Empowering Cultures That Celebrate Diversity, Purpose & Growth

By: Vandana Tilwani, CHRO, Chief Inclusion Officer- APAC, Havas India | Monday, 16 March 2026

Vandana, a people and culture leader with over 20 years of cross-industry experience across media, advertising, publishing, BPO/KPO, and hospitality.Recognized for shaping inclusive, high-performing workplaces, she has driven culture transformation through progressive people practices, wellbeing programs, and industry-recognized initiatives that advance equity, talent growth, and meaningful impact.

In an impactful interaction with Women Entrepreneurs Review Magazine, Vandana shares her perspectives on building empowering workplace cultures in inclusion, purpose, and growth. From her leadership journey at Havas India, she highlights how diversity, wellbeing, and authenticity drive innovation, belonging, and sustainable business success.

To learn more about her leadership insights, inclusive practices, and purpose-driven culture, read the full article below.

With the evolving work environment, what does an empowering culture that genuinely embraces diversity, purpose, and growth look like to you as a leader?

An empowering culture is one where people feel seen, heard, and valued for who they are. At Havas India, we’ve built a workplace that encourages authenticity and equal opportunity, where creativity thrives on diverse perspectives. We’re proud that 43% of our workforce and 50% of our leadership are women — a reflection of our commitment to balance and inclusion.

For me, 

When people bring their full selves to work, innovation and belonging naturally follow.

What was your breaking point or experience when you first started developing such cultures and how did you realize that inclusion could be the key to growth and innovation?

Early in my career, I witnessed how organizations flourished when every voice mattered — and how they struggled when people didn’t feel included. That realization shaped my belief that inclusion isn’t a ‘good to have’; it’s a growth enabler. At Havas India, as we expanded rapidly, inclusion became central to sustaining our creative energy. By integrating DEI into every process — from hiring to content creation — we discovered that diverse teams create more resonant ideas. Our work in inclusive advertising and gender-balanced leadership has proven that inclusion fuels both innovation and business results.

You have led various initiatives that nurture talent, wellbeing, and equal opportunity. What inspired you to design these, and what impact have they created on people?

People are at the heart of everything we do at Havas India. Our initiatives — from our internship programs that bring in young, diverse talent, to wellbeing campaigns focused on mental health and flexibility — were born from listening to our people. We’ve focused on building equal opportunities for women and underrepresented groups, while nurturing leadership at every level. The impact has been tangible — stronger engagement, higher retention, and a culture where people feel safe to grow. The true measure of success is when employees say they can be themselves here — that’s when you know culture is working.

Enabling inclusion in large, diverse teams may be difficult. How do you ensure that purpose and belonging do not reduce the growth and development of organizations?

Inclusion and growth are not opposing goals — they reinforce each other. At Havas India, we view belonging as a foundation for performance. When people feel connected to the company’s purpose and free to share ideas, they drive innovation. We create this balance through open dialogue, leadership accountability, and continuous learning.

Inclusion isn’t about slowing growth; it’s about ensuring everyone contributes to it — equally and meaningfully.

When challenges arise like resistance, fatigue, or differing perspectives, how do you renew people’s belief in the shared purpose that holds the culture together?

Change and inclusion journeys can meet resistance — and that’s natural. The key is constant communication and empathy. At Havas India, we keep our shared purpose — “Making a meaningful difference” — at the center of everything we do. When fatigue sets in, we reconnect teams to why our work matters — to our people, our clients, and the larger community. Recognizing small wins, celebrating diverse voices, and keeping conversations open help reignite belief. It’s not about pushing harder but listening deeper and realigning to a common purpose.

LAST WORD:Advice for Women Leaders To Build Empowering & Inclusive Workplaces

Believe in the power of authenticity and empathy. Inclusion begins when leaders create spaces where others can thrive without fear or bias. For women leaders, my advice is — own your voice, lift others as you rise, and build networks of support.

At Havas India, I’ve seen how women-led leadership shapes culture through compassion and conviction. Progress isn’t about perfection but persistence. When we champion inclusion and purpose-driven leadership, we not only change workplaces — we shape the future of work itself.