Kochi: Kerala has the potential to achieve development on par with global models such as Singapore, said Finance Minister K.N. Balagopal while inaugurating the ‘She Power 2025’ Women’s Summit, organised by Channel I’m at the Renai Hotel in Kochi.
Highlighting the state’s strong development prospects, the minister noted that initiatives such as work from home and work near home have encouraged greater participation of women in entrepreneurship. He pointed out that Kerala is witnessing a vibrant entrepreneurial movement, particularly in the food processing and apparel sectors.
The summit aimed to address the challenges of a rapidly changing world while empowering women to become economically and digitally self-reliant. She Power 2025 offered clear guidance on enhancing income, adopting safe investment practices, combating cyber threats and effectively leveraging artificial intelligence in the workplace.
Sessions on financial planning were led by Alex Babu, CMD, Hedge Equities; Kiran Riyaz, Senior Vice President, Hedge Equities; and Axis Bank representatives Baishakhi Banerjee and Saandeep Agarwal. Cybersecurity expert Dr. Pattathil Dhanya Menon delivered insights on cyber risks and essential safety measures, while Jayakumar Mohanachandran, CEO, F9 Infotech and Rajesh Vikraman, CISO, F9 Infotech, spoke on digital security challenges.
Discussions on women’s physical and mental health were led by Parveen Hafeez, Managing Director, Sunrise Group of Hospitals and Dr. Ranjini Raghavan, Medical Director, Sunrise Hospital, who also addressed responsible social media usage. C.K. Kumaravel, CMD, Naturals Salon and Shijo K. Thomas, Founder, Oxygen, shared practical lessons on building successful enterprises. Vivek Krishna Govind, Senior Partner, Varma & Varma Chartered Accountants, spoke on women’s growing presence in the digital retail sector.
Workshops on AI-driven career growth were conducted by Deepu Xavier, Co-founder, Zappyhire, while Blaise Noronha, Founder and CEO, Mercato Minds Pvt. Ltd., presented business ideas requiring low investment. Sreevidhya V. Pai, Principal Consultant, Bequip Advisory, explained effective savings strategies. A fireside chat featuring singer Abhaya Hiranmayi and journalist Lakshmi Padma was a key highlight of the event.
The summit also honoured achievers from various fields with awards. Nisha Krishnan, Founder of Channel I’m, along with prominent industrialists, experts and invited guests, were present at the event.
