Ladies Who Lead (LWL), a Mumbai-based groundbreaking platform dedicated to empowering women in leadership, has successfully secured $1 million in pre-series A funding. The investment round was led by Rainmatter, a socially responsible investment firm founded by Zerodha Co-founder & CEO Nithin Kamath. Additionally, the Family Office of Jayant Davar also participated in the round, aligning with LWL’s mission to foster a more inclusive environment for women entrepreneurs and professionals to advance in leadership roles.
The newly secured funding will fuel LWL’s ambitious plans to broaden its ecosystem, catering to women professionals and leaders across various sectors. This expansion will provide access to vital resources, mentorship, and support, empowering women to break through traditional obstacles and thrive in their careers.
LWL was co-founded in 2021 by Aabha Bakaya and Aditya Ghosh, both former journalists. Since its inception, LWL has been dedicated to creating an inclusive environment for women entrepreneurs, professionals, and veterans across various industries. The platform offers a range of opportunities for professional growth, including curated workshops, networking events, mentorship programs, upskilling initiatives, and social gatherings. By focusing on cross-industry collaboration and exposure, LWL tackles key obstacles to leadership advancement, such as pay disparity, limited networking opportunities, lack of access to mentors, and the need for better work-life balance among women professionals.
This funding will allow LWL to further establish its presence within India’s professional ecosystem, providing enhanced support to both established and emerging women leaders. Currently operational in Delhi-NCR, Mumbai, and Bangalore, LWL plans to expand its reach to a broader audience across the country, while also diversifying its membership base.
“I believe that women should own their destiny—empowered to choose, shape, and grow in a way that is fulfilling for them. We have meticulously designed our offerings to enable women to forge strong connections and build essential relationships that contribute to their personal and professional growth. As our movement grows, more women in various fields will lead, and our collective influence will empower us to co-create the future. We see this funding from Rainmatter as a strong endorsement of our vision, and we are incredibly proud to have them as our partners on this journey.” This statement was made by Aabha Bakaya, Founder & CEO of LWL.
Despite recent strides in achieving gender equality, a 2024 study by Fortune India reveals a concerning disparity. The study found that only 1.6% of Fortune India 500 companies have women in leadership positions. This statistic highlights the ongoing underrepresentation of women in top roles.
The study also sheds light on another pressing issue: the significant number of women who leave the workforce prematurely. Approximately 30-40% of women employees exit their jobs before reaching middle management, often coinciding with the time they start families. The challenges of maternity leave and returning to work afterward contribute to a trend where many women struggle to continue their careers after having children.
LWL has developed a purpose-driven approach to tackle the complex challenges women face. This tailored strategy is designed to meet the unique goals and aspirations of each member, providing a personalized experience that fosters growth and success.
Upon joining LWL, members are paired with a dedicated community point of contact who curates their experience based on their individual career objectives. This personalized approach ensures that each member receives targeted support, whether they are seeking networking opportunities, business partnerships, or expert guidance to propel their careers forward.
Highlighting the crucial role of community support systems, Aabha Bakaya stresses that these networks are especially vital for women in mid-to-senior management positions, where they are most likely to drop out. “It’s time we realise the power and need of community support systems, especially for women approaching mid-to-senior management positions, where the dropout rate is maximum. To meet India’s ambitious GDP target of USD 30 trillion by 2047, the ecosystem needs to create more jobs, and that cannot be done without the participation of women in upper management,” she concludes.
