JAMSHEDPUR NEWS :XLRI Jamshedpur Honors Women Social Entrepreneurs at XL-JESEY 2025 Awards

JAMSHEDPUR

The second edition of the XLRI Jamshedpur Emerging Social Entrepreneur of the Year Award (XL-JESEY 2025) successfully concluded on 9th February 2025, celebrating visionary social entrepreneurs who have demonstrated outstanding commitment to driving social change through innovative and sustainable business models. Hosted by the Centre of Inclusiveness at XLRI Jamshedpur, XL-JESEY aims to recognize and support social entrepreneurs who create meaningful impact through their ventures.
This year’s theme, “Novel Approaches in Women Entrepreneurship,” honored individuals whose entrepreneurial initiatives empower women while addressing critical social, economic, and environmental challenges. The award spotlighted transformative initiatives that contribute to gender equality and inclusive development.
Winners of XL-JESEY 2025
The XL-JESEY 2025 award was presented to three exceptional entrepreneurs whose efforts have significantly impacted their communities:
• Premlata Poonia, founder of Hamari Laado, was awarded the top honor for her unwavering dedication to girls’ education and women’s empowerment in rural India. Through her initiative, she has provided essential educational resources, mentorship, and skill development programs, enabling marginalized women to achieve economic independence.
• Anuradha Richhariya, Managing Director of Lalitpur Mahila Kisan Producer Company Limited, was recognized for her contributions to strengthening women-led agricultural enterprises. Her organization supports female farmers by improving access to markets, financial literacy, and sustainable farming practices, enhancing their economic well-being.
• Aruna Tirkey, founder of Ajam Emba, was honored for her work in reviving indigenous cuisine and empowering tribal women through sustainable food entrepreneurship. By promoting traditional culinary practices and providing employment opportunities to tribal women, she has created a model for preserving cultural heritage while fostering economic self-sufficiency.
Each of the three winners was awarded a cash prize of ₹1,50,000 in recognition of their remarkable contributions to social entrepreneurship. The recognition not only acknowledges their outstanding efforts but also serves as an encouragement for other aspiring social entrepreneurs to develop sustainable solutions for societal challenges.

The XL-JESEY 2025 awards ceremony was the highlight of the eighth edition of the Social Entrepreneurship Conclave (SEC-8), hosted by the SIGMA-oikos committee of XLRI Jamshedpur. This conclave brought together visionaries, policymakers, and entrepreneurs to discuss “Women Entrepreneurship & Inclusive Growth.” The event saw participation from 150+ attendees, including students, industry leaders, and social entrepreneurs, fostering a meaningful dialogue on the role of women in shaping the entrepreneurial landscape.
The conclave commenced with a keynote address by Roopa Roshan Sahoo, IAS (Revenue Divisional Commissioner for the Southern Division, Berhampur), who shared insights on policy frameworks, structural challenges, and opportunities to foster an equitable entrepreneurial ecosystem for women in India.

The event featured two engaging panel discussions:
Panel 1: Corporate Initiatives & Policies for Women Empowerment
Moderated by Smt. Manasmita Jena (Executive Council Member, SVNIRTAR, Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment, Govt. of India), the panel explored how corporations and policymakers can drive meaningful change. Esteemed panelists, including Ameyavikrama Thanvi (Supreme Court Advocate), Prof. Sasmita Samanta (Founder & Chairperson, SOUL Limited), and Mohini Priya (Supreme Court Advocate), discussed the significance of corporate policies, leadership representation, and funding access for women entrepreneurs.
Panel 2: Driving Innovation Through Women-Centric Entrepreneurs.
This session, featuring Padmavati Uttarwar (Advisory Board Member for several organizations), Premlata Poonia (Founder, Hamari Laado), Bhavana Issar (Founder & CEO, Caregiver Saathi), Usha Paliath (CEO, Confederation of Women Entrepreneurs of India), and Aiswarya Chandrashekhar (Chief Impact Officer, FIA), highlighted innovative business models that cater to women and their evolving socio-economic roles. The discussion centered on overcoming barriers, leveraging technology, and fostering mentorship to scale women-led ventures.
With its impactful discussions and engaging sessions, SEC-8 and XL-JESEY 2025 reaffirmed XLRI’s commitment to fostering social change through entrepreneurship and promoting gender-inclusive growth in the business ecosystem. The awards ceremony not only celebrated social entrepreneurs but also served as an inspiration for future changemakers, encouraging innovative solutions to pressing societal challenges.