The Week That Was: Women Lead in Business, Awards and Policy

By: WE Staff | Sunday, 22 March 2026

The seismic shift in the Indian corporate ecosystem is worth a notice with women being the architects and at the helm of transformation. This pronounced change is brought in by replacing old and rigid hierarchies with novel and strategic ways of accountability, creativity, and sustainability. Challenging the conventional corporate playbook, women leaders are leveraging their power thriving on innovation, resilience, and meaningful impact.

Proving their mettle in ever-evolving and diverse industries such as finance, technology, sports, and creative, women leaders are creating an impact that is foster collaboration and is bringing measurable profitability. Owing to the rise of women’s representation in senior roles, government and many agencies are offering fruitful platforms and facilities in a comprehensive and targeted way for supporting an inclusive growth momentum.

Riding this wave of change, Women Entrepreneurs Review Magazine showcases this week’s stories capturing Indian women at the forefront and bringing in new waves of change. 

Axis Bank Launches Women's Small Business Banking Initiative

Axis Bank has introduced Women Small Business Banking (SBB) a unique program aimed at women-owned businesses by offering women small entrepreneurs with structured and affordable financial products and services. It provides an all-round package of products and services, which comprise loans, current accounts benefit, and preferential rates with some possible lower interest rates on secure and credit guarantee backed loans. The benefits are availed to all business entities and they include sole proprietorship, partnerships, LLPs and private limited companies and are available throughout the tenure of credit facility. The initiative will be available in every branch of Axis Bank in the country through the Small Business Banking teams and will improve financial access and affordability to women in business. Vijay Shetty, President and Head of Commercial Banking, pointed out the increasing role of more than three crore women-owned MSME in entrepreneurship, employment and innovation in India. The action supports Axis Bank in its inclusivity in entrepreneurship and sustainable empowerment of women-owned MSMEs.

MMTC-PAMP Appoints Rachna Jindal as Chief Financial Officer

MMTC-PAMP has recruited Rachna Jindal as the Chief Financial Officer (CFO) to empower the leadership team. Jindal will be in charge of Finance (including governance, strategic planning, capital management, and profitability) with more than 25 years of experience in the finance, treasury, supply chain, and business transformation areas, as well as head of Supply Chain. She will report to Samit Guha, MD and CEO. Jindal has worked in senior positions in Yara International, Farmley, Jindal Poly Films, Pernod Ricard India, Honda and Alcatel. She is also a Chartered Accountant and a graduate of the University of Delhi commerce and holds a position of State President, Haryana, with the Women Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (WICCI).

Unlock Her Future Prize to Expand into East & Southeast Asia

The Unlock Her Future Prize (UHP), which is an annual competition among women social impact entrepreneurs, will be extended to East and Southeast Asia in 2026. The program is sponsored by The Bicester Collection and the partners and aims at women entrepreneurs working on social, cultural, or environmental issues. The 2026 issue has the theme of Global Vision, Local Engagement and is aimed at women in the region who are up to the age of 18. Largely, the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals require that eligible businesses are required to be less than three years old and have an annual income of less than 1 million USD to align their solutions to the SDGs. Past versions have occurred in MENA (2023), Latin America (2024) and South Asia (2025).

SrijanShakti Awards 2026 Celebrates Women's Role in Design

The rising role of women in India in the field of creativity and innovations was celebrated by SrijanShakti Awards 2026, by the World University of Design in Sonipat. The 3rd edition united leaders in academia, industry, policy and design to identify the women who are defining creativity, innovation and social impact. Dr. The event was attended by Shyama Rath, AICTE Member Secretary and Dr. Ashish Mohan, CII Executive Director who highlighted the role of women in the leadership and enterprise-building. Kanika Seth (Design Entrepreneur of the Year), Shivani Mehta (Creative Innovation Champion), and Meghna Joshi (Social Impact Catalyst) are some of the winners. The awards through conversations and meetings showcased women that are transforming, establishing institutions and influencing the future generation in design, innovation and social impact.

Jairam Ramesh Calls for All-party Meet to Discuss Women's Quota

Jairam Ramesh has pressed the Central Government to convene an all-party meeting prior to submitting the proposed amendment of Women Reservation Act into Parliament. He was worried about what he referred to as divisive political practices about the process. It is called the amendment, Constitution (One Hundred and Sixth Amendment) Act, 2023, or Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam, which has a 33 per cent reservation of women in the Lok Sabha and in all State Legislative Assemblies, including those in Delhi. Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribe women are covered under the law, in a bid to improve the political participation of women. In the meantime, the Lok Sabha adjourned to Monday in opposition demonstrations over shortages of LPG.