India has a rich legacy of royal families, but true empowerment comes from fostering equality and leadership. In a significant stride towards women's advancement, the Women Empowerment Committee of The Federation of Telangana Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FTCCI) organized a half-day program titled EmpowerHer: Accelerating Equality and Empowerment. Held at The Marvel Hall in T-Hub, Madhapur, on Thursday, the event celebrated Women's Day with thought-provoking discussions and impactful initiatives.
A Call for an Ecosystem of Empowerment
The event featured Ms. Shikha Goel, Director General of Police, Women Safety Wing, Telangana, as the chief guest. Addressing over 300 participants, she emphasized that empowerment is not just about fairness and equality—it is about national development. She stressed that a nation cannot progress if half its population is left behind and that true empowerment requires a supportive ecosystem.
Ms. Goel highlighted Telangana Police’s pioneering initiatives in women's safety, including She Teams and Bharosa. She Teams, designed to ensure women's security, integrate technology-driven awareness campaigns. The Bharosa Support Center operates on a holistic convergence model, providing comprehensive support to distressed victims in a single location, independent of police stations. Notably, the Supreme Court of India recognized and appreciated the Bharosa model.
She also spoke about SAHAS, a program aimed at strengthening the support ecosystem for women facing workplace sexual harassment, and T-Safe, a ride-monitoring service for women launched by Chief Minister Revanth Reddy. This initiative is a major step towards ensuring safer mobility for women
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A Vision for Women’s Leadership
R. Ravi Kumar, Senior Vice President of FTCCI, shared a powerful message, stating that every day should be a Women’s Day. He urged individuals to commit at least one hour daily to upskilling themselves to contribute to the realization of Vikasith Bharath by 2047.
Dr. Tasneem Shariff, in her opening remarks, encouraged women to recognize their potential as leaders. She pointed out that only 8% of CEOs in Fortune 500 companies are women, highlighting the need for more women to step into leadership roles.
Insights from Industry Leaders
The event featured distinguished speakers, including Ms. Keerthy Reddy (Founder & CEO, Bold Fuse), Ms. Purnima Kamble (Senior Partner, Fox Mandal Foundation), Ms. Aakanksha Kumar (Chief Engagement Head, Telangana and AP, Image Consulting Business Institute, FTCCI), and Ms. Sylvia Smetana (Founder, Divershefy). Their insights on leadership, branding, and personal growth inspired attendees.
A Holistic Approach to Women’s Development
A series of engaging sessions covered topics such as Health, Wellness, Safety, Legal Rights, Personal Grooming, and Branding. A fireside chat on "Raising the Standard – Achieving CXO-Level Excellence" provided valuable perspectives for aspiring women leaders.
The program witnessed the enthusiastic participation of over 300 professionals, entrepreneurs, students, HR and organizational leaders, and advocates for women’s rights. By fostering dialogue and sharing best practices, EmpowerHer reinforced the importance of collective action in advancing gender equality and empowerment.
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