Women Of India Leadership Summit
The Women of Leadership Summit founded by Divya Chandra will be held at the India Islamic Cultural Centre . The summit aims to help the urban women in the National Capital Region to empower themselves. It includes both, men and women, in its attempt to address the problem of gender equality at various levels of the society.
• History
The Summit was conceived as a response to the gruesome Nirbhaya rape case that saw thousands coming together for a nationwide protest against the lack of safety that led to the death of 23-year-old medical student who was brutally raped by 4 inhuman men on a bus. The aim of the Summit is that by 2020 Delhi should stop being known as the rape capital of the country and instead be the place where women have created enough safety and security for themselves by being in charge of all that helps them become independent. Topics include:Self defence, Creating safety and security, Financial Independence, Legal rights, Creating balance, living alone and body image. The first of five summits and was held on the 4th, 5th, 6 October last year i.e. 2013. Each Summit has its own unique theme that addresses one major area that women can improve upon. Last year, the theme was “Know Your Rights, Tap Your Potential, Transform Your Life”. A great line up of distinguished experts included:Internationally celebrated author and speaker, Christine Agro from New York, Lira Goswami, the founding partner of Associated Law Advisers, Aprajita Singh from the chambers of senior advocate Harish Salve, who is one of India's leading lawyers, who primarily practices at the Supreme Court of India; both of whom practice in New Delhi, Camini Kumar, who practises in all areas of family law including financial remedy, children (both private and public law), TLATA, Schedule 1 and domestic violence., Sara B. Willerson, a private practice licensed clinical worker and works with the modality of equine facilitated psychotherapy in her practice with children, adolescents, and adults; Chief Strategy Office India, JWT Mumbai, Bindu Sethi; Writer, adviser on strategy, media, education and healthcare, Samit Tandon, Design Curator and Writer Mayank Mansingh Kaul and Ireena Vittal who is an acclaimed strategic consultant on emerging markets, agriculture and urban development joined the Wipro Board of Directors in October 2013. Ms Ireena Vittal, a former partner with McKinsey & Co,
The summit admitted many notable personalities such as the actor, director, social activist and a theatre artist Nandita Das, designer & entrepreneur Poonam Bhagat and the Emmy awardee and Karamveer Chakra Award winner Kaizaad Kotwal who brought The Vagina Monologues to the forum; as key speakers and participants in different sessions.
• Today
The second annual conference of The Women of India Leadership Summit will take place on the 18th-19th-20 September 2014 at India Islamic Cultural Centre, New Delhi. The theme for this year is "Invest in yourself" aiming to reach out to women with topics such as Boundaries, Invest in yourself, re-defining masculinity and defeating rape culture. This year the Summit will have speakers such as: Naina Lal Kidwai, a chartered accountant by profession, is an Indian banker and business executive; actress and producer of Vagina Monlogues in India, Mahabanoo mody-Kotwal; the Emmy awardee and Karamveer Chakra Award winner Kaizaad Kotwal who brought The Vagina Monologues to the forum last year; designer & entrepreneur Poonam Bhagat and Chief Strategy Office India, JWT Mumbai, Bindu Sethi among others.
• Sessions
The various sessions at the summit confirm interactive participation. Apart from the daily sessions, the summit also includes various ‘take a break’ sessions and performances. This year the sessions include those for men such as defeating rape culture, re-defining masculinity 2014 and boundaries among others in order to encourage men to be active participants in making India safer for women.