Women Who Lead: Winners of Rising 2025 Awards

At Rising 2025, AIM recognised women leaders for their contributions to innovation and diversity, helping to create a more inclusive tech industry in India. Key discussions focused on expanding diversity beyond gender, fostering innovation through inclusivity, upskilling a diverse workforce, using technology for social impact, and supporting mental health in the tech industry.

At the event, the most influential diversity, equity, and inclusion (DE&I) leaders in India’s tech sector were felicitated for their leadership and contributions. 

1. Chandni Chopra, VP of people and culture, LambdaTest

Chandni Chopra has over 20 years of experience in people success and leadership development. She has implemented bias-free hiring strategies that increased diverse leadership representation and launched employee resource groups (ERGs), also known as employee networks or affinity groups, to amplify diverse voices. She also designed leadership programmes and mentorship initiatives focused on DE&I to support underrepresented talent. Her work drives equity, inclusion, and career growth in the workplace.

2. Deepti Gaiki, director of information security, Avalara

Deepti Gaiki grew the India security team at Avalara from four to 48 members, enhancing global security through ransomware resilience, cloud security, and governance. She led key programs, including the ransomware recovery program and cloud security framework. Gaiki, a strong DE&I advocate, launched Ignite to promote women in leadership. She was recognised with awards like the Cybersecurity Leadership Award 2023, and has positioned Avalara as a top cybersecurity employer.

3. Greeshma Ranjeev, assistant manager, Tata Communications 

Greeshma Ranjeev won the Women in STEM scholarship at the Grace Hopper Celebration and volunteers to teach electronics to underprivileged students. Her smart vehicle prototype secured third place as India’s best project and was subsequently funded by Bosch. She has earned over 80 acknowledgments for technical contributions through her dedication and resilience. 

4. Itti Singh, head of analytics and insights advisory, Landmark Group

Itti Singh leads AI and analytics initiatives while promoting diversity in tech. With over 15 years of experience, she has driven AI-powered strategies across industries and mentored aspiring data professionals. She is a speaker at global conferences and advocates for increasing opportunities for women and underrepresented groups in technology.

5. Jaslin Jaison, senior director, AidenAI

Jaslin Jaisonhas over a decade of experience in AI-driven solutions, strategic sales, and digital transformation. She leads high-performing teams, drives business growth, and implements AI and automation to improve efficiency. Committed to diversity in tech, she mentors women and underrepresented groups, fostering an inclusive workplace.

6. Jemima Joy Joseph, director of artificial intelligence, ProV International

Jemima Joy Josephis a strong advocate for diversity. She mentors underrepresented talent and fosters inclusive AI teams. She has implemented AI solutions to improve efficiency and business growth. Joseph, who is a strong advocate for diversity in tech, also mentors underrepresented talent and builds inclusive AI teams.

7. Kavitha Krishnan, VP of AI innovations in procurement, SAP

Kavitha Krishnan is a technology leader with 27 patents to her name. She has led multiple product innovations and deliveries, driving impactful solutions in enterprise technology.

8. Manjori Ahmed, head of IT operation service management, Colt Technologies

In 2022, Manjori Ahmed became the India lead for LGBTQ+ initiatives, driving policy updates and community programs that supported 32 transgender-owned businesses. By 2024, she expanded her role as the Asia lead for LGBTQ+ initiatives, promoting inclusion across countries. In India, she worked with NGOs to support students and integrated transgender individuals into workplace events.

9. Nisha Kumari, regional practice manager, British Telecom

Nisha Kumari is a seasoned project and program management professional with over 23 years in IT and telecommunications. With an MBA in IT and multiple technical certifications, she has led major global transformations and secured deals up to $700 million. Currently at British Telecom, Kumari focuses on high-impact delivery and growth. She is passionate about mentoring and volunteering, and has also held leadership roles at Accenture, Infosys, and Reliance, driving strategy and execution.

10. Rashi Srivastava, chief digital officer, Qentelli

Rashi Srivastava drives AI integration into enterprise solutions, transforming business operations. With over 20 years of experience in network and software engineering, Srivastava has led major projects at Wipro, Kyocera, Reliance, and Cigniti. She is also a strong advocate for gender diversity in tech.

11. Richa Agrawal, head of digital quality assurance, GlobalLogic 

Richa Agrawal has over 23 years of experience in AI-driven testing. She holds the TestOptimizer patent, which reduces testing cycles by 40% and improves accuracy by 50%. Moreover, she has developed NeuraUXAI, a GenAI-powered UX/UI testing tool, and leads research in AI automation and defect prediction. She also mentors and advocates for women in tech.

12.  Sasi Paladagu, director of strategic initiatives, Tiger Analytics

Sasi Paladagu has 15 years of experience in technology and consulting. She has led AI and analytics programs for Fortune 500 clients across industries, managing cross-functional teams of over 70 members. Paladagu, a strong advocate for inclusive leadership, also mentors first-time managers and fosters a diverse, people-first culture in tech and analytics.

13. Soundarya Giridharan, data science team lead, Shell India

Soundarya Giridharan leads digital transformation while advocating for diversity in tech. She drives Shell’s Digital Process Twin initiative, mentors women in analytics, and supports LGBTQ+ inclusion, combining innovation with inclusive leadership.

14.  Sowmiya N, India HR manager, Delta Capita

Sowmiya N  has worked with Wipro, KCM, Honeywell, Danske Bank, and Delta Capita. She drives employee engagement, organisational change, and inclusive workplace strategies. Sowmiya is committed to supporting women in tech and helps shape HR policies that promote diversity and create initiatives for equitable career growth.

15.  Sripriya Venkatesan, chief architect and director, Capgemini

As a Capgemini Women in Delivery ambassador, Sripriya Venkatesan leads the ArchX initiative, helping over 100 professionals annually, particularly women, in building their industry presence. She mentors and is a speaker at initiatives like Women in Tech Network, Women Who Code, IEEE Women in Engineering, and Anita Borg GHCI, driving inclusivity and leadership in AI, Conversational UI, and Cloud.

16.  Swati Awasthi, founder of Women in Product India 

Swati Awasthi has built a network of over 1,000 women product leaders and professionals, providing mentorship and career growth opportunities. As a product leader at Dell, she advances innovation and inclusivity in tech.