomplished women leaders and industry professionals.

The programme focused not merely on celebrating women's achievements but also on understanding the ecosystems, institutional practices and individual resilience required to enable women to succeed and lead.

Objectives of the Conclave

The major objectives of Feminaxcel Conclave 2.0 were:

1. To promote awareness about women's leadership and empowerment across professional and entrepreneurial domains.
2. To provide students with direct exposure to successful women leaders, entrepreneurs and industry professionals.
3. To understand the role of multinational corporations in creating inclusive and gender-sensitive workplaces.
4. To explore how corporations and entrepreneurial ecosystems can support women founders and innovators.
5. To highlight the challenges faced by women entrepreneurs and discuss strategies for overcoming them.
6. To inspire students to consider entrepreneurship, leadership and innovation as viable career pathways.
7. To facilitate interaction between students and industry leaders and provide opportunities for learning, mentoring and networking.
8. To encourage institutions and organizations to create ecosystems that enable women to participate, lead and contribute meaningfully.
9. To reinforce the commitment of IFHE and its constituent schools towards gender equality, inclusive growth and leadership development.

Inaugural and Dignitary Presence

The event was graced by distinguished members of the IFHE leadership and CWD:

• Dr. T. Koti Reddy, Vice Chancellor In-charge, IFHE
• Dr. S. Vijayalakshmi, Convenor, Centre for Women Development and Registrar, IFHE
• Dr. S. Venugopal, Director, IBS Hyderabad
• Prof. Sanjay Fuloria, Director, CDOE
• Prof. Kala Chenji, Coordinator, CWD

The presence of the senior leadership of IFHE reflected the University's continued support for initiatives focused on women's empowerment, leadership development, entrepreneurship and inclusive institutional growth.

The event was supported by Club Aaina and Club Nazaria, whose involvement contributed to the effective coordination and execution of the programme.

Proceedings of the Conclave

Session I: Panel Discussion - Empowering Women for a Sustainable Future: The Role of MNCs

Time: 9:40 AM - 10:40 AM

The conclave commenced with an engaging panel discussion on “Empowering Women for a Sustainable Future: The Role of MNCs.”

The panel brought together professionals with significant experience in corporate management, operations and human resources:

• Ms. Kajal Baraik, Deputy Manager, PepsiCo
• Mr. Madhu Murthy, Co-founder & Head of Operations - India, Qualizeal
• Ms. Rekha Narendra, VP & HR Head, RealPage

The discussion examined the role of multinational corporations in creating workplaces where women can participate and progress on an equal footing. The panelists highlighted the importance of moving beyond conventional approaches to diversity and developing organizational cultures that genuinely support inclusion.

The discussion focused on:

• Creating equal opportunities for women at different stages of their careers.
• Developing inclusive workplace policies and practices.
• Encouraging women to take up leadership responsibilities.
• Providing mentorship and professional development opportunities.
• Creating supportive work environments that enable women to balance professional and personal responsibilities.
• Promoting diversity as a contributor to organizational performance and innovation.
• Building sustainable organizational cultures that value different perspectives.
• Encouraging women to aspire for senior leadership and decision-making positions.

The interaction provided students with an understanding of how gender inclusion is increasingly becoming an important component of responsible and sustainable corporate practices.

The panel also reinforced the message that women's empowerment requires not only individual determination but also institutional support, organizational commitment and inclusive leadership.

Guest Lecture I - Inclusive Innovation: How MNCs Are Supporting Women Founders

Time: 10:55 AM - 12:10 PM

The second session featured an insightful guest lecture by Ms. Madhurima Agarwal, Managing Director, Microsoft Startups India, on the topic:

“Inclusive Innovation: How MNCs Are Supporting Women Founders”

The session focused on the growing role of the corporate sector in creating entrepreneurial ecosystems that enable women to establish and scale their ventures.

Ms. Agarwal highlighted the importance of innovation, technology, access to resources, mentorship and networks in enabling women entrepreneurs to transform ideas into sustainable businesses.

