IACA Women’s Forum hosts inspiring conference for International Women’s Day 2025

BY JYOTHSNA HEGDE

Photos by Renuka Molleti

Atlanta, GA, March 28, 2025: In celebration of International Women’s Day (IWD 2025), the IACA Women’s Forum (IACA WF) hosted a transformative conference that brought together a packed hall of women from diverse backgrounds to connect, educate, empower, and inspire. Held on March 8, 2025, at Jade Banquets in Duluth GA, the event featured engaging panel discussions that addressed key aspects of women’s well-being and success — from navigating the challenges of entrepreneurship and embracing menopause to fostering mental wellness, promoting workplace harmony, and strengthening the bonds of sisterhood. Each session offered valuable insights and practical strategies, empowering attendees to thrive in both their personal and professional journeys.

“The overwhelming response to IWD 2025 gave IACA WF confidence that we are able to unite the women of Atlanta to come together for discussing issues related to them and form a sisterhood of support, empowerment, and collaboration,” said Chand Akkineni, BOD, IACA and the man behind the idea of Women’s Forum wing of IACA.

The event commenced with the ceremonial lamp lighting by guests of honor, Mrs. Renuka Subramanian, Nita Sardana, Madhu Sheth and IACA Women’s Forum Chairwoman Dr. Paddy Sharma, IACA Officers Geetanjali Talukdar, Suma Potini, Ranjitaveena Pol, and Dr. Praveena Kommidi  followed by a soulful prayer song by Vaibhavai Mathapati (IACA Indian Idol Champion) that set a serene ambiance. Dhananjay Gupta, President, IACA and Kaushal Tripathi, Chairman, BOD welcomed the women and highlighted various activities of IACA, urging the audience to become members.

Anchors Sreeratna and Nija Majmudar delivered an outstanding performance, skillfully engaging the audience with their eloquence, energy, and seamless facilitation.

The conference’s opening address – an engaging keynote – by Mona Patel offered valuable insights about entrepreneurship and reframing mindsets.  Patel, a renowned entrepreneur and author, has worked with major brands like Nike, Facebook, and Capital One enhancing customer experiences through her expertise in engineering psychology, design thinking, and leadership coaching. As the founder of Reframe With Mona, she developed the Reframe method — a nine-minute exercise designed to break limiting beliefs and unlock fresh perspectives. Patel, in her address spoke about her entrepreneurial journey that includes building successful businesses, pioneering research for Kodak and WebMD, and founding Motivate Design to help industry leaders decode consumer needs. Patel emphasized her approach of observing, creating products, and altering behavior to achieve desired outcomes. Patel continues to consult globally, empowering individuals and organizations to reframe challenges and achieve transformative growth.

Simi Shah, founder of the award-winning media company South Asian Trailblazers, captivated the audience with her keynote as she shared her inspiring journey and impactful work. Recently recognized as a Forbes 30 Under 30 honoree, Shah spoke about her mission to elevate South Asian voices across diverse fields. At just 27, she achieved remarkable milestones, including visits to the White House and New York Stock Exchange, delivering speeches in influential spaces, and working with high-profile executives. Shah highlighted her efforts to amplify stories of both prominent figures like Akshay Kumar and Novartis CEO Vas Narasimhan, as well as underrepresented local artists. Through South Asian Trailblazers, she aims to redefine success within the global South Asian community, fostering a meaningful platform that celebrates diverse achievements and inspires future generations.

Entrepreneur, author, and speaker Neeti Dewan shared valuable strategies for achieving success by adopting a positive mindset and focusing on what truly matters. She emphasized the importance of harnessing energy, minimizing stress, and embracing mistakes as part of the learning journey. Highlighting resilience, Neeti encouraged adopting a “No matter what” attitude to overcome challenges and pursue goals. She stressed the need to prioritize three key areas for a fulfilling life: meaningful relationships, financial security, and impactful contributions. By maintaining focus on these core elements, individuals can cultivate balance, purpose, and long-term success, she noted.

