#Yearender2024 #WomenEntrepreneurs #Trailblazers2024 #HerJourney #EmpoweringWomen
As 2024 comes to a close, it’s the perfect time to reflect on the year’s wins, lessons and inspirations – especially for women entrepreneurs, who have redefined resilience and innovation in business. This year has indeed, been a dynamic journey – with women-led ventures breaking barriers, disrupting industries & setting new standards of excellence. From lessons learned through unconventional sources like thought-provoking podcasts, insightful books & unexpected mentors, to navigating challenges with grit and creativity – 2024 has been a year of growth & transformation.
Lessons, Wins & Breakthroughs: Women Entrepreneurs Reflect on 2024
Whether it was building networks, securing funding, or discovering innovative ways to manage businesses – women entrepreneurs have showcased their ability to adapt & thrive in a rapidly changing landscape. As we gear up for 2025, let’s celebrate these trailblazers, who continue to inspire and lead by example – proving that the entrepreneurial spirit knows no bounds.
> Smita Tharoor, Founder & CEO of Tharoor Associates
“I host a podcast, Stories Seldom Told where I interview people to share their stories of resilience. I have had the privilege of hearing inspirational stories from around the world. I recently taught at OP Jindal University( JGU), teaching Neuroscience & Leadership. Sharing my learning from both below.
One of the people I interviewed is a friend who lives in London. She just had her 97th birthday. What I have found inspiring when I speak to her – is her attitude to life. One of continuous curiosity, keeping her mind and body busy and not feeling sorry for herself. She accepts she is old, equally she will not give up on life until life gives up on her. Her positive mental attitude and her genuine engagement with the outside world is truly inspirational. We have talked about death, dying, life and living. I always come away feeling energized after meeting her.
I taught a 3-month course to post graduates at JGU, where the average age of the students was 22 years old. These young people have privilege in terms of money as their parents are supporting them. But, what I found inspiring when teaching them was their humility, openness to ideas, complete honesty & authenticity when sharing their own personal stories.
Many people have assumptions of how 22 year olds and 97 year olds behave. What I have learned is that making assumptions is what restricts us. It narrows our world view. Engaging with the very old and the youth is empowering. Knowledge is power and through learning and reflection, we can drive positive change within ourselves.”
> Prof Ramola Kumar, Dean, The Delhi School of Communication
“There are lessons I learnt from unconventional sources… one of my dear students was under medication daily for a health issue. It was admirable to see her pursuing a full-time, highly professional course. She was consistent, uptodate and even took the lead at times when she could actually be resting! It was amazing to see her handling crisis with great fortitude and quietude.
I learn daily from preschoolers and children how to fall, smile, rise play and have fun!! To enjoy the littlest of gifts, toys with great cheer.
From Gen Z I have learnt to “Chill Karo”!! Very powerful 2 words that help you to relax, let go and have a laugh at the silliest of things even when old and grey ….
Each day is a mystery, full of lessons and celebrations, it’s only a matter of perspective!”
> Pragati Srivastava, Founder, Air Bharath
“2024 has been an extraordinary year of growth and learning for me, much of which came from unexpected and unconventional sources.
The wisdom of my mentors, like Mr. Kulbir Arora in AI and Mr. Vijay Veer Singh, Retd. Air Vice Marshall Vats, who guided me through every step of my entrepreneurial journey, has been transformative. But the most heartfelt lessons came from my family elders – unconventional yet profound advice that, when applied in Air Bharath, worked wonders and reignited my belief in intuition and experience.
I have constantly been following podcasts such as Figuring Out by Raj Shamani, Think School and TRS. These have helped me provide great Insights on empathy driven as well as applying real world business solutions for Air Bharath.
Having prepared sincerely for the UPSC exams in my younger days, the principles that I learnt from my preparation, have helped me to be mentally strong in failures and humble in success. Preparing for SheSTEM event helped me revisit my favorite concept from the Indian Constitution, which is to integrate scientific temper and curiosity into our work culture and products.
Daily collaboration revealed the incredible power of a united team. Despite limited resources, we achieved extraordinary milestones, including staying ahead in technology, ensuring seamless analytics and backend operations, and earning our ISO 27001 certification. Every member went above and beyond, proving that together, even a small company can tackle challenges that once seemed insurmountable. These experiences taught me that a passionate, determined team can truly move mountains. These lessons have been transformative, shaping both me and our journey at Air Bharath. As we close this chapter, I’m filled with gratitude
and excitement, ready to embrace 2025 with renewed energy, bigger goals, and the unwavering belief that the best is yet to come.”
> Dhavala Sai, Co-Founder, Business Team Lead, AlgoBotix Private Limited
“2024 has been a whirlwind of challenges and growth, shaped by navigating doubts both external and internal. As a young entrepreneur, I’ve often faced scepticism about my skills and abilities, not just because of my age but also because of my background. From the outside, my journey might seem simple, but beneath it lies years of relentless hard work and determination. Transitioning from a grounded academic upbringing to working in an industry as complex as rocket science has been anything but easy.
I’ve poured immense effort into this path not to prove anything to others but because of my deep curiosity to learn and understand what lies beyond what I already know. That curiosity has been my driving force – pushing me to explore even the things I knew nothing about. I’ve put in the work every single day, striving not to be less than what I need to be to belong in this space.
The doubts from others often mirrored the self-doubt I carried. “Can someone like me really thrive in such a demanding field?” became a recurring question. But one wise mentor gave me a perspective that changed everything: “It’s not about age, experience, or even your qualification. It’s about what you bring to the table, the value you create, the effort you pour in, and the passion you bring to make a real difference”.
That advice helped me silence the noise around me and focus on my strengths. It taught me to accept and embrace myself, including my differences, as unique assets. Overcoming self-doubt was a journey, but it allowed me to grow into someone who not only believes in herself but also celebrates the beauty of being ‘different’.”
> Usha Jha, Founder Petal Craft
“For me, 2024 was a challenging year. Personal and health issues, coupled with financial constraints, tested me in ways I had never imagined. There were moments when I felt overwhelmed and defeated. It was during one such evening, sitting alone and reflecting on my struggles, that I stumbled upon something life-changing.
I came across an episode of Zindagi with Richa on YouTube. In that episode, Richa was interviewing Pratiksha Tondwalker from Maharashtra. Her story was nothing short of extraordinary. Married at the tender age of 16, Pratiksha couldn’t even complete her 10th standard. She started her career as a sweeper at the Mumbai branch of the State Bank of India. Over the course of 37 years, with unwavering determination and grit, she rose to become the Assistant General Manager of SBI.
Her journey reminded me of the indomitable human spirit. Despite having almost nothing, she had a wealth of patience, perseverance, and willpower. Her story became a turning point for me. If Pratiksha could achieve so much against such odds, what excuse did I have? That evening, I promised myself I would rise above my challenges. Slowly but surely, I began to reclaim my energy, focus, and passion for my work.”
> Juhi Garg, Co-founder, ED Times
“This lesson came from my new family after marriage. It taught me how happy childhood create emotionally sound and secure adults. The formative years in your life play a very major role in making you the person you become later.”
Avtar Madan
Himanshu
Shree Lahiri
