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There is no one right way of seeking inspiration or motivation. It depends on several factors like who you are as a person, what drives you and your priorities in life. All of us need someone to look up to — to keep going and to find light in the darkest times. For us, at Zee Zest, the list of women who inspire us by leading a change in their unique way is long. It includes the likes of fashion designer Arpita Mehta, celebrity hairstylist Adhuna Bhabani, sustainable fashion entrepreneur Kirti Poonia, and Veena Ashiya, CEO (chief energy officer) and founder of Monrow Shoes.
These influential women are an incredible force in their own right and inspire lakhs of women across India. But the question is: whose actions and words are inspiring these power women? Scroll down to find out:
Kirti Poonia, co-founder of Relove and former CEO of Okhai
Serial entrepreneur and co-founder of Relove, Kirti Poonia is an inspiration to many Indian women in the field of business and sustainability. And for her, every woman is an inspiration in some way or the other. Probe her to name a couple, and she shares: “My mother and Sabai ben”. The proud daughter says, “My mother is super talented, super-efficient and idealistic.”
Apart from her mother, Kirti is inspired by Sabai Ben, one of the artisans at Okhai, an organisation she was formerly leading. Ask her why and she instantly responds, “She is the production leader, who goes from village to village giving and collecting work. She has single-handedly educated her kids while doing this.”
Adhuna Bhabani, celebrity hairstylist
Trust celebrity hairstylist Adhuna Bhabani to always motivate you to look at life with a refreshing outlook. Adhuna is first and foremost inspired by her mother and grandmother, who have been the rocks in her life. “These two ladies have been key to what I am today. I also admire Maya Angelou a lot and I live by many of her quotes,” she shares. For the uninitiated, Maya Angelou was an American memoirist, actor, singer, composer and dancer, who influenced the lives of thousands of women across the globe. For Adhuna, her daughters are also an inspiration. “I have learned so much from them. They have a very open and different outlook.”
Arpita Mehta, fashion designer
Fashion designer Arpita Mehta is inspired mainly by the women in her family. Arpita told Zee Zest, “I think in my formative years, in my childhood, I was very amused, inspired, entertained, or whatever you call it, by my sister Macy and my grandmother. I think they had great style and introduced me to fashion.” The designer also mentioned that it is their style that influenced the way she looked at fashion, learned about it, and continues to look up to them.
Soha Ali Khan, actor and author
An actor and author by profession, Soha is constantly learning important life lessons from not just her mother Sharmila Tagore, a veteran actor, but also, her daughter Inaaya Naumi Kemmu. In an interview with Zee Zest, she said, "From my mother, I have learnt the importance of giving back, walking a mile in another’s shoes to better empathise with them, and appreciating every moment. And, from Inaaya, I have learnt to love fully, to dance like no one is watching, and to always look at the bright side."
Veena Ashiya, CEO (chief energy officer) and founder of Monrow Shoes
Entrepreneur Veena Ashiya, who is the creative and business mind behind vegan and cruelty-free footwear brand Monrow Shoes, during an interview with Zee Zest, revealed that it is her mother and French fashion designer Coco Chanel that have inspired her over the ages. She admires the two women for the strong individuals that they have been.
Photo: Instagram, Monrow Shoes, and Dyson India