Women of Pune Awards 2026: Punekar News Honours 22 Women for Leadership, Excellence and Social Impact

Pune, 26th October 2026: Twenty-two women from diverse fields, including artificial intelligence, healthcare, education, entrepreneurship, law, cultural preservation, animal welfare and environmental conservation, were honoured at the Women of Pune – Leadership, Impact & Excellence Awards 2026, organised by Punekar News.

The awards recognised not only professional achievements but also sustained efforts to strengthen communities, expand opportunities, preserve traditional knowledge and address social and environmental challenges. The recipients included technology leaders, doctors, educators, entrepreneurs, legal professionals, artists and grassroots changemakers whose work has made a difference in their respective fields.

Pavneet Kaur, IAS, Additional Commissioner of the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC), attended the event as the Chief Guest and emphasised that meaningful progress towards gender equality requires collective action, the dismantling of entrenched biases and the creation of an environment in which women can succeed without having to make extraordinary sacrifices.

Punekar News Founder Amit Singh felicitated Chief Guest Pavneet Kaur, IAS, with a tulsi plant presented by Rise n’ Shine Nursery.

The awards were presented under the initiative’s focus on bringing greater public attention to women whose work creates opportunities for others, strengthens institutions and contributes to lasting social impact.
Oxyrich was the title sponsor, Pure Elements was the gifting partner, and Zeal Advertising was the production partner. The awards ceremony was held at Novotel Hotel in Viman Nagar on October 23, 2026. Saloni Mahadik hosted the event.

Pavneet Kaur calls for collective responsibility towards gender equity

Addressing the gathering, Pavneet Kaur highlighted the importance of ensuring that women’s achievements translate into wider opportunities for future generations. She said leadership should not be limited to overcoming barriers for oneself but should also involve opening doors for those who follow.

“True leadership is not merely about breaking the glass ceiling for ourselves; it is about opening doors for every woman who follows in our footsteps. While we celebrate the courage, determination and resilience of today’s trailblazing awardees across diverse walks of life, our broader goal as a society must go further. We need to create an environment where women don’t have to make extraordinary sacrifices just to survive and thrive. If your journey inspires even a single young girl to dream without hesitation, that is where our true collective success lies,” Kaur said.

She also stressed that gender equity should not be viewed solely as a women’s issue, but as a broader societal responsibility requiring participation from both men and women.

“Gender equity is never just a ‘women’s issue’—it is a fundamental societal imperative. As Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar famously observed, the true measure of a community’s progress is defined by the degree of progress achieved by its women, because empowering a woman uplifts an entire family and an entire community. Real progress requires us to actively confront and dismantle deep-rooted, often unconscious biases in our workplaces and systems. Building an equitable, inclusive future is a responsibility that men and women must carry forward together,” she added.

Her address underlined the need to move beyond celebrating individual success and focus on building workplaces, institutions and communities that provide women with fair opportunities to learn, lead and contribute.

Mubarak Ansari: Local journalism must recognise people creating change

Mubarak Ansari, Co-Founder and Managing Editor of Punekar News, said the awards reflected the publication’s belief that local journalism has a responsibility not only to report problems but also to recognise people working to address them.

“At Punekar News, we believe local journalism must do more than report what has gone wrong. It must also recognise the people working to make things better. Every woman being honoured today has a unique journey shaped by ambition, hard work, difficult decisions and perseverance. While we see their achievements on stage, behind them are years of dedication, challenges overcome and the courage to keep moving forward. Through the Women of Pune – Leadership, Impact & Excellence Awards, we want to recognise these contributions and ensure that their stories receive the attention they deserve,” Ansari said.

He said a city’s progress should be assessed not only through infrastructure and economic growth but also through the opportunities available to its people.

“Pune’s progress cannot be measured only by its buildings, businesses or expanding roads. It must also be measured by the opportunities people have to learn, lead, work safely and contribute fully. Recognising women’s achievements is important, but creating an environment where more women can succeed is equally essential. We hope this recognition encourages our awardees to continue their work and inspires other women to pursue their ambitions. Our responsibility does not end with celebrating women on an awards stage; it must continue through our efforts to recognise merit, create opportunities and support women throughout their journeys,” Ansari added.

Technology, education and grassroots change

The awards recognised women working across emerging technologies, education and community development, highlighting the role of knowledge, innovation and sustained grassroots engagement in creating social change.

Priyanka Sureshkumar Shah, Associate Director at HSBC, received the Woman in AI & Emerging Tech award for her contribution to technology leadership, artificial intelligence literacy and responsible technology adoption. Her work includes conducting workshops, faculty development programmes and mentoring initiatives for students, educators and professionals.

Mugdha Thombre received the Technology Leadership Excellence Award for her work in artificial intelligence, cloud computing and enterprise transformation. At Tata Consultancy Services, she heads the Generative AI and Cloud Centre of Excellence for Retail Americas and contributes to mentoring future technology professionals.

The Grassroots Change Leader award was presented to Armene Modi, founder of Ashta No Kai. Established in 1998, the organisation has worked with rural women and girls, particularly in Shirur taluka, focusing on education, livelihoods, legal awareness, healthcare and leadership opportunities. Its work reflects the importance of strengthening women’s agency and expanding access to resources at the community level.

Amita Indraneel Chitale, founder of Anyu Biomedical and Big Little World – School for Children with Autism, received the Inclusive Education & Social Impact Award. Her work focuses on specialised education, early intervention, life skills and support for families of children with autism.

Dr Nuzhat Faiz Shaikh, Head of Computer Engineering at Wadia College of Engineering, was honoured with the Excellence in STEM Education award for her contribution to engineering education, curriculum development and the integration of emerging technologies into academic learning.

