CII IWN Tamil Nadu Launches ‘Made in Tamil Nadu’ Initiative to Recognise Women Leaders
Chennai: The Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) Indian Women Network (IWN) Tamil Nadu has launched the inaugural edition of ‘Made in Tamil Nadu – Celebrating Women Leading Tamil Nadu’s Growth Story’, an initiative aimed at recognising women whose contributions have significantly influenced the state’s social, economic, cultural and entrepreneurial development.
According to CII IWN Tamil Nadu, the initiative is the first of its kind among CII IWN chapters across the country and is intended to become an annual platform highlighting the achievements of women leaders from diverse sectors.
The event brought together more than 130 women leaders, entrepreneurs, policymakers, educators, artists and social sector representatives.
Independent Jury Evaluation
The selection process was conducted over a month by an independent jury panel comprising:
- A.R. Unnikrishnan, Immediate Past Chairman, CII Tamil Nadu and Vice Chairman, CII-IGBC
- Kirthika Shivkumar, Past Chairwoman, IWN Tamil Nadu and Co-Founder & Managing Trustee, Arram Charity Trust
- Gowri Kailasam, Immediate Past Chairperson, CII IWN Southern Region and Vice Chair, CII Chennai Zone
- Savitha Kesav Jagadessan, Immediate Past Chairwoman, CII IWN Tamil Nadu and Senior Resident Partner, Kochhar & Co.
The jury evaluated candidates based on several parameters, including contribution to Tamil Nadu, impact in their respective fields, years of engagement within the state, innovation, social impact, legacy-building efforts and overall influence.
Eight Women Leaders Recognised
Eight women leaders from different sectors were recognised for their contributions:
Heritage & Legacy
- Deborah Thiagarajan, Founder President, Madras Craft Foundation & DakshinaChitra Heritage Museum
Performing Arts
- Padma Shri Dr. Narthaki Nataraj, Bharatanatyam Exponent
Entrepreneurship Excellence
- Dr. Santhi Duraisamy, Director, Sakthi Masala
Corporate Excellence
- Subhasri Sriram, Managing Director & CEO, Shriram Capital Ltd.
Education & Leadership
- Mangai Natarajan, Correspondent, Paavai Educational Institutions
Healthcare Leadership
- Dr. C. Geetha Haripriya, Chairperson, Prashanth Multi-speciality Hospital
Social Impact & Change
- Vandana Gopikumar, Co-Founder, The Banyan Academy of Leadership in Mental Health (BALM)
Emerging & Young Voice
- Upasana Asrani, Founder, Madras Art Weekend
Discussion on Leadership and Succession
A special session titled “Legacy to Leadership: Women at the Helm of Enduring Enterprises” was also held as part of the programme.
The discussion featured:
- Jeyasree Ravi, Founder, Palam Silks
- Dr. Jayasree Vummidi Rajesh, Managing Director & Correspondent, GRT Mahalakshmi Vidyalaya and The Lotus Hotel Apartments
The session was moderated by Avanti Natarajan, Vice Chairperson, CII IWN Tamil Nadu, and focused on topics including entrepreneurship, succession planning, leadership transitions and the role of women in family-run enterprises.
CII IWN Tamil Nadu stated that the initiative aims to document and highlight the journeys of women leaders while creating opportunities for future generations to learn from their experiences and contributions to the state’s development.
