DST iTBI, Indian Institute of Management Jammu hosts Women Leadership Dialogue, Launches Stree Shakti Book

JAMMU: DST iTBI at the Indian Institute of Management Jammu, under the aegis of the IIM Jammu Foundation for Entrepreneurship, Innovation and Skill Development (FEISD), successfully organized the Women Leadership Dialogue: From Empowerment to Impact at the Manthan Auditorium, Jagti Campus. The programme brought together women leaders, entrepreneurs, academicians, policymakers, and institutional stakeholders to deliberate on issues related to women empowerment, leadership, entrepreneurship, and inclusive development. Prof. B.S. Sahay, Director, IIM Jammu presided over the event. 

The event was graced by Kuwarani Dr. Ritu Singh Ji, Founding Chairperson of FICCI FLO Jammu Kashmir Ladakh, Director of Hari Niwas Hotel and Resorts, Pro Vice Chairperson of DPS Jammu, and a renowned entrepreneur, a dynamic leader, philosopher, philanthropist, socialist, and social reformer; Ms. Rekha Mody, Founder and President,Stree Shakti; Ms. Neerja, Co-lead, Women Leaders Conclave; Dr. Shubhra Sharma, Mission Director, the J&K Rural Livelihood Mission; Ms. Sapna Kotwal, JKAS, Secretary, J&K Advisory Board for Development of Pahari Speaking People; and Ms. Sunaina Mehta, JKAS,Joint Director Tourism, Directorate of Tourism, Govt of Jammu and Kashmir, Shri Raman Gupta Ji, Managing Director, PANS & POTS CO Group among other distinguished participants. The event was also graced by Dr. Muqbil Burhan, Chairperson, Center for Innovation, Entrepreneurship, and Skill Development, IIM Jammu, along with Prof. Shyam Narayan Lal, Chairperson, Anandam: The Center for Happiness, IIM Jammu.

A major highlight of the programme was the launch of the Stree Shakti book titled Womens Leaders Conclave, which was unveiled by Prof. B. S. Sahay, Director, IIM Jammu, and Kuwarani Dr. Ritu Singh Ji, in the presence of Ms. Rekha Mody, Ms. Neerja, Dr. Shubhra Sharma, Ms. Sapna Kotwal, Ms. Sunaina Mehta,  Dr. MuqbilBurhan, and Prof. Shyam Narayan Lal among other distinguished participants.

Addressing the gathering, Kuwarani Ritu Ji described Jammu & Kashmir as a land of Shakti and began her remarks with a traditional shloka. She emphasized that through grassroots leadership, self-help groups, financial independence, and financial literacy, women can achieve true empowerment. She highlighted the need for skill development, entrepreneurship support, safe and inclusive work environments, and greater women’s participation in leadership and governance. Sharing inspiring grassroots success stories, she announced that her trust would extend support of ₹5 lakh under CSR initiatives to promote women-led activities and suggested initiating a podcast platform dedicated to women’s leadership and empowerment narratives.

In his address, Prof. B. S. Sahay, Director, IIM Jammu, expressed his happiness at witnessing such a vibrant gathering of women leaders and stakeholders. Referring to the vision of Shri Narendra Modi, the Hon’ble Prime Minister of India, he spoke about the concept of Panch Pran and the national aspiration of building a developed India. He emphasized the importance of preserving India’s civilizational heritage, unity, and collective duty towards national progress. He highlighted that women empowerment has always been deeply embedded in Indian culture and cited examples such as Radha–Krishna and Sita–Ram. He also referred to several women-focused initiatives of the Government of India, including “Beti Bachao Beti Padhao, Ujjwala Yojana, and Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana”, which have strengthened dignity and opportunities for women across the country. Highlighting institutional initiatives, he shared that the Indian Institute of Management Jammu remains committed to gender balance and inclusive growth.