Key Takeaways

The session emphasized that women founders require more than financial support. They also need:

• Access to technology and innovation platforms.
• Mentorship from experienced professionals.
• Opportunities to connect with investors and industry leaders.
• Entrepreneurial networks and communities.
• Market access.
• Capacity-building opportunities.
• Confidence and institutional encouragement.

The session also highlighted the role that multinational organizations can play in building a more inclusive entrepreneurial ecosystem.

For the students, the lecture provided an opportunity to understand how the startup ecosystem is evolving and how technology and corporate support can help entrepreneurs overcome some of the traditional barriers associated with starting and scaling a business.

Guest Lecture II - Building a Startup from Scratch: My Journey as a Woman Founder

Time: 2:00 PM - 2:45 PM

Following the lunch break, the conclave continued with an inspiring guest lecture by Ms. Midhula Devabhaktuni, Co-founder, MIVI.

The topic of the session was:

“Building a Startup from Scratch - My Journey as a Woman Founder”

The session provided a first-hand account of the entrepreneurial journey and the realities associated with building a business from the ground up.

Ms. Devabhaktuni spoke about the challenges, uncertainties and learning experiences associated with entrepreneurship. Her journey demonstrated that successful entrepreneurship requires a combination of vision, perseverance, adaptability, resilience and continuous learning.

Major Themes

The interaction covered several important aspects of entrepreneurship, including:

• Converting an idea into a viable business.
• Understanding customer needs.
• Building and strengthening a brand.
• Managing uncertainty and business challenges.
• Learning from setbacks and failures.
• Maintaining perseverance during difficult phases.
• Developing a strong entrepreneurial mindset.
• Building teams and managing people.
• Remaining focused on long-term objectives.

The personal nature of the session made it particularly relevant to students, as it provided an authentic perspective on the entrepreneurial journey rather than presenting entrepreneurship only from a theoretical standpoint.

The session served as an important reminder that successful businesses are often built through persistence, experimentation, learning and the courage to continue despite challenges.

Panel Discussion II - The Hustle and the Hurdles: Overcoming Challenges as a Woman Entrepreneur

Time: 3:00 PM - 3:45 PM

The final substantive session of the conclave was a panel discussion on:

“The Hustle and the Hurdles: Overcoming Challenges as a Woman Entrepreneur”

The panel comprised:

• Ms. Alka Mehta, Founder & CEO, PayAid
• Ms. Reena Das, CHRO, Keolis
• Ms. Arushi Sana, Co-founder, Santerra Industries
• Ms. Arpita Soma, Co-founder, Gourmet Craftfoods

The discussion was moderated by Dr. Sainath Manikonda, Executive Director, ICFAI Incubator.

The session provided an opportunity to understand entrepreneurship from multiple perspectives, including business creation, organizational leadership, human resources, innovation and managing entrepreneurial challenges.

Challenges Discussed

The panelists shared candid experiences relating to:

• Establishing credibility in competitive business environments.
• Overcoming gender-based perceptions and stereotypes.
• Managing professional and personal responsibilities.
• Building teams and managing organizational growth.
• Dealing with uncertainty and setbacks.
• Accessing networks and business opportunities.
• Taking calculated risks.
• Maintaining confidence and resilience.
• Learning from failures and adapting to changing circumstances.
• Creating sustainable businesses rather than focusing only on short-term success.

The panelists emphasized that entrepreneurship is not a linear journey. It involves experimentation, setbacks, adaptation and continuous learning.

The discussion also highlighted the importance of self-belief, resilience, mentorship, networking and the willingness to take calculated risks.

For the students, the session was particularly valuable because it presented entrepreneurship as a journey involving both opportunities and challenges.

Interaction with Students

An important feature of Feminaxcel Conclave 2.0 was the opportunity for students to interact directly with experienced professionals and entrepreneurs.

The sessions exposed students to real-world perspectives that complemented their academic learning. The speakers and panelists provided insights into areas that are difficult to understand solely through classroom teaching, including:

• Corporate leadership.
• Entrepreneurship.
• Women in management.
• Innovation.
• Startup development.
• Corporate diversity and inclusion.
• Career progression.
• Professional resilience.
• Networking and mentorship.

