Hailing from Ahmednagar, Maharashtra, she embarked on her entrepreneurial journey with buffalo trading and milk supply to dairy, supported by her father from a young age. Along with a Master’s degree in Physics, she also manages a zero-waste farm, implementing sustainable practices like a biogas plant for electricity generation, organic farming, and production of bioproducts. Her resilient spirit and dedication not only champion sustainability but also empower the local community through valuable employment and training opportunities. Recognized as an inspiration to many, she has also been honored with the title 'Krishikanya of Maharashtra' by the Maharashtra government.
With a distinguished 14-year military career in the Indian Navy and Air Force, where she was honored as a 'CAT A' senior ATC instructor, she now serves as an Assistant Vice President at Citi. Her 15+ years of expertise in global technology governance, HR transformations, and operations are complemented by significant achievements, including leading humanitarian air operations during the 2018 Kerala floods. She also contributed over 3000 training hours at the Indian Air Force Academy and developed India’s most advanced ATC RADAR simulator. An IIM Bangalore alumna with a Master’s in Air Traffic Management & Aviation Law, she is also a certified Yoga Instructor and avid marathon runner. Recognized as a ``Women Super Achiever,`` she has been celebrated for her impactful work in women's empowerment, environmental sustainability, and more.
Anita holds an MSc in Statistics from IIT Bombay and a Post Graduate Diploma in Management from IIM Ahmedabad. Her early career spanned advertising, market research, and marketing consultancy. She is a Partner at Prosearch Consultants, a firm specializing in sports-based consultancy, and runs the highly popular motivational workshop ``The Winning Way,`` which explores sports-based learnings for corporate managers. Anita was also the Founder and Director (Content) of Bizpunditz, India’s first digital learning content library for managers and has close to four decades of experience in the corporate world. She authored the book Equal, Yet Different: Career Catalysts for the Professional Woman and co-authored The Winning Way: Learnings From Sport for Managers, which has sold over 125,000 copies and remains a national bestseller. Anita also served on the board of governors of IIM Jammu and brings nearly four decades of experience in the corporate world.
Dr. Aditi Bhatt is a leading expert in peritoneal surface oncology, specializing in the treatment of stage 4 abdominal cancer. Previously, such cancers were managed with chemotherapy alone, offering limited survival. However, with advancements in surgical techniques, patients now have the potential for prolonged survival and even cure. Dr. Bhatt received specialized training in cytoreductive surgery and HIPEC at renowned centers in France, and she is among the first surgeons in the country to perform these procedures, amassing extensive experience with over 150 operations. Mastery of this surgery typically requires around 100 procedures. She was also a pioneer in introducing PIPAC (Pressurized Intraperitoneal Aerosol Chemotherapy) in India. Dr. Bhatt has published numerous scientific papers and a book on this field and has conducted workshops to train fellow surgeons. At Zydus, she leads the first dedicated unit in Gujarat for peritoneal cancer treatment, offering both HIPEC and PIPAC, supported by a multidisciplinary team including medical oncology, anesthesiology, intensive care, radiology, and pathology. Her fellowships include Institut Gustave Roussy and Paul Brousse Hospital in Paris, and Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York. She has been honored with the Gold Medal for the highest marks in MS (General Surgery) from Gujarat University (2009) and the Best Abstract Award at the 10th World Congress on Peritoneal Surface Malignancies in Washington, DC (2016).
She is a consultant, counselor, trainer, and qualified psychotherapist with a focus on mental and social well-being. With 25 years of cumulative experience, she has addressed a wide range of issues including gender rights, workplace relationships, marital discord, domestic violence, addiction, parenting, teenage issues, mental illness, and stress management. Her work spans roles as a counselor, consultant, and resource person for training and capacity building.
In addition to her role as a practicing psychologist and counselor, she has served as an associate professor of psychology at FLAME University, Pune, and has been a visiting faculty member at SNDT College, Fergusson College, and Sancheti Physiotherapy College.
Originally trained as a medical doctor, she practiced medicine for 10 years before earning a Master’s in Clinical Psychology. Her diverse experience encompasses work with corporates, academic institutions, NGOs, and private practice. This multidisciplinary background allows her to integrate insights from psychology, neuroscience, community and corporate culture, gender and women’s issues, and human rights with legal matters for effective intervention at both institutional and personal levels.
Driven by a passion to connect theoretical frameworks with real-world applications, she aims to bridge knowledge gaps and develop impactful solutions that contribute to societal improvement and human well-being.
Mittal Patel is a prominent Indian activist renowned for her advocacy on behalf of nomadic and denotified tribes (NT-DNT) communities. She founded ``Vicharta Samuday Samarthan Manch (VSSM)`` to tackle the socio-economic and political challenges faced by these marginalized groups. Through her tireless efforts, Patel has brought attention to issues of identity, social discrimination, and access to basic rights, significantly influencing policy changes and initiatives aimed at empowering NT-DNT communities and fostering their integration into mainstream society. Her unwavering commitment to social justice and empowerment has garnered her widespread recognition and numerous awards for her transformative contributions to Indian society.
She spent her childhood in Dehradun, where her father worked at CSIR, and her mother devoted herself to raising the family. She earned her B.Sc. (Hons.) in Chemistry from Miranda House, University of Delhi, followed by an M.Sc. in Chemistry from IIT Kanpur. She then pursued a Ph.D. in Chemistry at Cornell University, USA, and completed postdoctoral research at the University of Pennsylvania and Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. In 2008, she joined IIT Bombay as an Assistant Professor and currently holds the position of Professor and Head of the Department.
Her accolades include the Mobility Award from Northwestern University and the Bachhawat International Award. She has published over 100 research papers in prestigious international journals and serves on the editorial boards of leading chemistry journals. Her research interests encompass Structural Biochemistry, Enzyme Catalysis, Nucleobase Deamination, and Antibiotic Resistance Mechanisms.
Rajshree Sonawane is a 3rd-year MBBS student at BAVMC, Pune. Originally from Ahmednagar, she completed her schooling up to the 12th grade in Pune. Rajshree is passionate about a variety of activities, including painting, cooking, dancing, and playing football. She aspires to become a trained orthopedic surgeon in the future.
Vaishnavi is a 4th-year PharmD student at ICP Pune, originally from Jalna. She completed her 10th grade at Navodaya Amba Partur and her 11th and 12th grades in Ahmednagar. Her hobbies include cooking, painting, grafting, playing badminton and basketball, and solving puzzles. Vaishnavi aspires to become an IAS officer.
