ICONS OF 2025 : India's Inspiring Trailblazers

Dr. Shivani Mayekar Rao is a renowned celebrity dentist and entrepreneur with over 15 years of experience. As CEO of Mayekars Oral Care Centres, Mumbai, she specializes in aesthetic and cosmetic dentistry, passionately creating healthy smiles. Recognized among Economic Times’ Top 10 Rising Doctors in India, she has been the smile expert for Band Baaja Bride by Sabyasachi and Times of India Miss & Mr India. Honored with the Lokmat Woman Doctor Achiever 2024 and Indian Achievers Award, she serves Bollywood celebrities and prominent business and political figures. A former national badminton champion, she also leads the FMCG venture Cero and pursues nature photography. Connect at @dr.shibz_mayekar.rao

Ruhi Banerjee

Ruhi Banerjee, an award-winning career coach, academic strategist, and founder of The Woman, has over 25 years of experience shaping futures across India. A lifetime member of the International Career Counsellor Club, she champions the vision of Viksit Bharat 2047, bridging the gap between education and employability. Heading Partnership Alliances at IBSEA, she prepares youth to be innovators, leaders, and job creators. Recognized with multiple national awards, Banerjee also empowers women and underserved communities through mentorship and social impact initiatives. Her mission: not just preparing students for exams, but for purposeful, professional, and personal excellence.Connect at @ruhi.banerjee

Deepa Bhardwaj

Deepa Bhardwaj, Director of Udgam Pre School, is a visionary leader dedicated to fostering academic, social, and emotional growth in young learners. With a B.Com from Delhi University, she began her journey in 2004 with one preschool and now leads over nine centers. Deepa’s passion for accessible, affordable education drives her commitment to innovation, inclusivity, and continuous improvement. Her leadership has earned Udgam numerous prestigious awards, recognizing excellence in education, mental health promotion, and community impact. Guided by the philosophy that failure is a stepping stone to success, Deepa Bhardwaj continues to empower children and shape the future of early education.Connect at @deepabhardwaj

Dr. Flomny Menon

Dr. Flomny Menon FHEA FRSA, Founder & CEO of FA Innovations UK and British Leadership Institute, is a globally acclaimed professor, wellness expert, and motivational speaker. Rising from a small village to international prominence, she has partnered with brands like Chelsea FC and Six Senses, shaped award-winning wellness ventures, and championed education for the underprivileged. Armed with executive education from Harvard, Stanford, MIT, and more, she inspires future leaders through holistic leadership, resilience, and lifelong learning. Recognized with the Inspiring Educator of the Year (UK, 2020) and Young Leader in Education (India, 2025), Dr. Menon embodies dedication, devotion, and determination.Connect at @flomny_menon

Zeenia Kaivan Jalnawalla

Hampers N More, founded by Zeenia Jalnawalla in Mumbai, transforms gifting into an art with its bespoke, beautifully curated hampers. Inspired by a personalised baby gift and guided by the belief that a gift should feel like a memorable experience, the brand emphasizes quality, personalisation, and presentation. Starting from a home-based passion, Hampers N More quickly gained popularity through word-of-mouth and social media, attracting corporate clients, wedding planners, and international customers. Today, it offers a diverse range of hampers-from corporate festive orders to quirky surprise boxes-promising unique, budget-friendly creations tailored for every occasion.Connect at @hampersmore

Jasmine Dalal

Jasmine Dalal is a certified Tarot and Angel Card Reader as well as a coach, dedicated to helping individuals and organizations uncover life’s hidden insights. Since beginning her journey in 2015. Jasmine’s mission has been to provide an affordable way for people to connect with their inner selves. Guided always by her passion and supported by two angel peers always in every aspect of life ,she embraces the law of karma and positivity in her work. Grateful for the encouragement she’s received, Jasmine continues to offer compassionate guidance to those seeking clarity and support in life’s challenges. 

