MAM
Women entrepreneurs driving change in a so-called men’s world
Mumbai: Women entrepreneurs are accelerating India’s business growth story. Ventures led by women entrepreneurs are expected to grow by 90 per cent in the next five years. But will this translate into a better and more inclusive corporate world led by women? What will it take to build a more enabling work culture? Will the change be achieved in isolation from society or will it require a complete shift in mindsets? Who will drive this change – men or women? What support systems do women need, beginning with managing their personal lives and challenges, to sponsors and mentors at work to opt for and then stay in top roles?
All this and more, was discussed at the roundtable organised during Wonder Women 2022 conference to explore the possibility of women entrepreneurs driving the next wave of business and economic growth in India. A day-long virtual event was organised by IndianTelevision.com on 4 March to recognise and honour remarkable women leaders, entrepreneurs and change-makers for their outstanding contributions in the arena of media, entertainment and marketing industries.
The panel comprising Anika Parashar (The Woman’s Company founder and CEO), Sukhleen Aneja (Good Glamm Group’s CEO of beauty and FMCG brands division), Deepali Naair (IBM director – digital sales, India & ASEANZK digital sales centre, Bangalore ), Elizabeth Venkatraman (Kotak Mahindra Bank joint president – consumer, commercial and wealth marketing), Kranti Sarma (Technicolor Creative Studio India head of studio), Neha Kant (Clovia founder and director) and Preeti Jhangiani (actress, model and Pro Panja League’s founder-director) was moderated by IndianTelevision.com founder, CEO and editor-in-chief Anil NM Wanvari.
Answering the big question, Technicolor’s Kranti Sarma and IBM’s Naair put forward a positive viewpoint, but with a hint of realism. Sharing her experience at Technicolor, Sarma stated, “There are huge opportunities in the creative space right now, but for some reason, women are not coming forward to take them up; the small percentage who do, do not stay. There has been a lack of self-motivated and self-driven women in the field. This is why we have taken to a women-oriented hiring policy.”
Quoting studies that showed more women leaving the workforce than men, and the pipeline of women who will move into senior leadership roles getting shorter, IBM’s Deepali Naair said, “The real challenge to bringing about inclusion is in building a gender-agnostic society. In the last few years there has been this narrative for women by women, but the larger part of the corporate world is run by men. It is they who need to be convinced to get involved as sponsors and angels etc.”
Talking of plausible solutions she added, “Moving towards a gig economy in terms of how you solve for people coming and working for gigs, how you pay them, how does that unit economics work, will create a truly inclusive future for both men and women.”
The speakers unanimously agreed on the need for a more holistic societal and cultural change to encourage women to follow their dreams and passion. The collaborative effort, they said, will involve everyone, beginning with the parents and teachers to mentors and bosses.
“Education is key for women to understand, acknowledge and appreciate their rights. That’s where the journey begins. Moving ahead, big companies will have to drive the change by creating a culture of diversity where women feel more comfortable in bringing their perspective to the table,” said Preeti Jhangiani of Pro Panja League.
Good Glamm Group’s Aneja insisted on the need for more positive stories being told by women about their sponsors, as well as people and processes that aided their professional journeys. “The involvement of men in this initiative is extremely important simply because they are the majority. We need more positive stories about them, and how they encouraged women to come forward. How they managed expectations, priorities and careers to enable a flexible workplace environment.”
For Elizabeth Venkatraman, financial independence is the most crucial requirement for women empowerment. “While a lot of glass ceilings are being broken, bringing more and more women into formal financial services is the sign of true independence, which is something we are working towards,” she said
Adding on to the point, Clovia’s Kant remarked, “The society has skewed us to think it’s okay to not be financially independent; to take the backseat and allow the men to lead. This needs to change. As parents we will all have to be careful of the cues we pass on to the children.”
Anika Parashar, whose professional journey has been all about supporting women through her entrepreneurial ventures, noted, “Today, women in India and around the world are taking strides in business. While there were many who dropped out in absence of support, there are also several examples where help has come in various forms – as sponsors, angels, evangelists who believed in them. Women need to stop apologising and speak with pride.”
When you plan to buy medical insurance for your family, the first question is often about savings. You may assume that buying online automatically means paying less, but that is only part of the picture. The real issue is not just whether the premium looks lower, but whether the policy gives you suitable family health insurance without adding avoidable costs later.
Buying online can sometimes appear more budget-friendly because you can compare plans, review features, and complete the process without depending entirely on offline assistance.
Still, a lower visible price does not always mean better value. To understand whether you can truly save more, you need to look at the full buying experience and the policy terms together.
Why Online Purchase Can Look More Economical
When you explore family health insurance online, you usually get access to plan details in a more direct and organised way. This can make the buying journey feel simpler and more transparent.
A few reasons online purchases may seem cost-effective include:
● Easier comparison of policy features
● Direct access to premium details
● The ability to review inclusions and exclusions at your own pace
● Fewer chances of making a rushed decision
● More control over the plan selection process
This does not mean every online option is automatically cheaper. It simply means the online route may help you assess choices more carefully, and that itself can influence how much value you get from the policy you choose.
Saving Money is Not Only About a Lower Premium
A lower premium often catches your attention first, but that should not be the only measure of savings. If you buy medical insurance based only on what looks affordable at the start, you may overlook conditions that matter later.
A family health insurance policy should be judged on overall value, including:
● The scope of cover
● Waiting period terms
● Exclusions
● Room eligibility conditions
● Sub-limits, if any
● Claim-related terms
● Renewal conditions
If the premium is lower but the policy has stricter internal conditions, the apparent saving may not feel meaningful when you actually need hospitalisation support.
So, the better question is not only whether online purchase costs less, but whether it helps you select a plan that remains financially sensible over time.
Comparing Plans Online Can Prevent Overspending
One clear advantage of the online route is that it allows you to compare different options without pressure. This can help you avoid paying for features you may not need or missing features that matter for your family.
Before you buy medical insurance online, look closely at:
● Who can be covered under the plan
● How the sum insured works for the family
● Whether day care procedures are included
● How pre-existing illness rules are explained
● Whether add-ons are optional or built in
● How clearly the policy wording is presented
This level of comparison can support better decision-making. In many cases, savings come not only from the premium itself but from choosing a policy with fewer surprises.
Online Discounts Should be Viewed Carefully
Online discounts can make a plan look attractive, but they should always be read alongside the policy details. A discount may reduce the upfront cost, yet the true worth of the policy depends on what it covers and how it responds during a claim.
When reviewing discounted online plans, check whether the policy has:
● Treatment-specific limits
● Room rent restrictions
● Co-payment clauses
● Disease-wise waiting periods
● Claim deductions linked to the hospital category
● Limited cover for selected benefits
These points are important because a policy that looks cheaper at purchase may involve more out-of-pocket spending later. That is why discount-led buying should be replaced with detail-led buying.
Final Thoughts
Yes, buying online can sometimes help you save more when choosing family health insurance, but only if you look beyond the headline price. The online route may give you better visibility, easier comparison, and more time to review the policy terms.
That can support smarter choices and may reduce the chances of paying for a plan that does not suit your family well.
If you want to buy medical insurance online, treat savings as more than a discount. The real advantage lies in choosing family health insurance that balances affordability, clarity, and meaningful coverage for your household.
