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Astrotalk champions mothers’ cause; launches ‘Bring Women back to Workforce’ initiative
Mumbai: Astrotalk, a spiritual tech startup taking astrology global, has launched its “Bring Women back to Workforce” initiative. The program aims to assist new mothers in rejoining the workforce, providing the means to restart their careers and financially empower them. With nearly 50 per cent female astrologers on the platform, Astrotalk recognizes the challenges women encounter including employer hesitation after a hiatus/break. Under this initiative, Astrotalk is extending its support to mothers aged 30-45 through free-of-cost training in Tarot and Astrological Sciences.
Motherhood can be a challenging phase for women while balancing responsibilities. Once women leave their careers or experience a decline in their professional trajectories, they also face hiring reluctance by employers. Astrotalk has launched this initiative to offer mothers an opportunity to restart their careers. Upon the completion of training and professional assessment, the company will hire these women full-time at a starting package of INR 5 Lakhs per annum. The training for the first batch of 500 women is already underway, and the company aims to train 5000 women by the end of 2024.
Astrotalk will conduct this training program for free, bearing the complete cost for mothers. With this initiative, Astrotalk addresses a crucial aspect often overlooked by many employers. Women between the ages of 30-45 years and 12th pass/graduates are eligible for the program. The company remains committed to employee welfare by providing competitive salaries and remote work flexibility. Every employee of Astrotalk holds ESOPs regardless of their designation and tenure.
Commenting on the initiative, Astrotalk founder and CEO Puneet Gupta said, ”With the majority of our astrologers being women, we delved deeper into exploring additional ways to assist women currently taking a career break. The most common pain point was mothers who had to opt out of their careers. With this initiative, we want to financially empower women while simultaneously helping them balance work and home responsibilities. We have always been a proponent for equal opportunity and this program reflects our principle of being a people-first company.”
Astrotalk is continuously expanding into international markets as well, including Canada, the US, NZ, EU, etc. and foresees 100 per cent growth in these areas. In India, the company plans to penetrate tier 2, and 3 cities and towards South India where astrology is prevalent.
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Primus Partners appoints Akasa Air co-founder Neelu Khatri as independent director
Veteran aviation and defence professional joins as independent director
NEW DELHI: Primus Partners has appointed Neelu Khatri, a founding member of Akasa Air, as an independent director, strengthening the consulting firm’s board as it prepares for its next phase of growth.
Khatri brings more than three decades of experience across defence, aviation, aerospace technology and consulting. She was part of the core team that helped build Akasa Air from concept to launch, contributing to what has been widely described as one of the fastest airline scale ups in recent aviation history.
At Primus Partners, she will provide strategic guidance on corporate governance and help steer the firm’s long term growth plans. Her experience of building a start up into a full scale organisation is expected to support the consulting firm as it expands its footprint.
Primus Partners co-founder and chairperson Davinder Sandhu, said the appointment brings valuable expertise to the board. “Neelu’s journey across defence, aviation and consulting brings a rare blend of operational insight and strategic thinking. Her experience in rapidly scaling Akasa Air will be invaluable as we continue to grow while maintaining a strong focus on corporate governance,” he said.
Primus Partners, an India headquartered management consulting and solutions firm, has emphasised governance and board oversight since its early days. The company has also taken an unconventional approach by inviting its Gen Z employees to attend board meetings so that younger perspectives can contribute to discussions.
Speaking on her appointment, Khatri said the consulting sector is entering a transformative period shaped by emerging technologies. “The industry is evolving rapidly with the rise of AI. This is an exciting moment for an Indian origin consulting firm like Primus Partners to expand its product offerings and strengthen its presence globally,” she said.
She added that as the firm pursues ambitious expansion plans, her focus will be on ensuring strong governance frameworks and effective risk management as the organisation scales.