11:11. Connect at @riseandshinewithasho

Dr. Sukhjeet Kaur

Dr. Sukhjeet Kaur is a renowned Homeopathic Infertility Specialist, celebrated for her holistic, natural approach and deep belief in the body’s innate ability to conceive. With patience, positivity, and perseverance, she has helped countless couples achieve natural conception, treating complex issues like recurrent miscarriages, PCOD, uterine fibroids, low AMH, anovulation, endometriosis, and azoospermia. Guided by the philosophy, “Until your own health is restored, how can you nurture a new life?” she focuses on correcting physical, emotional, and hormonal imbalances rather than invasive methods. Her vision is to promote healthier parenthood through mindful living, self-healing, and natural fertility restoration.Connect at @drsukhjeethomeopathy

Dr. Swayam Prava Baral

Dr. Swayam Prava Baral, a distinguished Psychiatrist from Bhubaneswar, will represent India at Mrs. Universe Official 2025 in the Philippines this October. An MBBS, MD, and DPM from the Central Institute of Psychiatry, Ranchi, with a Fellowship in Psychosexual Medicine, she is Associate Professor at IMS & SUM Hospital 2 and founder of Swayam Mind Clinic & Wellness Centre. Author of 30 Days to a Healthy Mind and a WHO Fides Influencer, Dr. Baral champions mental health and human rights globally. From winning titles at TIGP Mrs. India to leading psychiatric initiatives, she embodies intellect, empathy, and grace, carrying India’s voice for dignity and mental well-being worldwide.Connect at @mindanditsmysteries

Suma Prakash

Suma Prakash, a BCom and MBA graduate and certified yoga instructor from Mysuru, is the founder of Aura Yoga and Wellness Centre, dedicated to healing mind and body imbalances 

and promote holistic well-being and health. A gold medalist in Yoga and Therapy Yoga from Sri Vivekananda Yoga Kendra, she also holds a diploma in Scientific Pranayama and QCI, RPL certifications. Recipient of the Global Iconic Award, Nari Shakti Award, and Sthri Rathna Award, Suma empowers women through initiatives like training lady auto drivers. A former Miss Mysore and Miss Karnataka, she will host an international wellness retreat in Sri Lanka this September. Connect at @sumapeaches

Shilpa Venkat

Shilpa Venkat, Founder of WOW (Women of Wonder Group, Pune), is transforming how women connect, collaborate and grow. What began in 2014 as a small circle is now a thriving community of 12,000+ members on Facebook and an active big WhatsApp group. WOW supports women-led businesses, solopreneurs, start ups and homemakers who started their businesses through vibrant online promotions, flea markets and offline networking meetups. Known for her authenticity and vision, award-winning community builder Shilpa has made WOW a launchpad for real stories, creativity and collaboration. With upcoming collaborations and large-scale events, WOW is fast emerging as a powerful name in Pune’s women-led business space.Connect at @shilpa.venkat

Dr. Chetan Bijwal

Dr. Chetan Bijwal emphasizes that heart attack symptoms often begin with acidity-like discomfort, and chest pain should never be ignored at any age or by any gender. He stresses that stroke, or brain attack, demands urgent admission to a tertiary care center within 3–4.5 hours. Antibiotics should not be taken on the first day of fever or without proper tests, and completing the prescribed course prevents resistance. Dr. Bijwal advocates self-care through a healthy diet, hydration, exercise, stress management, and work-life balance. He urges everyone to call for help when needed, trust their doctors, and express daily gratitude for life.Connect at @drchetanbijwal

Vandana Kakkar Chhatwal

Vandana Kakkar Chhatwal, Women Business Coach and Founder of Indian Women Cafe, leads a Vibrant Networking and Learning Platform for Women Entrepreneurs. An MBA in Marketing & Sales, PGDM in AI & Machine Learning from IIT Roorkee, and Certified POSH Enabler, She curates Impactful Events, including the recent Bengaluru meet with 42 Entrepreneurs at Hotel Green Park, Bengaluru. Her Mission is to Empower Indian Women to build Scalable, Sustainable Businesses with Confidence and Purpose. Through Workshops, Marketing Tools, and the Signature Spotlight Awards, She creates a Trusted Ecosystem for Collaboration and Growth.Connect at @indian_women_cafe

Dr. Ayswarya Ramachandran

In 2025, Dr. Ayswarya Ramachandran made a pivotal shift from corporate success to a soul-led, dharma-driven mission. With a PhD in Clinical Research and over a decade in clinical trial transparency, she transitioned into her true calling-emotional empowerment. As a Certified Life Coach and training Psycho-Oncology Coach, Dr. Ranachandran supports cancer patients, survivors, caregivers, and seekers of emotional well-being. Through her brand SOUWKHYAM-meaning “Are you well?” in Tamil and “wholeness” in Sanskrit-she creates safe, nurturing spaces for growth. Blending scientific expertise with soulful practices, she now leads a movement of compassion, purpose, and transformation across Chennai, Bangalore, and beyond.Connect at @lifecoach_dr.ayswaryar

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