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Here are inspiring Indian women motivational speakers whose stories of passion and perseverance can be a source of motivation for many.
In life, we all chase dreams and goals. Sometimes, we may be just trying to survive. From time to time, we need motivation to move forward despite life’s hardships. When things get tough and no way out seems visible, encouragement can help. Especially, if it comes from someone who has faced life’s gruelling realities. They can boost confidence and fill us with new strength and vigour. This is exactly what these women motivational speakers do.
Their talks are filled with personal anecdotes of struggles and failures. Yet, they also share their eventual success. Their goal? To offer hope and encourage listeners to keep fighting, no matter how often they fall.
Here, we list 18 inspiring Indian women motivational speakers. Their stories of passion and perseverance can motivate many.
Laxmi, an acid attack survivor, has emerged as a powerful advocate for women’s rights and safety. She is widely recognized for her efforts to end the sale of acid in India through her campaign, aptly named Stop Acid Sale.
In recognition of her work, she has been honoured with prestigious accolades. These include the International Women Empowerment Award from the Ministry of Women and Child Development, the Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation, and UNICEF. Additionally, she has received the International Women of Courage award from Michelle Obama, and the esteemed Mother Teresa Award.
Priya Kumar is not only one of the women motivational speakers but also an accomplished author. She has penned 16 inspirational books, with her first, License to Live, winning the Eric Hoffer Award (2012). An impressive 44 prestigious international awards decorate her career.
With 28 years of experience, she’s a veteran in corporate training and has delivered motivational talks in 51 countries. Interestingly, she also operates a YouTube channel devoted to motivation, covering themes like overcoming negativity, personal branding, and goal achievement.
Her work consistently echoes her belief: “The universal law still holds-The best man wins; the strongest survives. Be both.”
Shivani Verma, widely known as BK Shivani, is one of the most respected women motivational speakers and spiritual leader. She’s linked with the Brahma Kumaris World Spiritual Organization, delivering talks that aid individuals in navigating life’s physical, mental, and emotional challenges.
Not only does she address topics like stress, depression, and addiction, but she also travels worldwide to interact directly with people. Her efforts were recognized by the Government of India, which awarded her the Nari Shakti Puraskar in 2019.
Pallavi Malani is a Life coach and trains people and organisations to excel and succeed. She has organized more than 100 workshops and trained 2000+ people. She specialises in emotional intelligence training and believes in bringing about a change in the thought processes of her clients.
For her, team spirit is the biggest asset that a person can bring on board. She has more than 10 accolades to her name including the Transformational Women Leader Award by International Inspirational Women Awards, 2022.
She always tells people, “Give yourself a chance to fail, to finally succeed.”
Vinita Bali is a global leader and strategy advisor. She has vast experience of leading top companies like Coca-Cola, Cadbury and Britannia across multiple countries.
Her talks mostly aim at encouraging women to strive to make a place for themselves in the intrinsically male-dominated business industry and also motivate youth to take up entrepreneurial ventures.
Radhika Gupta, the MD and CEO of Edelweiss Mutual Fund, is highly recognized for her substantial contributions to investment and asset management. As a testament to her exemplary work, she has been honored with several awards, including the ET 40 under 40 Business Leaders Award. Additionally, the World Economic Forum has acknowledged her as a Young Global Leader.
Passionate about financial education, Radhika frequently takes the stage at motivational sessions, podcasts, and corporate events. Furthermore, she often intertwines these discussions with matters of mental health and body positivity, generously sharing her personal experiences.
True to her nature she claims- “Be aggressive enough in business that you don’t sleep during the day, but conservative enough that you don’t have sleepless nights.”
Chhavi Rajawat is the first Indian woman sarpanch with a MBA degree and is also reported to be the youngest person to hold the office of sarpanch in the country. She left her well paying corporate job to go back and contribute to the development of her ancestral village Soda in Rajasthan.
As Sarpanch she worked to bring facilities like water, toilets, solar power and paved roads to the village. She strongly believes that in order for India to become a developed country, massive changes in India’s developmental strategies are needed.
After losing one leg in a train accident, Arunima Sinha went on to become the world’s first female amputee to climb Mt. Everest and later on also the highest peaks of Africa, Europe, Australia, South America, North America and Antarctica.
As one of the women motivational speakers, she aims to inspire people to rise above all disabilities and adversities and fulfil their dreams to their heart’s desire. She has been awarded the Padma Shri and the Tenzing Norgay National Adventure Award by the Indian Government.
In 2021, Harnaaz Sandhu made headlines when she was crowned Miss Universe, becoming only the third Indian to achieve this honor. Notably, she is a staunch advocate for women’s empowerment, women’s rights, and equality.
Moreover, she actively addresses these issues, while also emphasizing the importance of self-acceptance, self-love, and body positivity. In her inspiring words, she often reminds us, “To know that you are unique makes you beautiful.”
