Annual conference convenes leaders across sectors to catalyse intersectional, equity-driven solutions for inclusive growth
New Delhi, July 31, 2025: Lead With Equity 2025, the flagship annual conference of EquiLead, convened funders, practitioners, policymakers, and organizational leaders at the India International Centre (IIC), New Delhi, to advance systemic solutions for gender equity, climate resilience, and inclusive leadership. Organized by EquiLead—an initiative of Climate Asia and the Arthan Foundation—the conference shifted the discourse from dialogue to action, aligning with global frameworks such as SDG 5 (Gender Equality), SDG 13 (Climate Action), and the UNFCCC’s Gender Action Plan.
The conference was supported by a strong coalition of partners including Dasra, Good Business Lab, Raintree Foundation, CREA, Aspire For Her, Youth4Jobs, AVPN, EMpower, Veddis Foundation, The Asia Foundation, The Convergence Foundation, among others.
Driving equity through climate action “Accelerating women’s leadership is essential to achieving a just and resilient global transition. As India advances its green growth agenda, investing in women at every level of the climate workforce is a moral and economic imperative,” said Satyam Vyas, Founder & CEO of Climate Asia.
Panels and sessions explored gender-responsive climate action, women’s leadership in manufacturing, and systemic change in nonprofit ecosystems. Highlights included:
Advancing Gender-Responsive Climate Action: Speakers positioned women as key stakeholders and system-changers in shaping a just climate transition.
Build to Include: Gender Equity in Indian Manufacturing: Deepak Rautela of Shahi Exports highlighted systemic barriers limiting women’s advancement in the garment industry.
Mending the Leaky Pipeline: Experts shared how mentorship, sponsorship, and relational approaches can address the sharp drop in women’s representation from entry-level to senior roles.
From Chaos to Clarity: Radha Thakur of Reliance Foundation emphasized co-creation with local partners and building systems early for nonprofit impact.
Key voices for inclusion. In a virtual keynote, Parmesh Shahani, Head, Godrej DEI Lab, noted the importance of institutional support in enabling individuals and organizations to thrive. Similarly, Aloka Majumdar, MD & Global Head of Philanthropy & Head of Sustainability, HSBC India, stressed that mainstreaming gender requires engaging men, women, households, and communities alike.
Reflecting on the broader vision, Anchal Kakkar, Co-Founder of EquiLead, said, “The cornerstone of our work at EquiLead is to enable equity in leadership and build inclusive workplaces. Through mentorship, accelerator programs, and ecosystem engagement, we aim to strengthen diverse, inclusive ecosystems. But true change requires collective collaboration, learning, and unlearning.”
Building momentum for systemic transformation. The conference reaffirmed EquiLead’s position as a convening force for intersectional leadership and systemic transformation. By centering gender equity in climate action, workplace leadership, and nonprofit governance, Lead With Equity 2025 underscored that inclusive growth is key to building a sustainable and resilient future.
About EquiLead
EquiLead is an initiative by Climate Asia and the Arthan Foundation, working to accelerate equity in leadership through its Gender Accelerator Program, mentorship opportunities, research, and curated ecosystem engagement. By fostering collaboration among funders, organizations, and leaders, EquiLead advances systemic transformation for inclusive and sustainable growth.
