30 Women in Power - Their Voices Their Stories Book Launch at FICCI Ladies Organization Meet Panel Discussion

30 Women in Power—Their Voices Their Stories, book edited by Naina Lai Kidwai, Chairman, India Director, HSBC Asia Pacific launched at FICCI Ladies Organization meet Panel Discussion on "Some Leaders are Born Women" held followed by the book launch

30 Women in Power—Their Voices Their Stories, the book edited by Naina Lai Kidwai, Chairman, India Director, HSBC Asia Pacific launched at FICCI Ladies Organization meet held here in city today.

30 Women in Power carries the inimitable voices of Indian women who have been pioneers and led large organizations—in banking, law, the media, advertising, government services, health care, consulting, the fast-moving consumer goods sector and the not-for-profit space.

Naina Lai Kidwai was the first woman president of the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI), India's leading and oldest industry association.

Welcoming the gathering Rekha Lahoti, Chairperson of FLO Hyderabad said we are indeed privileged to have with us some of the tallest women leaders of our country on one stage. And I am delighted that all of us at FICCI Ladies Organisation, Hyderabad Chapter which is now 14 years old with almost 500 members have this opportunity to interact and listen to such stalwarts.
Naina ji has been an exemplary example of a woman in a leadership role for the last many years. Over this time she has achieved every possible landmark, Rekha informed.

When I went to meet Nainaji to invite her, I was nervous and didn't know what to expect. But the experience I came back with and my every other interaction with her has been nothing less than inspiring and heartening. Despite all that she has achieved her sense of humility and her down to earth nature amazed me. And she truly sets the bench-mark and raises it a little higher with every new accomplishment, Rekha said.

Each of these leaders present here have set an extraordinary standard of 'Yes, we can'. And their accomplishments have been instrumental in inspiring women and the next generation of women leaders to believe—anything is possible
The vision for this year has been...Building synergy through member engagement. "Synergy to me is an underlying thread that holds everything together. If there is synergy of ideas, minds and actions we could achieve a lot more than what we could do individually", added Rekha.

Adding further she informed that the National anthem video which they saw has been made by FLO members was selected by the US Consulate to be played on their independence day on 2n July.

Rekha informed that the FLO Hyderabad chapter—INITIATIVE--WOMEN IN TRANSPORT — headed by Jayashree Sanghani was well received. This Skill Development Initiative for Empowering Women was taken up in association with Govt of Telangana and Maruti Suzuki Driving School. It is a national initiative of FICCI FLO which would train 1500 women across the country and in Hyderabad 150 to 200. We have already commenced first two batches, she told the gathering. This initiative has been conceptualized with women safety in mind, she added.

Followed by book launch held a Panel Discussion on "Some Leaders are Born Women" with Naina Lai Kidwai, Chairman, India Director, HSBC Asia Pacific; Debjani Ghosh, VP, Sales & Marketing Group and MD South Asia, Intel Corporation; Avani Davda, CEO, Starbucks India-Tata Global Beverage and Starbucks tie-up; Shanti Ekambaram, President, Corporate & Investment Banking, Kotak Mahindra Bank Ltd; Vijyalakshmi Iyer, Former CMD, Indian Bank; Preetha Reddy, MD, Apollo Hospitals. It was moderated by Uma Sudhir, Resident Editor, NDTV.

While women represent half of the Indian population, they are still underrepresented at the highest levels of power. We need the different leadership and management styles that women can bring to corporate management. Women are "born leaders". It is an undisputed fact. They can take the steps needed to sponsor more women in leadership roles observed the panelists during the panel discussion.

"Some Leaders Are Born Women". They have leadership qualities within themselves. Women can be leaders and can head businesses, be mothers, volunteer, start companies or work for charitable organizations or government. They need to build leadership qualities in them. They must dare to dream and must grow through challenge. Set powerful goals. Set high standards, and live accordingly observed the panelists.

The high profile FLO meet, the second activity in the year has drawn good response from its members. Well over 200 have participated in the meet.

FICCI Ladies Organization (FLO) is the national body, a division of the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI).