Inspiring Talks by Accomplished Leaders at International Women’s Day
In celebration of International Women’s Day (IWD), the Indian American Cultural Association’s Women’s Forum (IACA WF) hosted a transformative conference in a packed hall of women from diverse backgrounds. Held on March 8, 2025, at Jade Banquets in Duluth, GA, the event featured engaging panel discussions—from navigating the challenges of entrepreneurship and embracing menopause to fostering mental wellness, promoting workplace harmony, and strengthening the bonds of sisterhood. Each session offered valuable insights and practical strategies, empowering attendees to thrive in their personal and professional journeys.
The event commenced with the ceremonial lamp lighting by guests of honor, Renuka Subramanian, Nita Sardana, Madhu Sheth, and IACA Women’s Forum Chairwoman Dr. Paddy Sharma along with IACA Officers— Geetanjali Talukdar, Suma Potini, Ranjitaveena Pol, and Dr. Praveena Kommidi—followed by a soulful prayer song by Vaibhavai Mathapati (IACA Indian Idol Champion) that set a serene ambiance.
Keynote Speakers: Mona Patel and Simi Shah, Neeti Dewan, Dr. Sujatha Reddy, Nita Sardana; Panels: Workplace, Mental Health, Fitter. Calmer. Stronger, Sisterhood; and Emcees: Sreeratna, Nija Majmudar.
The conference’s engaging keynote by Mona Patel offered valuable insights about entrepreneurship and reframing mindsets. Patel, a renowned entrepreneur and author, has worked with major brands like Nike, Facebook, and Capital One to enhance customer experiences through her leadership coaching expertise. She offered her Reframe method—a nine-minute exercise designed to break limiting beliefs and unlock fresh perspectives. She spoke about her entrepreneurial journey, which included building successful businesses, pioneering research for Kodak and WebMD, and founding Motivate Design to help industry leaders decode consumer needs. Patel emphasized her approach of observing, creating products, and altering behavior to achieve desired outcomes.
Simi Shah, founder of the award-winning media company South Asian Trailblazers, captivated the audience with her keynote as she shared her inspiring journey and impactful work. Recently recognized as a Forbes 30 Under 30 honoree, Shah spoke about her mission to elevate South Asian voices across diverse fields. At just 27, she achieved remarkable milestones, including visits to the White House and New York Stock Exchange, delivering speeches in influential spaces, and working with high-profile executives. Shah highlighted her efforts to amplify stories of prominent figures like Akshay Kumar and Novartis CEO Vas Narasimhan, as well as of underrepresented local artists. Through South Asian Trailblazers, she aims to redefine success within the global South Asian community, fostering a meaningful platform that celebrates diverse achievements and inspires future generations.
[Right] At the IACA IWD: Prayer Song by Vaibhavi Mathapati, comedy act by Srividya Srinivasan from Chillax Comedy Club, performance Vani Shastri Rao and her talented team, enjoyed by the audience.
Entrepreneur, author, and speaker Neeti Dewan shared valuable strategies for achieving success by adopting a positive mindset and focusing on what truly matters. She emphasized the importance of harnessing energy, minimizing stress, and embracing mistakes as part of the learning journey. Highlighting resilience, Dewan encouraged adopting a “No matter what” attitude to overcome challenges and pursue goals. She stressed the need to prioritize three key areas for a fulfilling life: meaningful relationships, financial security, and impactful contributions.
Nita Sardana, CIO of Innova Foundation, an advocate for menopause, highlighted the lack of awareness and support for menopausal women in the workforce. She underscored the stigma and taboo around menopause in many cultures, including India, and the absence of insurance coverage, medical education, corporate policies, and governmental support for menopausal women. She stressed the need for initiatives to keep women in the workforce, especially as they reach their peak of expertise, and called for increased research and resources to address menopause symptoms and support menopausal women in their careers. “The number of women in the workforce [in the U.S.] is projected to reach 92 million by 2050, but many leave due to menopause-related challenges,” she noted.
Dr. Sujatha Reddy, MD, gynecologist, emphasized the significant health risks faced by menopausal women, particularly the increased likelihood of heart disease and heart attacks, noting that declining estrogen levels may not fully offset this risk. She also highlighted concerns about osteoporosis, especially within minority communities like the Indian population, stressing the importance of baseline bone density screenings and regular physical checkups.
Dr. Reddy further underscored the need to recognize symptoms such as joint pain, which are often mistaken for bone issues, and advised prompt evaluation of any post-menopausal bleeding. Additionally, she addressed the psychological impact of menopause on men in the household, calling for greater education and awareness to promote understanding and support during this transitional phase.
The panelists for the Workplace Conflict Resolution session were Deepa Subramanian, Employment Law Attorney; Chaya Dewan, HR Partner; Radhika Rao, IT Leader; and Asha Dewan, Senior Director. They explored techniques for resolving workplace conflicts with a boss, direct employee, or peers. Key skills such as effective communication, mentorship, emotional intelligence, and reflection were discussed. The panel emphasized the importance of active listening and acknowledging others while highlighting emotional intelligence, with a focus on empathy, managing emotions, and self-awareness. The session concluded with insights on preventive strategies, recognizing red flags, and fostering a supportive work environment through improved conflict management skills.
[Left Photo] Dr. Paddy Sharma, Chairwoman, IACA WF; Renugadevi Subramanian, Guest of Honor; Suma Potini, Exec VP, IACA; Kaushal Tripathi, Chairman, BOD; Dhananjay Gupta, President; Mrs. Madhu Sheth, Sheth Foundation. [Right Photo] The event started with lighting the ceremonial lamp.
