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Swiggy launches ‘She The Change’
Mumbai: In a tribute to India’s vibrant spirit of women entrepreneurship and their impact on the economic landscape, Swiggy, India’s leading on-demand convenience platform, launched a new initiative titled “She The Change- From Vision to Venture”. Inaugurated by the Minister of Finance and Corporate Affairs, Government of India, Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman, the initiative by Swiggy underscores the contribution of food delivery platforms in fostering and stimulating women’s entrepreneurship in the country.
Commemorating nearly a decade of working with women entrepreneurs, Swiggy is shining the spotlight on their journey ‘from vision to venture’ for both budding and established women entrepreneurs in the Food & Beverage (F&B) industry. The launch event served as a platform for accomplished women entrepreneurs in F&B from across India, joined by distinguished figures from economics and academia, and Swiggy’s leadership including Swiggy group CEO Sriharsha Majety and Rohit Kapoor, Swiggy Food Marketplace CEO Rohit Kapoor.
Swiggy has more than 50,000 women-run restaurants on its platform. It is estimated that these entrepreneurs are generating approximately three hundred thousand jobs, as each restaurant employs an average of six direct employees. Swiggy believes that this is merely the beginning of their contribution to the food and beverage sector, which accounts for around three per cent of the country’s GDP.
The Honourable Minister of Finance and Corporate Affairs commended Swiggy’s role in encouraging and recognising the performance of women-led businesses, a move emphasizing the Honourable Prime Minister’s endorsement of women’s inclusion in the workforce, encapsulated in his vision of ‘Nari Shakti,’.
Speaking at the occasion, Sitharaman said “From keeping women at the centre of policymaking to women-related budgets to discussing women in employment, we have come a long way. Today, I can see there is great vibrancy in women-led enterprises, where women are coming forth and taking up business challenges- whether small, medium or big, you find women everywhere, and programmes such as Swiggy’s “She the Change” are giving them the encouragement and a little push, and for other women to know this is possible. Swiggy deserves a special mention for encouraging women’s entrepreneurship nationwide.”
Majety said, “’She The Change’ transcends being just an initiative; it stands as a platform, dedicated to honouring and amplifying the remarkable stories of women entrepreneurs and leaders in the F&B industry. They have not only set new benchmarks for success but also played a pivotal role in shaping India’s economic narrative. At Swiggy, we deeply acknowledge the dedication and perseverance they’ve poured into their ventures, and it’s our privilege to celebrate and recognize several of them in the presence of Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman Ji, Honourable Minister of Finance & Corporate Affairs.”
Kapoor said “In the decade since Swiggy’s inception, we’ve had the honour to provide a platform for women entrepreneurs in the F&B space and witness their remarkable journeys first-hand. It’s inspiring to see the steady growth in both the number and scale of women-led businesses on Swiggy each year. ‘She the Change’ is dedicated to these entrepreneurial women. It’s more than just a celebration—it’s about empowering them with access to resources for sustained success, growth, and meaningful impact.”
NOTO- Healthy Ice Cream co-founder Ashni Shah said, “The restaurant industry is highly competitive, and this is why it is encouraging to see women in the industry being celebrated by a platform like Swiggy with the “She the Change” initiative. Food delivery platforms like Swiggy make a significant contribution towards enhancing our visibility and increasing our order volumes by connecting us with a broader customer base. I am grateful for this recognition and hope that this initiative inspires more women to not only take the initial step but also pursue their aspirations with conviction.”
Swiggy’s mission to offer unparalleled convenience to consumers through access to a wide variety of restaurants has empowered numerous restaurants, especially in smaller towns. Bonfire Pizza, Rishikesh, Priya Sharma said “From sharing homemade meals at the office to launching our restaurant, the journey has been a leap of faith. We faced many trials, including limited resources and no advertising budget, however, post our partnership with Swiggy in 2019, our business saw a transformative shift, reaching new heights. Today, Bonfire Pizza is not just a restaurant; it’s a testament to chasing your passion and embracing the opportunities that come your way. Is heartening to see Swiggy recognise and honour women entrepreneurship through stories of women-led businesses turning their vision into reality.”
The event concluded with the facilitation of women entrepreneurs from across the country, celebrating their remarkable contributions and inspiring journeys in creating a difference through their ventures.
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YES Bank hands the keys to SBI veteran Vinay Tonse as it bets on a new era
Former SBI managing director appointed as YES Bank’s new MD and CEO
MUMBAI: YES Bank is done rebuilding. Now it wants to grow. The private sector lender has appointed Vinay Muralidhar Tonse as managing director and chief executive officer-designate, with RBI approval secured and a start date of April 6, 2026 confirmed. The three-year term signals the bank’s intent to shift gears from crisis recovery to full-throttle expansion.
Tonse, 60, is no stranger to scale. Most recently managing director at State Bank of India, he oversaw a retail book of roughly $800bn in deposits and advances, one of the largest in the country. Before that, he ran SBI Mutual Fund from August 2020 to December 2022, a stint that saw assets under management surge from Rs 4.32 lakh crore to Rs 7.32 lakh crore across market cycles. Add stints in Singapore and four years leading SBI’s overseas operations in Osaka, and the incoming chief arrives with a genuinely global CV.
His academic grounding is equally solid: a commerce degree from St Joseph’s College of Commerce, Bengaluru, and a master’s in commerce from Bangalore University.
The appointment follows an extensive search and evaluation process by the bank’s Nomination and Remuneration Committee. NRC chairperson Nandita Gurjar said the committee unanimously backed Tonse, citing his leadership track record, governance credentials and ability to drive the bank’s next phase of transformation.
Non-executive chairman Rama Subramaniam Gandhi was unequivocal. “I am certain that Vinay Tonse, with his vast experience as a senior banker, will propel YES Bank to its next phase of growth,” Gandhi said, adding that the bank remains focused on strengthening its retail and corporate banking franchises and expanding its branch network.
Rajeev Kannan, non-executive director and senior executive at Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation, the bank’s largest shareholder, said Tonse’s experience across retail, corporate banking, global markets and asset management positioned him well to lead the lender. SMBC said it looks forward to working with Tonse and the board as YES Bank pursues its ambition of becoming a top-tier private sector lender anchored in strong governance and sustainable growth.
Tonse succeeds Prashant Kumar, who took the helm in March 2020 when YES Bank was in freefall following a severe financial crisis, and spent six years painstakingly stabilising the institution, rebuilding governance and restoring operational scale. Gandhi was generous: “The bank remains indebted to Prashant Kumar, who is responsible for much of what a strong financial powerhouse YES Bank is today.”
Tonse, for his part, struck a purposeful note. “Together with the board and my colleagues, I remain deeply committed to creating long-term value for all our stakeholders,” he said, pledging to build on Kumar’s foundation guided by his personal motto: Make A Difference.
Beyond the balance sheet, Tonse played cricket at college and club level and represented Karnataka in archery at the national championships — sports he credits with teaching him teamwork, situational leadership, discipline and focus. In quieter moments, he reaches for retro Kannada music, classic Hindi songs, and the crooning of Engelbert Humperdinck, Mukesh and Kishore Kumar.
YES Bank has its steady-handed rebuilder in Kumar to thank for survival. Now it has a scale-obsessed growth banker at the wheel. The next chapter starts April 6.
