Empowerment, Leadership, and Unity Take Center Stage at Atlanta Indian Women’s Forum’s International Women’s Day Celebration

Atlanta, Georgia: Observed each March, Women’s History Month honors the contributions, resilience, and achievements of women across generations. In that spirit, the Atlanta Indian Women’s Forum marked International Women’s Day 2026 with a dynamic and thoughtfully curated celebration that reflected both progress and purpose.

Rooted in its origins as a movement for gender equality in the early 20th century, International Women’s Day continues to serve as a platform for both recognition and reflection. Embracing that legacy, AIWF convened a full-day event on March 22, 2026, at Jade Banquets. The sold-out gathering brought together a diverse cross-section of voices, including leaders, entrepreneurs, physicians, and change-makers, for a program centered on leadership, empowerment, and sisterhood.

The morning session, led by emcee SreeRatna Kancherla, opened with a heartfelt welcome emphasizing the importance of women showing up for themselves and one another. Co-founders Suma Potini, Jyothsna Hegde, and Gita Vemparala highlighted the forum’s three pillars, leadership, empowerment, and sisterhood, not merely as themes but as values woven throughout the day.

They also acknowledged mentor Chand Akkineni for his steadfast support. In his message, Akkineni stated, “AIWF will be focusing on the needs of Atlanta Indian women while promoting Leadership, Empowerment and Sisterhood. AIWF will collaborate with the Women’s Forums to be created by regional community organizations in Atlanta. March 22, 2026 will be a new milestone in the history of Atlanta Indian Women.”

The ceremonial lamp lighting by chief guests Renuga Subramaniam and Madhu Sheth symbolized the beginning of a day dedicated to shared learning and progress. A soulful invocation by young vocalist Vaibhavi Mathapati set a reflective tone. In her address, Subramaniam spoke about the evolving role of women in leadership and the importance of building supportive ecosystems.

The keynote by Sandeep Ahuja, co-founder and CEO of Cove, highlighted her entrepreneurial journey and vision for transforming the architecture industry through artificial intelligence. Ahuja shared how Cove’s AI-driven model is redefining design timelines and emphasized the importance of community in building high-growth ventures, an idea she has championed on global platforms including TEDx, the United Nations, and SXSW.

The entrepreneurship panel, moderated by Kancherla, featured Asha Chaudhary, Anju Mathew, and Kanchana Raman. Panelists candidly discussed the realities of building businesses, sharing insights on early risks, funding challenges, and scaling strategies. They also reflected on redefining success beyond financial metrics to include impact, fulfillment, and resilience, while highlighting leadership traits such as adaptability, empathy, and decisiveness.

The leadership panel, moderated by Hegde, brought together Sweta Sneha, Priti Bandi, and Priti Bhatia. The discussion emphasized authentic leadership, self-awareness, and integrity, with panelists sharing personal stories of navigating professional and personal challenges.

The medical panel, moderated by Dr. Savitha Kootil, featured Dr. Haritha Sishtla, Dr. Sumana Moole, Dr. Lalitha Medepalli, and Dr. Sonali Bora. The panel provided practical insights into women’s health, emphasizing preventive care, early detection, and informed decision-making.

Sponsors including AssureGuru, Jaipur Living, Wellstar, KPPB Law, Alladi Law, GAPI, Sheth Foundation, and Merus Gastroenterology and Gut Health were recognized for their support of women-focused initiatives. A sustainability segment led by Malini Devi highlighted AIWF’s commitment to Eco-conscious practices.

The afternoon session, emceed by Anandhi Rajan, began with a spotlight talk by Dr. Vanita Boswell, founder of The VALO Group. In a deeply resonant address, she spoke about “fueling our fire” in a sustainable way, emphasizing that burnout stems not from caring too much, but from carrying too much alone.

She re-framed success as an internal, purpose-driven journey, highlighting courage, clarity, contribution, and confidence as essential pillars, and underscored self-love as the fuel for lasting impact. A musical interlude by Swara Kapilavai added a cultural dimension to the program. The keynote by Moni Basu, an internationally renowned journalist and educator, traced her journey from Kolkata to global newsrooms.

Drawing on her work with organizations such as CNN and The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Basu reflected on reporting from conflict zones and emphasized the power of immersive storytelling to bridge cultures and bring truth to life. Now serving at the Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication, she inspired the audience with her commitment to narrative depth and human connection.

The Breaking Norms panel, moderated by Vemparala, featured Reshma Mahendra, Aparna Bhattacharyya, and Judge Neera Bahl. The discussion addressed domestic violence in the South Asian community. Panelists explored prevention, the barriers that keep women silent, and legal realities, urging the audience to move from awareness to action with a message of resilience, collective responsibility, and hope.

The immigration panel, moderated by Anita Ninan, featured Bhavya Chaudhary and Lalitha Alladi. The discussion offered practical guidance on visas, residency pathways, and navigating evolving immigration policies, while also acknowledging the emotional realities of immigrant life.

Special honors were presented to Deepika Chalke, who has completed marathons across all 50 states, and Vani Ghanate, creator of the AIWF logo. Veena Rao was invited to present the awards. The event concluded with Sisterhood Circles facilitated by Pavithra Nagarajan, fostering meaningful dialogue and connection among attendees.

Behind the scenes, a dedicated organizing committee, including Akkineni, Vemparala, Potini, Hegde, Pavithra Natarajan, Devi, Ghanate, Neeta Shenvi, Mrinalini Garv, Mansi Kumar, Kris Gadde, Nikita Shah, Varsha Telang Anand, Sagar Shah, Rachna Shah, Samina Sheikh, Nidhi Sharma, Riya Gontu, Preethi Titu, Sakshi Jain, and Sooryakumar Thoppan, played a pivotal role in shaping the event.

Reflecting on the experience, co-founders Potini, Hegde, and Vemparala shared in a joint statement: “Three years in a row and honestly, it doesn’t get old. If anything, it gets more meaningful. None of this happens without our organizers and volunteers, who put in hours that nobody sees but everyone benefits from.

We have been completely overwhelmed by the feedback we’ve received, women stopping us to share what the day meant to them, messages still coming in days later. What keeps us going is exactly what we saw in that room, women choosing to spend their day together, investing in each other. There is truly nothing else like it. A beautiful expression of sisterhood.”

Founded in 2024, Atlanta Indian Women’s Forum (AIWF) emerged from the need for a space where women could connect, collaborate, and grow. Built on the pillars of leadership, empowerment, and sisterhood, it continues to foster a community where women uplift one another and step into their full potential.

International Women’s Day 2026 by Atlanta Indian Women’s Forum (AIWF) stood as a powerful testament to the strength of collaboration, conversation, and community, creating a space where women could learn, lead, and uplift one another.