International Women’s Day 2025: Accelerate Action

New Delhi, March 8, 2025: International Women’s Day, observed every year on March 8th, is a worldwide initiative that acknowledges the accomplishments, challenges, and resilience of women in all areas of life. It is a day dedicated to celebrating pioneers who have championed obstacles, uplifted communities, and continue to influence the world with their courage and vision.

From political figures to activists, artists to business leaders, their voices drive transformation, reminding us that achieving gender equality is not merely a goal but a vital necessity. This year’s theme is ‘Accelerate Action,’ emphasising the urgency of advancing gender equality.

Below are insights from several industry leaders regarding their perspectives on this year’s International Women’s Day-

Shivani Wagh, Joint Managing Director, Supriya Lifescience

On this Women’s Day, it is essential to recognise that women are not just contributors but key drivers of India’s economic growth. The Union Budget 2025-26 reflects this understanding, with ₹4.49 lakh crore allocated towards gender-focused initiatives—a decisive step in bridging gaps in education, skill development, and financial inclusion. A 37.5% increase in budgetary support is encouraging, but real empowerment comes when these investments translate into sustainable opportunities on the ground.

With over 14% of Indian enterprises headed by women, women-led entrepreneurship is on the rise. This shift is not just a statistic, it demonstrates how resilient and innovative women are in business. In spite of this, access to capital remains a challenge, making credit programs and self-employment schemes crucial for aspiring entrepreneurs. In addition, investments in STEM education and advanced manufacturing will be crucial to breaking gender barriers in high-value industries.

Yet, true empowerment goes beyond policy—it requires a societal shift. More women in leadership, greater workplace inclusivity, and a mindset that fosters equity are just as important as financial support. Initiatives like Beti Bachao Beti Padhao, and Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana have laid a strong foundation, but the next step is accelerating action. As we celebrate Women’s Day, we must ask: Are we creating an ecosystem where women can not only enter the workforce but also thrive, innovate, and lead? The future of our economy depends on how we answer that question.

Garima Singh, Chief People Officer at Orion Innovation

“At Orion Innovation, we take immense pride in fostering an inclusive workplace where women are empowered to lead, innovate, and thrive. This International Women’s Day, we celebrate the incredible women who bring their talent, leadership, and resilience to our workplace every day and also recognize the male allyship as part of our culture. We’re proud to accelerate action through initiatives like the Women Reimagine Program, which supports women returning to the workforce, and MyOWN – Orion Women’s Network, which fosters mentorship and leadership. We are celebrating across our locations in India, North America, Europe, and Mexico with a variety of local activities focused on health, fun, learning sessions on equity awareness, and community events. These initiatives reflect our commitment to women’s well-being and professional growth. Let’s continue to champion diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging—not just today, but every day.”

Sunil Gupta, COO, Vedanta Aluminium

At Vedanta Aluminium, fostering an inclusive and equitable workplace is central to our success. The theme for this year’s International Women’s Day, #AccelerateAction, aligns seamlessly with our campaign, Shakti se Pragati, where the strength of women fuels transformative action and drives meaningful change. With 50% female representation in fresher hiring, we are on track to achieve 30% female representation across our workforce by 2030, empowering women to lead the transition to a low-carbon economy. Our commitment to gender diversity is reflected in various initiatives like year-long childcare leave, flexible work arrangements, spouse hiring, and the first-ever night shift approval for women in Odisha under Project Shree Shakti. These initiatives are breaking long-standing barriers in core functions like smelting, mining, power generation, logistics, and finance. As the metals and mining sector is evolving with Industry 4.0, automation, and sustainability-driven innovations, we are actively bridging the gender gap and creating high-growth opportunities for women in modern manufacturing, energy transition, and beyond.

Ram Shrivastava, Director and Head of Global Expansion, Maharishi Ayurveda

Globally, healthcare is one of the few sectors where women form the majority, making up 70-80% of the global workforce. Yet, in India, only 29% of medical doctors are women, and their representation in leadership roles remains disproportionately low at 18%. While progress has been made, true inclusion requires more than just numbers—it demands a cultural shift, proactive leadership, and strategic initiatives to create lasting impact. Ayurveda has traditionally been a male-dominated field, with the term Vaidya long associated with men. However, this is changing. Today, women are at the forefront of Ayurveda’s evolution—leading research, education, and product innovation, and integrating Ayurveda with modern healthcare systems. We have seen this shift firsthand at Maharishi Ayurveda, where women are not only leading scientific validation, product innovation, and practitioner training, but also driving Ayurveda’s global expansion into new markets and healthcare systems. As we celebrate Women’s Day, it is important to recognise that women are not just participating in Ayurveda’s progress—they are accelerating it. By fostering mentorship, leadership opportunities, and skills development, we can ensure that Ayurveda continues to thrive as a science-based, globally recognised system of holistic wellness.