Mumbai, May 12, 2023: Schneider Electric, the leader in the digital transformation of energy management and automation, organized the Inclusion Summit 2023 in association with NHRD’s Bangalore chapter. With the theme of “Evolve with Purpose: Through Meaningful Conversation towards Sustainable Inclusion”, the event gave a clarion call to organizations to go beyond addressing how inclusion looks in theory and instead take concrete action to establish a culture of equity, flexibility, and purpose. The day-long event also featured Schneider Electric’s flagship women entrepreneurial award ceremony, the Prerna Awards to recognize the pioneering contribution made by women entrepreneurs towards innovation and helping build a positive future for some of the key segments of our society.
This year, the Prerna Award is awarded to M. Vaanmathi, founder of Makwell Container Care and Thinlas Chorol, founder of Ladakhi Women’s Travel Company. Makwell Container Care uses marine containers to build beautiful homes, site offices, hospital rooms, and even marriage halls. The organization helps people fulfill their dreams of owning a house in just 15 days at around 3 lakhs. The second Prerna Award winner this year, Ladakhi Women’s Travel Company is the first travel company in Ladakh to be both owned and operated solely by women. Since her start as a guide in 2003, Thinlas has led countless treks around Ladakh and is today working to bring more women into the field of tourism. A strong advocate for eco-friendly and community-based tourism, such as homestays, she is constantly promoting sustainable development of the tourism industry.
On this occasion, Ms. Hilary Maxson, EVP and Chief Financial Officer, Schneider Electric, said: “The Inclusion Summit 2023 and Prerna Awards highlight Schneider Electric’s continued focus on empowering both leaders and businesses to prioritize Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. The Prerna Award winners represent women of today who are breaking the glass ceiling and it is our responsibility as corporates to provide them with a conducive environment that enables learning and growth.”
Recognizing the incredible work by the entrepreneurs to bring about a change, Mr. Deepak Sharma, Zone President Greater India & MD and CEO, Schneider Electric India Pvt. Ltd. said, “Diversity, Equity and Inclusion continue to be an integral part of our culture and identity. We practice this as an organization and are committed to making a difference in society at large. The Inclusion Summit 2023 and the Prerna Awards represent our commitment to fostering a sustainable, diverse, and inclusive world. It is truly rewarding to see such amazing businesses flourishing in their respective fields and this highlights the spirit of the country where innovation is at the center of everything that we do. I would like to congratulate the winners and all the participants who are on the journey of building the next incredible business and inspiring the youths of the society.”
Mr. Ramesh Ranjan, Vice president, NHRD’s Bangalore Chapter, added, “Women in India are continuing to close the gender gap through their sheer grit and commitment. The Inclusion Summit is a platform to understand the importance of inclusion in different spheres of life, be it personal or professional. The knowledge-sharing sessions and discussions further underlined the need for an inclusive world and an equitable future. It was inspiring to see some of the remarkable women entrepreneurs sharing their journeys and their commitment towards a better tomorrow is commendable. We are proud to partner with Schneider Electric India and hope to continue working in this space together.”
The summit provided attendees with the opportunity to expand their thinking and understand how they can foster equity and increase awareness to become an even stronger inclusion champion personally, professionally, and in the society, in which they live and operate in. The summit emphasized the need for organizations to mirror the communities we live in, practice inclusion in their sphere of influence and together build an environment in which everyone has an opportunity to thrive.