Nita Sardana, CIO, Innova Foundation, an advocate for Menopause highlighted the lack of awareness and support for menopausal women in the workforce. She underscored the stigma and taboo around menopause in many cultures, including India, and the absence of insurance coverage, medical education, corporate policies, and governmental support for menopausal women. She stressed the need for initiatives to keep women in the workforce, especially as they reach their peak of expertise, and calls for increased research and resources to address menopause symptoms and support menopausal women in their careers. “The number of women in the workforce is projected to reach 92 million by 2050, but many leave due to menopause-related challenges,” she noted. Sardana also underlined the work of Menopause Mandate, a group of motivated women from all walks of life who share a common interest in perimenopause and menopause.

Dr. Sujatha Reddy, MD, gynecologist, emphasized the significant health risks faced by menopausal women, particularly the increased likelihood of heart disease and heart attacks, noting that declining estrogen levels may not fully offset this risk. She also highlighted concerns about osteoporosis, especially within minority communities like the Indian population, stressing the importance of baseline bone density screenings and regular physical checkups. Dr. Reddy further underscored the need to recognize symptoms such as joint pain, which are often mistaken for bone issues, and advised prompt evaluation of any post-menopausal bleeding. Additionally, she addressed the psychological impact of menopause on men in the household, calling for greater education and awareness to promote understanding and support during this transitional phase.

The  Workplace Conflict Resolution  session including Deepa Subramanian, Employment Law Attorney, Chaya Dewan, HR Partner, Radhika Rao, IT Leader, Asha Gummidi, Senior Director, explored techniques for resolving conflicts in professional environments including conflicts that arise with a boss, direct employee or amidst peers. The panel discussion focused on key skills for resolving workplace conflicts, including effective communication, mentorship, emotional intelligence, and reflection. The panel emphasized the importance of active listening and acknowledging others, while highlighting emotional intelligence, with a focus on empathy, managing emotions, and self-awareness. The panelists also discussed when to escalate conflicts, advising attendees to first address issues directly, then involve a manager, and finally escalate to HR if needed. The session concluded with insights on preventive strategies, recognizing red flags, and fostering a supportive work environment through improved conflict management skills.

The Unmaking Mental Health Panel, moderated by Dr. Ayesha Suneja Seymour, featured insights from Dr. Ritu Chadha, Dr. Kalpana Prasad, and Dr. Nisha Gupta on women’s mental health, cultural influences, and clinical interventions. The panel addressed anxiety, high-functioning depression, hormonal health, and the stigma surrounding psychiatric medication, with a focus on challenges faced by South Asian women. 

Panelists emphasized the need for women to advocate for themselves in medical settings, particularly regarding PMS, mood swings, and hormonal concerns. They highlighted how many women struggle silently with high-functioning depression and reframed psychiatric medication as a valuable tool for healing. The discussion also explored the emotional burden women carry in relationships, including self-sacrifice, feeling unseen, and breaking intergenerational cycles of silence.  The panel encouraged self-care, mental health awareness, and open conversations to break cultural taboos. Attendees left with practical tools and a renewed sense of empowerment to prioritize their well-being.

The Fitter. Calmer. Stronger panel featuring Dr. Neelima Marada, Internal Medicine, Marathon runners Aparna Sharma and Deepika Chalke, Dr. Jyoti Manekar , MD FAAFP DABOM Family and Obesity Medicine, Rajalakshmi N Parameswaran, Licensed Professional Counselor explored strategies for developing and maintaining a balanced approach to fitness and nutrition, emphasizing a holistic framework of Moves, Meals, and Mindset. The panelists highlighted four key exercise pillars — cardio, strength training, flexibility, and balance — essential for women over 40, 50, and beyond. They discussed the importance of adopting a balanced diet while moving away from restrictive eating patterns. The conversation also addressed psychological barriers to maintaining consistency in fitness routines, strategies for overcoming guilt when off track, emotional eating, and body image concerns. Additionally, the panel debunked common myths surrounding food and exercise, providing practical insights to foster a healthy and sustainable lifestyle.

The Sisterhood Panel discussion, moderated by Alpa Amin, Exec. Director, GAIN, brought together an inspiring group of panelists, including Lovely Dhillon, Social Impact Strategist; Lawyer, Aparna Bhattacharyya, Exec. Director, Raksha, Snehalatha Talika, TS Hikes & Trips, Mona Patel, Founder South Asian Working Moms to delve into the significance of sisterhood and its impact on personal and professional growth. The conversation began with defining what sisterhood means to the panelists, with insights on showing up for one another, having honest conversations, and growing together. The panelists shared personal experiences where sisterhood had made a meaningful difference in their journeys.

