Why India could use more initiatives like The Bicester Collection’s Unlock Her Future prize

It has been a landmark year for Indians and South Asians around the world. From excelling at sports and taking leadership roles in business to breaking barriers in film, TV, music, fashion and arts, there isn’t a single sphere that South Asians haven’t breached. And it’s the women who are at the forefront of this race.

So, it only makes sense for brands and organisations to support this momentum. As part of their commitment to provide a platform for women-led ventures to grow and scale from the ground up, The Bicester Collection’s philanthropic programme, Do Good, has been identifying and empowering female social impact entrepreneurs from a different region each year. The first two editions of the Unlock Her Future prize focused on the Middle East and North Africa (2023) and Latin America (2024). This year, the spotlight turned to India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bhutan and the Maldives.

The names on the honour roll announced on November 19 include Amritha Krishnamoorthy and Jhillika Trisal from India, Sophiya Tamang from Nepal, Nida Yousaf Sheikh from Pakistan, Nishat Anjum Palka from Bangladesh and Yangchen Dolkar Dorji from Bhutan, who underwent an intensive bootcamp delivered by Oxford’s Saïd Business School and survived a live pitch session before the judges. Each winner was awarded approximately $100,000 in funding and will receive mentoring and leadership training with global experts. The women will also have access to The Bicester Collection’s global network of partners, affiliates and industry leaders, dedicated media training and exposure.

Below, a brief description of how each of these six women is advancing inclusive solutions that deliver transformative social impact in alignment with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals:

Amritha Krishnamoorthy (India), Stepping Stones Centre: Transforming education and therapy for children with autism and developmental disabilities so no child is left behind.

Jhillika Trisal (India), Cognitii: Democratising access to quality education for children with special educational needs by combining AI with human special educators.

Sophiya Tamang (Nepal), Idea to Impact: Turning surplus produce into fruit purees that nourish children, cut food waste, empower women farmers and promote sustainable agriculture.

Nida Yousaf Sheikh (Pakistan), H2O Technologies: Turning air humidity into safe drinking water to fight Pakistan’s water scarcity crisis, eliminate waste and empower communities.

Nishat Anjum Palka (Bangladesh), Mommykidz: A safe, affordable community where women and parents can access health information, care and essential products without stigma.

Yangchen Dolkar Dorji (Bhutan) LEAD+: Empowering grassroots, women-led and marginalised businesses with funding, mentorship and market access while fostering self-reliance and community resilience.

Some prizes are for show; for organisations to thump their chests about how much they’re doing for diversity and equal opportunity. This is not one of those. Chantal Khoueiry, the Chief Culture Officer of The Bicester Collection, said, “Empowering these visionary women is more than celebrating their success; it’s about creating ecosystems that spark ripple effects and transform societies.” While great progress is being made on that front, South Asian women still face a long road to full gender parity—estimated at 149 years—especially in key areas like economic participation and leadership. Initiatives like Unlock Her Future’s South Asia edition are helping women bridge that gap faster.