The interaction encouraged students to think beyond conventional career paths and consider leadership and entrepreneurship as opportunities to create meaningful social and economic impact.

Major Learnings from the Conclave

The deliberations across the four sessions brought out several significant learnings.

9.1 Inclusion is a Business Imperative

Gender inclusion should not be viewed merely as a social responsibility initiative. Diverse teams and inclusive workplaces can contribute to innovation, better decision-making and sustainable organizational growth.

9.2 Women Need Enabling Ecosystems

Individual talent and determination are important, but women also need access to mentors, networks, technology, capital, professional opportunities and supportive institutions.

9.3 Leadership Begins with Confidence

Women aspiring to leadership positions must develop confidence in their abilities, take ownership of opportunities and be willing to step outside their comfort zones.

9.4 Entrepreneurship Requires Resilience

The entrepreneurial journey inevitably involves setbacks and uncertainty. Resilience and the ability to learn from challenges are critical qualities for long-term success.

9.5 Mentorship and Networking Matter

Access to experienced mentors and professional networks can significantly influence the growth trajectory of women professionals and entrepreneurs.

9.6 Technology Can Enable Inclusion

Technology and digital platforms can reduce traditional barriers to market access, knowledge, networking and entrepreneurship, particularly for emerging women founders.

9.7 Institutions Have an Important Role

Educational institutions can play a significant role in preparing young women for leadership by providing exposure, mentoring, industry interaction, entrepreneurship opportunities and platforms for expression.

Role of CWD

The successful organization of Feminaxcel Conclave 2.0 reflects the continuing efforts of the Centre for Women Development (CWD), IFHE, to create meaningful platforms for dialogue, awareness and empowerment.

Through such initiatives, CWD seeks to:

• Encourage women to pursue leadership roles.
• Promote entrepreneurship among students.
• Facilitate industry-academia interaction.
• Create awareness about gender inclusion.
• Provide platforms for women leaders to share their experiences.
• Encourage students to engage with contemporary social and professional issues.
• Build a culture of equality, respect and opportunity.

The conclave is therefore aligned with the broader vision of creating an environment where women are encouraged to participate, lead, innovate and contribute to society and the economy.

Institutional Significance

Feminaxcel Conclave 2.0 represents an important component of IFHE's broader commitment to gender equality, leadership development, entrepreneurship and inclusive excellence.

For an institution of higher education, such programmes provide an important bridge between academic learning and real-world experience. They enable students to interact with leaders who have navigated complex professional environments and entrepreneurial journeys.

The event also strengthened the connection between industry, academia and students, creating opportunities for knowledge sharing and future engagement.

The participation of corporate leaders, entrepreneurs and senior professionals added significant value to the academic environment and exposed students to contemporary developments in the workplace and business ecosystem.

Conclusion

Feminaxcel Conclave 2.0 was a meaningful and impactful initiative that brought together diverse perspectives on women's empowerment, leadership, entrepreneurship, innovation and inclusion.

The four sessions offered a comprehensive perspective—from the role of multinational corporations in building inclusive workplaces to the challenges of establishing and scaling entrepreneurial ventures.

The experiences shared by the speakers demonstrated that empowering women requires a combination of individual confidence, institutional support, inclusive organizational cultures, access to opportunities, mentorship, technology and resilient leadership.

The conclave also reinforced the importance of creating an environment in which young women are encouraged to dream, experiment, lead and create.

The event successfully achieved its objective of inspiring students, facilitating meaningful industry interaction and strengthening the dialogue around women's participation in leadership and entrepreneurship.

The Centre for Women Development, through initiatives such as Feminaxcel, continues to provide a valuable platform for advancing conversations on women's empowerment and creating opportunities for the next generation of women leaders and entrepreneurs.

The successful completion of Feminaxcel Conclave 2.0 stands as a testament to the collective efforts of the leadership of IFHE, CWD, IBS Hyderabad, the speakers, panelists, faculty members, coordinators, student volunteers and supporting clubs.

The conclave concluded on a positive and inspiring note, leaving participants with an important message:

Empowering women is not only about creating opportunities for women—it is about creating stronger institutions, more inclusive workplaces, innovative businesses and a more equitable society.