The Commerce and Entrepreneurship Development Cell of St. Joseph’s College of Law organized ‘VANIJA’ – a panel discussion on Women Entrepreneurship on 26th August 2025 at 1:30 PM in Room 309, SJCL New Block. The event aimed to highlight the contributions, challenges, and opportunities for women entrepreneurs in today’s world, while inspiring students to develop entrepreneurial thinking on Women's Equality Day.

The presence of our Chief Guest, Rishika Gupta, an entrepreneur of Rishika & Co., and a consulting Chief Financial Officer of Micro Coldforge. Her presence added immense value to the event. With vast experience and deep knowledge in the field, she spoke passionately about how women’s abilities have increased by a huge margin since before, but there is still a gap to be bridged for them to thrive. She highlighted real-life examples of women who have successfully overcome barriers and built thriving enterprises, thereby inspiring the audience to think beyond limitations. The address was not only informative but also motivational, leaving the students with a renewed sense of purpose and confidence to pursue entrepreneurial ideas fearlessly. During the chat with guests, she shared that her journey toward achieving her goals was rooted in strong academic performance from the very beginning. Excelling in school, becoming the college topper, and later clearing the Chartered Accountancy (CA) examinations, she consistently demonstrated dedication and hard work. While she faced several challenges along the way, she emphasized that the professional world has evolved, and opportunities today are not confined by gender, with women entrepreneurs having far greater scope than before. She emphasized the importance of networking as a vital tool for success, stressing that building connections is just as crucial as academic or professional excellence. As advice to budding lawyers, she underlined that anyone can become an entrepreneur if they possess determination and the willingness to persist.

The event saw an active participation of 68 students from across classes, both as panelists, moderators, and audience members. The discussions were lively, thoughtful, and insightful, with students engaging in constructive dialogue. The Q&A session particularly stood out, as it reflected the audience's curiosity and eagerness to learn and understand the subject.

The panel discussion turned out to be a healthy and engaging competition, with each team bringing unique perspectives to the table. The panelists expressed strong opinions on both the opportunities and challenges for women entrepreneurs – while some emphasized the role of education, networking, and government initiatives in fostering entrepreneurship, others highlighted persistent barriers such as social stereotypes, lack of funding, and balancing personal responsibilities. The discussions were insightful, thought-provoking, and well-structured, with each team showcasing clarity, confidence, and critical thinking. It was indeed a close competition, as every team performed with remarkable depth and energy, making it a challenging task for the judges to decide on the best team.