The discussion also explored the challenges and barriers that hinder true sisterhood, such as competition, cultural expectations, fear of vulnerability, and lack of representation. The panelists shared their personal strategies for overcoming these obstacles, emphasizing collaboration over competition and breaking free from societal expectations.

In the next segment, the panel focused on building and sustaining sisterhood, highlighting the importance of cultivating deep, supportive relationships and the strength that comes from empowering one another. The conversation shifted to visibility and wholeness, discussing how women can be valued for their full, multidimensional selves, especially in spaces that may not always be welcoming. The panelists explored how sisterhood can amplify women’s voices and ensure their visibility in such environments.

The discussion concluded with action and commitment, where each panelist shared practical steps to strengthen sisterhood and how women in the audience could support one another immediately. Key takeaways included the importance of creating supportive communities, breaking down barriers, and taking actionable steps to empower women. The panel left the audience inspired and equipped with tools to foster meaningful connections and contribute to strengthening sisterhood in their lives.

The audience was enthralled by the vibrant and engaging activities throughout the day. Highlights included a captivating, themed dance performance by Vani Shastri Rao and her talented team, a hilarious comedy act by Srividya Srinivasan from Chillax Comedy Club,

And a much anticipated Award Ceremony for the winners from various contests held leading up to the event, added an extra layer of excitement, leaving everyone thoroughly entertained and inspired.

The event concluded with the announcement of the winners in various categories. Anu Ganesh was honored with the Champion of Sisterhood award, recognizing her exceptional commitment to supporting causes.  In the poetry category, Nalini Gandhi claimed the top prize, with Anu Ganesh securing second place for their powerful submissions. IACA thanks Pooja Garg, A CUNY & USC Annenberg Writing Fellow, Pooja is the Founder of The Woman Inc and South Asian Poetry Collective as well as Deputy Editor for Khabar magazine, for taking the time to judge the poems. Additional awards included Shachi Srivastava, who won for the best WF Logo design, and Priyanka Kunwar, who was awarded for creating the most impactful Tagline. In the area of social impact, Vani Ghanate received recognition for her Best Cause Recommendation, while Nalini Gandhi also took home the Feasibility award for her practical and actionable proposal. Six guests were also awarded doorbuster prizes.

Organizers thanked Gold sponsors Sheth Foundation, silver sponsors Innova Foundation, Neeti Dewan, Dr. Paddy and Chandler Sharma, Bronze Sponsors UnShackled Woman and TiE Atlanta.  Attendees went home with a designed broach donated by Priya Dharmendran of Disha Jewels.

“The forum created a space for women to connect, learn, and grow, focusing on personal challenges, mental health, wellness, and how to thrive through life’s transitions. The conversations on stage were stimulating, offering something meaningful for every woman. With a full house, the venue buzzed with feminine energy — a shared desire to learn, create, and be part of our evolving sisterhood. We’re also proud to have championed environmental stewardship by eliminating plastic water bottles and using compostable tableware. Thanks to our Sustainability Champion, Ms. Malini Devi Akula, the event’s waste was delivered to composters — a small yet meaningful step toward a greener future.
A big shout out to our strong team of organizers who dedicated their time, energy, and passion to bring this event to life — your hard work made all the difference!”  The Women’s Forum team headed by Dr. Paddy Sharma with directors Suma Potini, Gita Vemparala and Jyothsna Hegde said in a joint statement.

The organizing team included Dr. Ayesha Suneja, Bandana Gupta, Lakshmi Narayani, Madhavi Kodali, Malini Devi, Mansi Kumar, Mrinalini Garv, Dr. Neelima Marada, Nikita Kothari, Dr. Praveena Kommidi, Ranjithaveena Pol, Samina Sheikh, Nikki Bhatia, and SaiSanjana.

Cover photo: The organizing team. Standing: (L to R) Gita Vemparala, Dr. Ayesha Suneja, Bandana Gupta, Lakshmi Narayani, Dr. Neelima Marada, Ranjithaveena Pol, Suma Potini, Dr. Paddy Sharma, Chand Akkineni, Malini Devi, Mansi Kumar, Nikki Bhatia. Sitting: (L to R) Nikita Kothari, Samina Sheikh,  Jyothsna Hegde, Mrinalini Garv, and Dr. Praveena Kommidi.