Together, these awardees represented different approaches to progress—from preparing students and professionals for emerging technology careers to expanding educational access and supporting rural women and children with additional learning needs.

Healthcare, business and entrepreneurship

Healthcare professionals and entrepreneurs were recognised for their contributions to patient care, preventive health, wellness, business leadership and innovation.

Dr Neelam Jaiswal, founder and CEO of Smiletime Multispeciality Dental and Implant Centre, received the Healthcare Excellence in Dentistry award for her work in dental care.

Dr Madhu Juneja was honoured with the Excellence in Maternal & Fertility Care award for her work in obstetrics, gynaecology, reproductive health and fertility care.

The Excellence in Women’s Healthcare award went to Dr Mini Salunkhe, recognising more than three decades of service in women’s health, including high-risk pregnancy management, preventive care and cervical cancer screening.

Anne Thomas received the Fitness & Wellness Excellence Award for her efforts to promote sustainable fitness, mobility and overall well-being.

In the business sector, Apoorva Kulkarni received the Woman Business Leader (SME Sector) award for her operational leadership and social initiatives, including COVID care and school sustainability projects. Her recognition highlighted the role of small and medium enterprises in combining business responsibilities with community-focused initiatives.

Vidita Mungi, a second-generation leader of the Mungi Group and founder of Rhythm Winery, was honoured with the Woman Entrepreneur in Manufacturing & Agribusiness award. Her work spans manufacturing and agribusiness, reflecting the growing role of women in traditionally challenging business sectors.

Preeti Deshmukh, the entrepreneur behind Food Nest, received the Food Innovation Entrepreneur of the Year award for developing food products focused on convenience and nutrition while supporting aspiring entrepreneurs.

Pooja Doshi, founder of Miraya Arts, received the Handicrafts & Artisan Empowerment Award for her efforts to connect Indian craftsmanship with wider markets and support artisan livelihoods. Her work highlights the potential of traditional skills to sustain livelihoods when linked with broader market opportunities.

Law, arts and cultural heritage

Women working in the legal profession, classical arts, traditional crafts and education were recognised for their contributions to professional excellence and the preservation of cultural knowledge.

The Woman in Law & Justice award was presented to Advocate Ruhi Ahire Shukla, founder-partner of the women-led law firm AT Legal, in recognition of her legal practice and contribution to legal awareness and access to justice.

Advocate Akshada Thakare Gudadhe received the Woman-Led Legal Excellence Award for her contribution to women-led legal practice and professional excellence.

In the performing arts, Dr Devika Borthakur received the Classical Arts Preservation Award for promoting Sattriya dance in Maharashtra and supporting its academic study. Her recognition highlighted the importance of creating awareness of India’s classical art forms beyond their traditional geographical centres.

Dr Veethika Tikoo, a Santoor artist, scholar and teacher, received the Excellence in Indian Classical Music award for her contributions to performance, research and mentorship.

The Traditional Arts Preservation Award recognised Lalita Paranjape, who has spent decades teaching traditional hand embroidery from her wada in Sadashiv Peth. Her work has helped pass these skills on to successive generations, keeping a traditional craft alive through hands-on teaching and practice.

Dr Savita Kelkar, former Head of the German Language Department at Fergusson Junior College, received the Lifetime Achievement in Education & International Cultural Relations Award. The honour recognised her contribution to language education and cultural exchange.

Collectively, these awardees represented the different ways cultural heritage can be sustained: through performance, academic research, teaching, professional practice and the transmission of traditional skills.

Animal welfare and environmental conservation

The awards also recognised women working in animal welfare, ecological restoration and wildlife conservation, highlighting the role of community engagement in addressing environmental challenges.

Priya Kailad, founder-president of Karma Foundation, received the Animal Welfare Champion Award for her work in expanding access to treatment, rescue, sterilisation and vaccination services for stray and community animals.

Sampada Gangakhedkar was honoured with the Ecological Restoration Champion award for restoring a landscape in the Mulshi region through native planting and biodiversity-focused initiatives. Her work highlighted the importance of ecological restoration in protecting local landscapes and supporting biodiversity.

The Environmental Conservation & Wildlife Leadership Award went to Pooja Bhale, a conservation biologist and founder of Protecterra Ecological Foundation. She was recognised for her work in environmental education, community outreach and wildlife awareness.

These recognitions brought attention to initiatives that address environmental and animal welfare concerns through conservation, public awareness and sustained engagement with local communities.

The event concluded with dinner, providing the awardees and guests an opportunity to interact, exchange experiences and build professional connections. The networking session brought together women from diverse fields, creating space for conversations and potential collaborations beyond the awards ceremony.

Recognising achievements and creating opportunities

The 22 awardees represented a broad range of professional and social contributions, from artificial intelligence and healthcare to education, entrepreneurship, cultural preservation and ecological restoration.

While their areas of work differed, a common thread ran through their journeys: the effort to create value beyond individual achievement.

Whether through mentoring students, supporting rural communities, improving access to healthcare, preserving traditional skills or protecting biodiversity, their work demonstrated how leadership can take different forms.

The Women of Pune – Leadership, Impact & Excellence Awards 2026 sought to bring these contributions into public view and encourage wider recognition of women working across professional and community settings.

The message emerging from the event was that celebrating successful women is only one part of the larger task. Sustained progress requires institutions, workplaces and communities to create conditions in which more women can pursue their ambitions, exercise leadership and contribute to society.

For Pune, a city shaped by education, industry, entrepreneurship and civic participation, recognising such work also offers an opportunity to reflect on what inclusive progress should look like—and how the achievements of today’s women can help open doors for the next generation.