The Unmaking Mental Health Panel, moderated by Dr. Ayesha Suneja Seymour, featured insights from Dr. Ritu Chadha, Dr. Kalpana Prasad, and Dr. Nisha Gupta on women’s mental health, cultural influences, and clinical interventions. The panel addressed anxiety, high-functioning depression, hormonal health, and the stigma surrounding psychiatric medication, with a focus on challenges faced by South Asian women.
Panelists emphasized the need for women to advocate for themselves in medical settings, particularly regarding PMS, mood swings, and hormonal concerns. The discussion also explored the emotional burden women carry in relationships, including self-sacrifice, feeling unseen, and breaking intergenerational cycles of silence. The panel encouraged self-care, mental health awareness, and open conversations to break cultural taboos. Attendees left with practical tools and a renewed sense of empowerment to prioritize their well-being.
The ‘Fitter. Calmer. Stronger’ panel featuring Dr. Neelima Marada, Internal Medicine; Marathon runners Aparna Sharma and Deepika Chalke; Dr. Jyoti Manekar, MD FAAFP DABOM Family and Obesity Medicine; and Rajalakshmi N Parameswaran, Licensed Professional Counselor, explored strategies for developing and maintaining a balanced approach to fitness and nutrition, emphasizing a holistic framework of Moves, Meals, and Mindset. The panelists highlighted four key exercise pillars—cardio, strength training, flexibility, and balance—essential for women over 40, 50, and beyond. They discussed the importance of adopting a balanced diet while moving away from restrictive eating patterns. The conversation also addressed psychological barriers to maintaining consistency in fitness routines, strategies for overcoming guilt when off track, emotional eating, and body image concerns.
The Sisterhood Panel discussion, moderated by Alpa Amin, Executive Director, GAIN, brought together an inspiring group of panelists, including Lovely Dhillon, Social Impact Strategist and Lawyer; Aparna Bhattacharyya, Exec. Director, Raksha; Snehalatha Talika, TS Hikes & Trips; Mona Patel, Founder South Asian Working Moms to delve into the significance of sisterhood and its impact on personal and professional growth. The conversation began with defining what sisterhood means to the panelists, with insights on showing up for one another, having honest conversations, and growing together. The panelists shared personal experiences where sisterhood had made a meaningful difference in their journeys.
The discussion also explored the challenges and barriers that hinder true sisterhood, such as competition, cultural expectations, fear of vulnerability, and lack of representation. The panelists shared their personal strategies for overcoming these obstacles, emphasizing collaboration over competition and breaking free from societal expectations.
Org Team: Standing – (L to R) Gita Vemparala, Dr. Ayesha Suneja, Bandana Gupta, Lakshmi Narayani, Dr. Neelima Marada, Ranjithaveena Pol, Suma Potini, Dr. Paddy Sharma, Chand Akkineni, Malini Devi, Mansi Kumar, Nikki Bhatia. Sitting (L to R) - Nikita Kothari, Samina Sheikh, Jyothsna Hegde, Mrinalini Garv, Dr. Praveena Kommidi.
In the next segment, the panel focused on building and sustaining sisterhood, highlighting the importance of cultivating deep, supportive relationships and the strength that comes from empowering one another. The panelists explored how sisterhood can amplify women’s voices and ensure their visibility in such environments.
The discussion concluded with action and commitment with each panelist sharing practical steps to strengthen sisterhood and how women in the audience could support one another immediately. Key takeaways included: the importance of creating supportive communities, breaking down barriers, and taking actionable steps to empower women. The panel left the audience inspired and equipped with tools to foster meaningful connections and contribute to strengthening sisterhood in their lives.
The audience was enthralled by the vibrant and engaging activities throughout the day. Highlights included a captivating, themed dance performance by Vani Shastri Rao and her talented team, and a hilarious comedy act by Srividya Srinivasan from Chillax Comedy Club. A much-anticipated Award Ceremony for the winners from various contests that were held leading up to the event, added an extra layer of excitement, leaving everyone thoroughly entertained and inspired.
The event concluded with the announcement of the winners in various categories. Anu Ganesh was honored with the Champion of Sisterhood Award, recognizing her exceptional commitment to supporting causes. In the poetry category, Nalini Gandhi claimed the top prize with Anu Ganesh securing second place. Additional awards included Shachi Srivastava, who won for the best WF Logo design, and Priyanka Kunwar, who was awarded for creating the most impactful WF Tagline. In the area of social impact, Vani Ghanate received recognition for Best Cause Recommendation, while Nalini Gandhi also took home the Feasibility Award for her practical and actionable proposal. These winners were celebrated for their creativity, dedication, and passion in their respective fields, making the event a truly memorable occasion.
In a joint statement, the Women’s Forum team headed by Dr. Paddy Sharma with directors Suma Potini, Gita Vemparala, and Jyothsna Hegde said, “With a full house, the venue buzzed with feminine energy—a shared desire to learn, create, and be part of our evolving sisterhood. We’re also proud to have championed environmental stewardship by eliminating plastic water bottles and using compostable tableware. Thanks to our Sustainability Champion, Malini Devi Akula, the event’s waste was delivered to composters—a small yet meaningful step toward a greener future. A big shout out to our strong team of organizers who dedicated their time, energy, and passion to bring this event to life—your hard work made all the difference!”
The organizing team included Dr. Ayesha Suneja, Bandana Gupta, Lakshmi Narayani, Madhavi Kodali, Malini Devi, Mansi Kumar, Mrinalini Garv, Dr. Neelima Marada, Nikita Kothari, Dr. Praveena Kommidi, Ranjithaveena Pol, Samina Sheikh, Nikki Bhatia, and Sai Sanjana.
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