2021 has been a year of change and confusion for many and as the pandemic hit record high in the later stages of the year, individuals as well as businesses where on high hopes to enter the post pandemic world. Even amidst various turmoil, there has been many pioneering women who have grasped their dreams and in doing so became inspiration for many around the globe. Over the last year, there has been many famous Indian women who made India proud that includes successful women entrepreneurs in India, sports personnel and various other eminent personalities. So, in this article, we will take a closer look at women of India who inspired the whole nation and what we all can learn and take inspiration from their journey to glory.

1. Gita Gopinath:

Starting off the list, we have Gita Gopinath and this pioneering individual holds the title of the first deputy managing director (FDMD) of the world famous International Monetary Fund (IMF). Gita Gopinath who hails from Mysore is a technocrat as well as the author of several famous books. Gita completed her PhD from the reputed Princeton University in 2001 and apart from her many accolades, she was also the first woman to serve IMF holding the position of chief economist. The recent promotion was a direct result of the exceptional work that she did during the pandemic.

2. Harnaaz Sandhu:

Next on the list, we have Harnaaz Sandhu and those who follows modeling and fashion in general would know her as the girl who brought back the coveted Miss Universe crown to India after 21 years. Apart from that, what makes her even more of an inspiration is the fact that she had to overcome years of body shaming due to her thin figure. Coming from Chandigarh, Harnaaz is also an avid advocate for normalising mental health issues which clearly showcases the importance she places on having good mental health.

3. Leena Nair:

Many will know Leena Nair as the latest global chief executive officer (CEO) of the world-famous French luxury house Chanel. And apart from that, Leena Nair is also the first female as well as the youngest-ever Chief Human Resources Officer (CHRO) of yet another famous business organization, Unilever. Hailing from Maharashtra, this pioneering business leader started her career at a time when there were only very few women in management. Leena Nair has also been featured among Fortune India’s Most Powerful Women of 2021 and this goes off to show how highly she is regarded in the corporate realm.

4. Falguni Nayar:

One of the most renowned women business leaders in the country, Falguni Nayar quit her 20-year-long career in investment banking and starting Nykaa, which is one of the most beauty startups in the country. Starting the business from scratch, at the age of 50, Falguni Nayar achieved success in the face of overwhelming odds. As the founder of Nykaa, as of now, Falguni Nayar is now India’s biggest self-made female billionaire and her story is great inspiration for not only students but also for aspiring entrepreneurs who wants to build a successful business from scratch.

5. Bhawana Kanth:

Next on the list, we have one of the first female fighter pilots in the country and apart from that, she also became the first woman fighter pilot to take part in the Indian Air Force’s (IAF’s) tableau which was held at the Republic Day parade of 2021. Hailing from Bihar, she is a graduate in Medical Electronics from the very reputed BMS College of Engineering, and she was selected into the IAF’s fighter stream in the year of 2016.

6. Avani Lekhara:

The story of Avani Lekhara is a true inspiration for many and even after meeting with an accident at the very young age of 11, which put her in a wheelchair owing to her lower body being paralysed, she never gave up on her dreams and aimed for greater heights.  Now, this 19-year-old girl who hails from Jaipur became the first woman to win a gold medal in the Paralympics. She achieved this exceptional feat in the category of R-2 women’s 10m Air Rifle, in which she also set a new record in the 2020 Tokyo Paralympics.  

7. Krithi Karanth:

Finishing our list, we have Krithi Karanth who works at the Centre for Wildlife Studies as the Chief Conservation Scientist. This pioneering individual is the first Indian and Asian woman to win the prestigious 2021 WILD Innovator Award. As a leading conservation scientist in India, Krithi has had acquired great expertise in the field of wildlife conservation and this has helped her to make impressive strides in this area.  Driven by her passion for wildlife conservation, Krithi Karanth has been able to won numerous accolades over the years as well.