CNBC-TV18 successfully hosted the Bengaluru edition of Future. Female. Forward.The Women’s Collective Season 4, bringing together some of India’s top business leaders, entrepreneurs and industry experts to discuss the future of women in leadership and their role in driving the country’s economic growth.

According to a CNBC-TV18 press release, the event, held on July 15, was presented by HSBC, co-presented by Cognizant, and powered by Reliance Industries Limited. The summit focused on how businesses can create more opportunities for women, promote inclusive leadership and prepare organisations for the future in an AI-driven world.

The discussions revolved around key topics such as artificial intelligence (AI), workplace transformation, women entrepreneurship, access to funding, leadership opportunities and building organisations based on trust and inclusion. Speakers agreed that increasing women’s participation in leadership is not only important for diversity but is also essential for India’s long-term economic growth.

The summit began with CNBC-TV18 Managing Editor Shereen Bhan, who spoke about the changing nature of leadership. This was followed by a keynote address from Ranjan Bhattacharya, Managing Director and Chief of Staff at HSBC India, who highlighted the importance of building future-ready organisations through trust, inclusion and equal opportunities.

One of the key sessions featured Biocon Executive Chairperson Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw in conversation with Shereen Bhan. She stressed that women entrepreneurs still face challenges in raising capital and establishing credibility. She said stronger mentorship and better access to funding are essential to help more women build successful businesses.

Another major discussion focused on how AI and technology are creating new opportunities for women entrepreneurs. Industry leaders including Ruchi Deepak (Jolene Club & ACKO), Anjali Sardana (Pronto), Dekyi Yangtso Chawla (Reward360), Saroja Yeramilli (Melorra), Mansi Jain (Glance), Jo Aggarwal (Wysa) and Kirthiga Reddy (OptimizeGEO ai) shared insights on innovation, investment and leadership in the digital era.

Speaking at the event, Kirthiga Reddy said women must become active participants in the AI revolution, pointing out that female representation among deep-tech founders remains extremely low. She encouraged women to take ownership, embrace leadership opportunities and build strong support networks.

Rajesh Varrier, Chairman and Managing Director of Cognizant India, said AI presents India with a major opportunity to become a global technology leader. He added that ensuring women have access to leadership roles, meaningful work and skill development will be critical to achieving true workplace equity.

The summit concluded with the FFF Icons Awards, recognising women who have made significant contributions across different industries by breaking barriers and setting new benchmarks.

The Bengaluru edition of Future. Female. Forward. The Women’s Collective Season 4 was broadcast live on CNBC-TV18, its website and YouTube channel. The event reinforced CNBC-TV18’s commitment to promoting conversations around inclusive leadership, women entrepreneurship and India’s future growth.