The Week That Was: Indian Women Driving Change Across Sectors

By: WE Staff | Sunday, 21 December 2025

Indian women continue to expand their influence across business, sports, science, and leadership, reinforcing their central role in shaping a more inclusive and progressive India. From strategic boardroom appointments and targeted investment funds to landmark sporting victories and academic recognition, the past week underscores steady momentum toward gender equity. These developments reflect not only growing access to opportunity but also the increasing trust placed in women as decision-makers, innovators, and change agents. Collectively, they highlight how women-led impact across policy, enterprise, research, and performance is contributing to sustainable growth and inspiring the next generation of leaders.

Women Entrepreneurs Review Magazine brings together key stories from the week that spotlight achievements, initiatives, and milestones by women shaping impact across sectors.

BGF Names Anita Dougall as Non-Executive Director

UK-based growth capital investor BGF has appointed entrepreneur and data leader Anita Dougall as a Non-Executive Director, strengthening its focus on entrepreneurial leadership and digital innovation. A co-founder and CEO of Sagacity Solutions, Dougall brings over two decades of experience spanning scale-up ventures, investment banking at NatWest Markets, and senior leadership at One2One (now EE). Her appointment aligns with BGF’s strategy to enhance board-level operational expertise and follows its £3 billion UK investment commitment, including £300 million earmarked for female-led firms, as it continues to expand its AI- and technology-driven portfolio.

BizDateUp Launches Rs 50 Cr Fund for Women-Led Startups

Mumbai-based venture capital firm BizDateUp has announced a ₹50 crore dedicated fund to support women-led startups in India, aiming to bridge funding gaps and expand female participation in the startup ecosystem. Revealed at the Womenpreneur Leadership Forum and Awards 2025, the fund will back seed- and growth-stage ventures across technology, healthcare, sustainability, consumer products, and creative sectors. Beyond capital, selected founders will gain access to mentorship and professional networks, with a special focus on entrepreneurs from metro, Tier II, and Tier III cities where access to funding remains limited.

Tata Motors Gifts Tata Sierra to Women's Cricket Team

Tata Motors honoured the Indian Women’s Cricket Team with a Tata Sierra for each player following their historic victory at the ICC Women’s World Cup 2025. The felicitation ceremony, attended by Tata Sons Chairman N. Chandrasekaran and TMPVL MD & CEO Shailesh Chandra, celebrated the team’s international achievement after defeating South Africa by 52 runs in the final. The win marked a major milestone for Indian women’s cricket, with captain Harmanpreet Kaur becoming only the third Indian captain to lift the 50-over World Cup, underscoring growing corporate recognition of women’s sporting excellence.

Yara India Announces First Women in Agronomy Scholar Awards

Yara India has announced the inaugural recipients of the Yara International Women in Agronomy Scholar Awards, reinforcing its commitment to advancing women’s representation in agricultural science. Five PhD scholars from leading Indian agricultural universities have been selected for the 2025–26 academic year, each receiving a US$1,500 grant and a six-month research mentorship with Yara’s global R&D team. The initiative aims to nurture academic excellence, innovation, and leadership among women agronomists, positioning them to play a critical role in building a resilient and competitive agricultural sector in India.

Ketan Malik Wins Women's 10m Air Pistol National Title

Ketan Malik clinched the Women’s 10m Air Pistol National Championship in Haryana, securing gold with a score of 240.0 in a highly competitive field that included Olympic champion Manu Bhaker. The event saw participation from over 900 athletes across India, highlighting the depth of talent in women’s shooting sports. Malik’s victory, alongside strong performances by junior and youth shooters, reflects the rising competitiveness and consistency of Indian women marksmen on the national stage, further strengthening the country’s pipeline of elite sporting talent.