The Chamber for Advancement of Small and Medium Businesses (CASMB), in association with Amway India, successfully organized “She Shines: From Aspiration to Inspiration – Women Entrepreneurship & Empowerment” at Hotel Fern, Kolhapur, commemorating World MSME Day. The conclave brought together entrepreneurs, policymakers, incubators, academicians, startup ecosystem leaders, and aspiring business owners on a common platform to celebrate women entrepreneurship and strengthen the MSME ecosystem.

The event commenced with a welcome address by Mr. Nilesh Lele, President, CASMB, who highlighted the importance of collaborative ecosystems in nurturing entrepreneurship and enabling sustainable business growth. The conclave was graced by Dr. Jasmine, IAS, Chief Executive Officer, Zilla Parishad, Kolhapur, as the Chief Guest. Dr. Prakash Kondekar, Advisor, CASMB, Mr. Ashish Vaidya, Regional Corporate Affairs Manager – West & East, Amway India, and Mr. Milind Barapatre, Director, MSME Development Office, Mumbai, attended as Guests of Honour and shared valuable insights on entrepreneurship, policy support, and the role of industry in empowering MSMEs.

The first panel discussion, “Shaping the Ecosystem to Promote Women Entrepreneurship – Futuristic Policy Ecosystem Supporting the Initial Setup for Women Entrepreneurs,” was moderated by Mr. Sachin Kumbhoje, Co-founder, Ciree and Startup India Delegate. The panel featured Dr. Shivanand Shirkole, Mr. Vishwanath Pawar, Dr. Iranna Udachan, and Mrs. Shweta Abhijeet Patil, who deliberated on incubation, institutional support, government initiatives, and collaborative models required to create a stronger entrepreneurial ecosystem for women.

The second panel, “Wonder Women: The Game Changer,” moderated by Ms. Anjori Kumbhoje, celebrated inspiring women leaders who shared their entrepreneurial journeys, leadership experiences, and perspectives on overcoming challenges. The panel included Dr. Sharmilee Mane, Ms. Shashwati Chikade, Ms. Kalyani Tare, Ms. Sneh Kiran Desai, Ms. Jiya Hotwani, and Ms. Bharati Karunakar Nayak, whose inspiring stories encouraged aspiring entrepreneurs to pursue innovation with confidence and resilience.

The conclave witnessed enthusiastic participation from entrepreneurs, students, MSMEs, industry professionals, and members of the startup ecosystem from across the region. The event served as a vibrant platform for networking, knowledge exchange, and meaningful discussions on creating greater opportunities for women-led enterprises.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Nilesh Lele, President, CASMB, reiterated the chamber’s commitment to building an inclusive entrepreneurial ecosystem through industry collaborations, knowledge-sharing initiatives, and strategic partnerships. He emphasized that empowering women entrepreneurs is essential for accelerating innovation, employment generation, and sustainable economic development.

The event concluded with a vote of thanks by Ms. Shivanshi Srivastav, General Manager, CASMB, who expressed gratitude to the Chief Guest, Guests of Honour, panelists, moderators, Amway India, participants, and the organizing team for making the conclave a grand success.

Through initiatives like She Shines, CASMB continues to strengthen its mission of empowering MSMEs, fostering women entrepreneurship, and building collaborative platforms that drive innovation and inclusive growth across India.