He spoke about key initiatives at IIM Jammu such as the Centre for Innovation and Transformation in Governance (CITaG) and the Center for Entrepreneurship, Innovation, and Skill Development, which aim to nurture innovation, leadership, and entrepreneurship. He also proposed organizing a large-scale International Women Leadership Summit in collaboration with stakeholders to promote women’s entrepreneurship and grassroots leadership. Noting that IIM Jammu is entering its tenth year of excellence, he expressed the vision of making the Women Leadership Dialogue an annual summit involving over 500 powerful women leaders, thereby creating a powerful platform for leadership and societal transformation in the U.T. of Jammu and Kashmir. He  extended an invitation to all the participants to visit the IIM Jammu campus and attend the 09th Annual Convocation of IIM Jammu in 2026. He also highlighted initiatives such as the Mission Yuva Scheme, jointly developed by the Indian Institute of Management Jammu and the Government of Jammu and Kashmir, which aims to create 4.25 lakh employment opportunities by promoting entrepreneurship and skill development among the youth. He encouraged stakeholders to collaborate with the institute’s leadership development programmes that feature distinguished speakers and experts from across the world.

Dr. Muqbil Burhan, Chairperson, Center for Entrepreneurship & Innovation, IIM Jammu spoke about the institute’s initiatives aimed at promoting women entrepreneurship through incubation, mentorship, and skill development programmes. He highlighted the importance of building supportive ecosystems that enable women to translate innovative ideas into impactful ventures and appreciated the encouragement extended by the institute’s leadership in advancing such initiatives.

Prof. Shyam Narayan Lal, Chairperson, Anandam – The Center for Happiness, at the Indian Institute of Management Jammu reflected on the silent yet powerful role women play in shaping families and society. He noted that women manage households, nurture families, and contribute significantly to societal progress without seeking recognition. Emphasizing the importance of acknowledging and appreciating these contributions, he highlighted the role of Anandam – The Center for Happiness in promoting holistic well-being and gratitude, and informed that the Centre will soon be launching its literature for the general public.

Dr. Mitali Gupta, Dietician and Nutritionist, Jammu emphasized that true leaders create opportunities and space for others to grow. Drawing from her experiences in media and community engagement, she underlined the importance of nurturing young minds and contributing to society through knowledge sharing and leadership.

The programme witnessed the participation of several distinguished women leaders and professionals, including Dr. Mitali Gupta, Sapna Kotwal, JKAS, Adv. Gayatri Jamwal, Adv. Rosina Afzal, Adv. Aruna Thakur, Dr. Palki Sharma, Prof. Pragya Khanna, Prof. Anupama Arora, Prof. Rajni Bala, Ms. Shilpa Handoo, Ms. Vasundhra Dubey, Ms. Saisha Gupta, Sarika Chopra, Ms. Nirmala Mahana, Ms. Sonali Jamwal, Praguni Sanotra, Ms. Tamana Salathia, Ms. Priyanka Sharma, Ms. Nidhi Verma, Ms. Gauri Deoli, Ms. Sunaina Mehta, Ms. Shalini Sharma, Ms. Neena, Adv. Meenakshi Salathia, and Dr. Meeta Gupta, among several other participants.

Ms. Rekha Mody, Founder and PresidentStree Shakti expressed gratitude to the Prof. B.S. Sahay, Director, IIM Jammu, noting that his vision and guidance had provided a clear roadmap for advancing women leadership initiatives in the region.

Present during the occasion were Dr. Vivek Sharma, Chief Innovation Officer, IIM Jammu. The event was coordinated by the DST iTBI IIM Jammu team, including Mr. Kannav Padha, Manager, DST iTBI IIM Jammu; Ms. Druvi Sharma, Deputy Manager, DST iTBI IIM Jammu; and Ms. Anjali Goswami, Assistant Manager, DST iTBI IIM Jammu.

The dialogue reaffirmed the commitment of DST iTBI at the Indian Institute of Management Jammu to nurture innovation-driven startups, promote women entrepreneurship, and create collaborative platforms that empower women leaders to drive inclusive and sustainable development.