At the Best of the Best Conferences and Awards 2025, Unfiltered Conversations brought together Avtar’s Founder-President, Dr Saundarya Rajesh, and Seramount’s President, Subha Barry, for a candid reflection on ten years of the Best Companies for Women in India (BCWI) journey.
Dr Saundarya revisited the study’s early days in Mumbai, when BCWI was still an idea and just ten organisations were willing to share their data. Subha Barry responded that she never doubted its success, noting that credible numbers have the power to drive action.
Subha highlighted how Indian-headquartered companies came forward with unexpected speed and confidence, signalling a shift from relying on global data to building India-led benchmarks rooted in local realities. She also underscored that credibility—not scale—was the decisive factor in choosing Avtar as a partner, emphasising that data without integrity is meaningless.
Reflecting on the Avtar–Seramount partnership, Dr Saundarya spoke of her early interactions with Subha and her long-standing advocacy for inclusion as a business imperative. The conversation also touched upon how BCWI questionnaires evolve annually through rigorous research and collaboration, blending global best practices with India-specific insights.
The session closed on a forward-looking note, with both leaders reaffirming their commitment to shaping inclusive ecosystems, attracting talent, and enabling careers at scale.
