Atishi Marlena Singh, Monisha Advani, Madhu Bhojwani Among BW Businessworld Top Women Entrepreneurs 2020

As women entrepreneurship takes focus in government industry and social conversations, BW Businessworld Women Entrepreneurship Summit and Awards 2020 celebrated the spirits of entrepreneurship in India. Atishi Marlena Singh MLA, Aam Aadmi Party, Monisha Advani and Madhu Bhojwani, Emmay Entertainment and Motion Pictures were amongst the top winners at the event. There were 23 winners this year. 

Atishi Marlena Singh, Politician, Educator, Political Activist & MLA was awarded BW Businessworld Social Woman Entrepreneur of the Year for being one of the key members of Delhi Govt. School Policy to revive Delhi government schools. She was also spearheading the flagship Mohalla Sabha Project for the Government of NCT of Delhi. Under her supervision, the infrastructure of schools was greatly improved, she was involved in organising parent-teacher meetings and strengthening regulations on private school fees. Further, she was instrumental in shaping the Happiness Curriculum and developing the Teacher Development Coordinator Programme in Delhi Schools. for this slew of achievements & for addressing the UN Sustainability Development Goal towards ensuring inclusive and equitable quality education. 

Another major achiever, Monisha Advani and Madhu Bhojwani were awarded BW Businessworld Inspiring Woman Entrepreneur of the Year for their entrepreneurial spirit. In 1992, Advani had just spearheaded her first entrepreneurial venture, an academic consultancy. This was also marked as the first step in creating a long-standing partnership with school friend Madhu Bhojwani. In 1996, the duo pivoted this business into an HR consultancy, EmmayHR. In 2005, the duo sold the company to Randstad. The period that followed saw them busy in managerial, entrepreneurial and even investor roles. But another landmark came in 2011 when Monisha and Madhu joined hands again to form a partnership with Nikkhil Advani and set up Emmay Entertainment. The production house has grown rapidly to deliver iconic hit films such as D-DAY, Airlift, Satyameva Jayate, Baazaar and Batla House. 

The awards received a phenomenal response as the categories were diverse. There was a total of 190 plus nominations this year out of which 67 were shortlisted for the jury. The final winner list was down to 23 after a rigorous jury process, which had 8 members from across health, real estate, media, travel and hospitality. 

The top winners this year also included other names like Darakhshan Husain, Co-founder & COO, Glam Studios, Malika Sadani, Founder & CEO, The Moms Co. (Startup Woman Entrepreneur), Ayesha Chenoy, Founder & CEO, RepIndia (Creative Woman Entrepreneur). 

Here is the complete list of WESA 2020 winners. 

Jury chair, Neerja Birla, Founder and Chairperson, Mpower said, “Each one is really making a difference and making an impact and going the extra mile by being perseverant and everyone is truly a winner.”