Sairee Chahal is the founder of Shreroes, a platform that supports women entrepreneurs and Mahila Money, a community neobank for women. Her life’s goal is to increase the participation of women in the economy and GDP creation and she considers internet to be the most powerful tool for bringing about this change. She also serves on the board of directors of Paytm Payments Bank and Milaan Foundation.
Dia Mirza, an Indian actress, is a vocal advocate for women’s issues, environmental protection, and animal rights. Her affiliations extend to prominent organizations such as PETA, CRY, Save The Children, and Wildlife Trust of India (WTI).
Notably, she has held the position of UN Environment’s Goodwill Ambassador and was appointed as an advocate for the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals. Furthermore, Mirza has collaborated with the UN to raise awareness about female education and women’s rights.
Mithali Raj is a former Indian cricketer and captain of the Indian cricket team. Her talks aim to inspire young girls to take up sports as a career. She herself became a role model for many girls wishing to play cricket professionally but were hesitant about it because of the stigmas and stereotypes attached to cricket as a sport for girls. Raj has played a pivotal role in popularising cricket as a viable career option for girls making her a household name in the country.
Vineeta Singh is an entrepreneur and the co-founder and CEO of SUGAR cosmetics. She aims to inspire girls to break all bonds and take up entrepreneurship. Being a shark on Shark Tank India for three consecutive seasons has made her extremely popular among young girls in the country and therefore a major source of motivation. She has given multiple Tedx talks on building a company and achieving success.
Deepali Naair is a strategist marketer and has held leadership positions with brands like Mahindra, L&T, Tata, HSBC, IBM and currently serves as CMO at the CK Birla Group. She is frequently invited to speak at technology and digital forums across the country and abroad and emphasises the importance of women to take up entrepreneurial roles and leadership positions. She has also been a jury member numerous times for AdClub’s EMVIES, EFFIES, and ABBYs.
An Indian actress known for trailblazing a significant shift in the depiction of women in Hindi cinema, Vidya Balan has an impressive portfolio. Her roles, often critically acclaimed, showcase headstrong female characters that defy traditional portrayals of female leads.
To her credit, she has won seven Filmfare Awards and one National Film Award. In 2019, the Indian Government recognized her contributions to cinema and awarded her the Padma Shri. Not just an actress, Vidya is also vocal about humanitarian causes and women’s empowerment.
As an accomplished Indian actress and producer, Priyanka Chopra has undoubtedly made her mark on a global scale. She has been featured in Time’s 100 most influential people in the world list, and she also graced Forbes’ list of World’s 100 Most Powerful Women.
Furthermore, in 2022, she was included in the prestigious BBC 100 Women list. Beyond being a film star, Priyanka is a vocal advocate for social issues such as the environment and women’s rights.
Particularly, she is outspoken about gender equality, the gender pay gap, and the importance of education, especially for girls. In her role as UNICEF’s Goodwill Ambassador for child rights in 2010 and 2016, she effectively used her platform to inspire young girls to strive for their aspirations, breaking all bonds.
Through her speeches, she consistently aims to encourage and motivate young girls to exercise their agency and reach for their dreams.
Born in 1958, Chetna Gala Sinha is a renowned Indian social entrepreneur. She has spent her career empowering women in rural India, equipping them with entrepreneurial skills and access to resources.
She established the Mann Deshi Mahila Sahakari Bank, which holds the distinction of being India’s first bank for and by rural women. In addition to this, she founded the Mann Deshi Foundation, an organization that runs business schools, operates community radio, and supports the micro-enterprises of rural women. The Government of India recognized her contributions by awarding her the Nari Shakti Puraskar.
Not just an entrepreneur, Chetna is also part of the Gender Equality Advisory Council (2022) and the BRICS Women’s Business Alliance. Through her speeches, she focuses on promoting women’s empowerment, financial independence for women, and broader social development.
Supriya Paul, the co-founder and CEO of Josh Talks, has created a unique platform that invites speakers from diverse backgrounds such as activists, entrepreneurs, and academics to share their inspirational journeys. These stories serve to motivate and encourage others.
In addition to her work with Josh Talks, she has also authored a book titled ‘All You Need is Josh: Stories of Courage and Conviction in 21st-century India’. Furthermore, she frequently engages audiences at motivational forums where she centers her discussions around women empowerment, gender equality, and success.
These extraordinary women motivational speakers in India have effectively utilized their social standing, popularity, and platforms to support and champion the cause of women empowerment. Consequently, they serve as role-models for thousands of girls waiting to conquer the world.
Shambhavi Srivastava is a Mass Communication master's student. She is an avid reader and believes in strongly voicing her opinions on various issues of national and international importance. She is a women's rights read more...
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