The Goa Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) held its Leaders@GCCI lecture series at Taj Cidade de Goa Heritage, Dona Paula, on Wednesday, 13 September 2023. The event featured Shazia Ilmi as the keynote speaker, in conversation with Shrinivas Dempo, President, GCCI. Sulakshana Sawant was the Special Guest for the event.
Sulakshana Sawant spoke about women in Goa, the importance of inclusivity and our steps towards 2047. She also talked of the four pillars of inclusivity including family, work, community and state, and importance of women in work, corporates and politics.
Shazia Ilmi has had a prominent career as a popular TV news anchor, and then as an activist-politician. She gave a glimpse of her journey in life, her education from Kanpur to Cardiff and New York, her family and upbringing, how the narrative around women and inclusivity has changed for the better, her media story and experience as a female journalist in the field. She also spoke passionately about some of the issues that resonate with her including male female ratio, biases, women empowerment, among others. She talked about the importance of mentorship in her journey. She gave examples from her personal journey and talked of how humour helped when nothing else did. Ilmi also stated that the inclusivity mindset has to be nurtured at an individual level at home, school and the workplace, and that the legislation around this would only be an impetus to the process of change. In her trademark principled and fearless views, she kept the audience in rapt attention.
Shrinivas Dempo spoke about GCCI, women empowerment, inclusivity, GCCI Women’s Wing, women entrepreneurs, and GCCI Women Wing’s Mentorship program for women entrepreneurs.
Shazia Ilmi, Sulakshana Sawant and Shrinivas Dempo launched GCCI’s Theme document on Inclusive and Sustainable Growth for Goa@2047. Also present were Ralph de Sousa, Manoj Caculo, Dean Menezes, Pratima Dhond, Yatin Kakodkar, Rohan Bhandare, Lalit Saraswat, and Sanjay Amonkar.
Earlier Sanjay Amonkar, Director General of GCCI, gave his opening remarks. Lalit Saraswat spoke about the growing brand of Leaders@GCCI where GCCI will continue to invite leaders who can inspire, change our perspective, and broaden our horizons. Pallavi Salgaocar introduced Shazia Ilmi, Shreemi Panandikar introduced Sulakshana Sawant, Yatin Kakodkar delivered the vote of thanks.
The event was graced by the who’s who of Goa’s industry, civil society and academia.
