CII J&K hosts 3rd edition of ‘SheLeads’, focuses on scaling resilience into leadership

Srinagar, Apr 19: The Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), J&K, on Sunday organised the third edition of its flagship initiative ‘SheLeads’ in Srinagar, bringing together women leaders, policymakers, administrators, entrepreneurs and educators to deliberate on expanding women’s leadership in the region.

Held at Hotel Golden Tulip under the theme “Scaling Resilience into Leadership,” the conclave focused on converting the resilience demonstrated by women in Jammu and Kashmir into structured leadership opportunities supported by institutions, policy frameworks and mentorship.

Over the past few years, SheLeads has evolved into a platform for dialogue and engagement on women’s leadership in the Union Territory, with this edition placing emphasis on building sustainable pathways for women in governance, enterprise and public life.

Welcoming the participants, Haya Qazi, Chairperson of Salvatore International School, highlighted the need for sustained and purpose-driven platforms. She said empowerment must go beyond recognition and translate into leadership opportunities backed by mentorship and institutional support, enabling women to lead by design rather than exception.

In his address, Iqram Ali Shafiee, Chairman, CII J&K, spoke about the changing nature of leadership in a fast-evolving world, describing resilience as a key competency. Referring to the context of Jammu and Kashmir, he said women in the region have consistently shown resilience, but there is a need to create enabling ecosystems and equitable platforms to translate that strength into leadership roles across sectors. He reiterated CII’s commitment to promoting women’s leadership through initiatives such as SheLeads, the CII Centre of Women Leadership and the Indian Women Network, with a focus on mentorship, policy advocacy and enterprise development.

The inaugural session also featured addresses by Indu Kanwal Chib, Deputy Commissioner Bandipora, and Shameema Firdous, MLA Habba Kadal, who shared their experiences in governance and public life, stressing the importance of inclusive decision-making in shaping development.

A felicitation ceremony was held to honour women achievers from diverse fields for their contributions across sectors.

The event also saw a panel discussion on “The Leadership Shift – Women Shaping the Next Phase of J&K’s Economic Growth.” The discussion brought together voices from administration, education, finance and industry, including Haya Qazi, Ridha Rashid, Najwan Nazki (JKAS), Shadab Makhdoomi (JKAS) and Dr Amber Durrani. The panel examined the role of women in driving enterprise, influencing policy and contributing to the region’s evolving economic landscape.

Panelists noted that while resilience among women is evident, challenges such as access to finance, professional networks, leadership exposure and structured mentorship continue to limit opportunities and need to be addressed collectively.

CII J&K said it will continue to work towards strengthening leadership pipelines and promoting inclusive platforms to support women-led growth in the region.

The conclave concluded with a call to translate resilience into leadership, underlining its role in building stronger institutions and a more inclusive society.