March EDITION

From girl power to girls of power!

As we enter 2022, everything looks a lot brighter and better. COVID cases have hit a new low, people seem to be making vacation plans, regular international flights will resume after remaining suspended for over two years, and kids are finally getting back to school. Do you know what else has changed over the past two years? The state of female power around the world! Women have gained ground in the corporate world and there is a major spike in the number of women on the world’s billionaire list. Last year, the number of women on the Fortune 500 list hit an all-time record with 41 women in power.

I’ve never been a big fan of Women’s Day or the entire hullabaloo around it. However, today I realise being a woman, and especially being a woman of power, is no easy feat. From managing homes, husbands, and children to fighting societal pressures, it takes tremendous courage and conviction to chase your dream, run the hard race, and finally come out a winner.

I have seen many women simply squander away a chance at power because they are waiting for approval or for the right time, or something else. Then there are other women who know there is no permission or time needed – you just have to be powerful and grasp every opportunity that comes your way. Go out and do what you want. Make those mistakes, take those chances. Even if you don’t end up successful, you’ll have something to laugh about and share with your old folks.

This issue of Hashtag is dedicated to the women who have dared to follow their dreams. They paved their own paths by establishing enterprises that allow them to pursue their passions. While friends and film buffs Sonya V Kapoor and Amrita Mendonza went on to form M5 Entertainment, a talent agency that works with Bollywood’s major stars, Kasturi Banerjee converted her passion for wine and spirits into her own alcohol-beverage business with StillDistilling Spirits in Goa. We also have the likes of Vaidehi Warerkar, the psychology graduate who ditched the monotonous corporate life to tackle the issues of affordable storage with her business E-Wardrobe.

From travel, health, to nightlife reviews and more, we have a content packed issue we hope you enjoy reading. This March, let’s raise a toast – From girl power to girls of power!