Women to Watch Awards: Celebrating excellence and inspiring future leaders
From packaging professionals to sales champions, graphic designers and CEOs, the awards showcased the diversity of talent and how their achievements cannot be underwritten. There is a growing need for promoting women in printing and packaging, and these women are leading it. Anhata Rooprai and Sai Deepthi write
22 Aug 2025 | 380 Views | By PrintWeek India
Every year, the Women to Watch Awards serve as a mirror to the industry, reflecting its progress, challenges, and the extraordinary women who are driving change in printing and packaging. The 2025 edition is no exception. From global educational initiatives to AI-led innovation, and socially conscious leadership on the shop floor to design brilliance, these stories are not just individual achievements — they are beacons for the industry’s future.
This year, the awards take on even deeper meaning with Bindwel joining as the presenting partner. As Pallippuram Sajith, managing director of Impel Services (Bindwel - Stelda Group), rightly states: “This mindset must change, and it begins with recognition.” Bindwel’s decision to open its factory doors to nominees, offer mentorship, and champion diversity in engineering and machine operations signals a shift from tokenism to transformation.
The industry has often been slow to challenge legacy thinking. These awards and the 2025 winners push that boundary. They redefine what leadership looks like, not only in boardrooms but in classrooms, R&D labs, press rooms, and client meetings. Women are demonstrating how strategy, sustainability, and mentorship intersect to build smarter, more inclusive businesses.
Ultimately, this isn’t just a celebration. It’s a call to action. As Sajith notes, “The impact we seek is cultural, structural, and generational.” With continued support from sponsors like Bindwel and Siegwerk India, we hope these awards become more than an annual event. We hope they become a roadmap for how the industry grows, with women not only being seen, but also leading from the front.
Educator of the Year
This Award recognises women who have contributed to print and packaging education. The selection committee looked for individuals who have gone above and beyond their job descriptions to help students and promote learning outside the classroom, such as by hosting seminars, workshops, or assisting students with their placements.
Rashmi Sharma
Community success manager, South Asia, Dscoop
In 2024, Sharma led and contributed to over 10 educational initiatives, including regional meets in Delhi, Chennai, and Mumbai, international conferences in Indianapolis, Cebu, and Dusseldorf, and a high-impact online webinar with over 23,000 views. She developed content for the India Scoop newsletter and yearbook, conducted member site visits, and curated educational programming around AI, innovation, sales, and marketing for the print industry. Through events, interviews, and platform content, she spotlighted emerging talent and mentored young leaders from within the Dscoop network. At Drupa, she facilitated peer-to-peer learning and supported global outreach. Her educational work is grounded in community needs and industry relevance. A Appadurai of HP writes, “Sharma has consistently gone above and beyond to strengthen connections, nurture member relationships, and create an environment where everyone feels seen, heard, and empowered.”
Business Leader of the Year
This award recognises a woman CEO or a woman in top management who has demonstrated strong leadership qualities, a talent for strategy, and a determination to drive business forward.
Nidhi Agrawal
CEO and co-founder, DesignNBuy
With a focus on web-to-print innovation, Agrawal is driven to simplify digital adoption for traditional print businesses. Under her leadership, DesignNBuy has evolved from a startup to serve over 2,000 clients across more than 80 countries. Her approach makes her a respected mentor, particularly for women in tech and print. Her innovations include AI-powered design tools, intuitive storefronts, and Print Gyan — India’s first podcast dedicated to web-to-print education. She is also the author of the Web-to-Print Implementation Guide, now a key resource for printers embracing digital transformation. Agrawal’s efforts have earned multiple accolades, including the Pinnacle Innovation Award. Colleagues admire her vision, hands-on leadership, and commitment to empowering SMEs.
Factory Champion of the Year
It’s easy to judge the success of a production run by a fast turnaround and few rejections, but a factory floor is where many things can go wrong. This award recognises an inspirational woman on the shop floor whose absence would disrupt the day-to-day workflow of the factory. Her work sets the standard for factory excellence, and she is someone who, in the course of her duties, has connected with all departments to perfect the production process.
Nalani Jaichandra
Director, Veepee Graphic Solutions
With over two decades of leadership, Nalani Jaichandra has transformed the 65-year-old family-run flexo plate business into a progressive and inclusive workplace. Under her direction, both Veepee Graphic Solutions (India) and Veepee Graphics Sri Lanka have seen operational growth and cultural renewal. Jaichandra has championed initiatives promoting menstrual hygiene, mental health, and technical training for women, many of whom now lead operations. Her innovation includes launching a low-cost sanitary napkin brand and modernising production and accounting systems to be more accessible. Through Veepee’s community kitchen and educational initiatives, she ensures employees are nourished and empowered. In 2024, she helped the company win the Asia-Pacific Best in Wide-Web award and received the Arogya Jyoti Award for women’s welfare. Her work has been recognised across India, Sri Lanka, and beyond, making her a symbol of socially conscious industrial leadership.
Rising Star of the Year
We often hear industry leaders complain about the lack of next-generation talent in the printing and packaging industry. However, new leaders are willing to learn and change this trend. This award recognises a new entrant who, during her short time in the organisation, has showcased a rare aptitude for growth, not only in her department but also for the company as a whole.
Yashwi Jain
Technical business developer, Sequoia Print
Growing up in a printing house, Jain developed an early appreciation for creativity and the intricacies of the print cycle. After studying computer science and working as a software engineer, she returned to the printing industry with a mindset focused on rebuilding systems and improving processes. In a world where artificial intelligence and automation are becoming necessities, her key projects include building a pre-press automation script that reduces artwork placement time from hours to minutes. Jain also developed a production data system that tracks progress, identifies bottlenecks, and provides smart recommendations through an AI assistant, leading to insights on time saving and increased output. She is integrating Enfocus modules to streamline prepress processes further and has built a new company website for Sequoia Print. Jain believes that new-generation print leadership is about building lasting systems, meaningful relationships, and prints that make people pause, emphasising the emotional and physical impact of print.
Designer of the Year
Design is a hallmark of creativity in print and a critical factor that can make or break a product. This award recognises a woman who has led a design innovation in print or packaging, an innovation she has initiated, launched, and developed during the eligibility period.
Nikita Sawant
Associate creative director, Therefore Design
Nikita Sawant, associate creative director (ACD) at Therefore Design, is the winner in this category. With over 12 years of experience in brand systems design, advertising, and visual design for digital platforms, she brings a unique blend of curiosity, empathy, and insight to her work. As an ACD at Therefore, Sawant’s portfolio showcases her ability to resonate with diverse audiences. She has worked with multinationals and home-grown startups across various categories, from food to stainless steel and beauty brands. She also contributes to shaping the next generation of designers by conducting sessions and serving on the jury panel at the MIT Institute of Design, Pune. Co-workers highly commend Sawant for her clarity, insight, and dedication in leading a team of 20 designers. Her foresight in anticipating market shifts and meticulous attention to production and printing details ensure flawless execution from concept to print.
Sales Champion of the Year — Joint Winners
You can have an amazing product, but if you have a bad salesperson pitching it, all of your investments could go wrong. Salespeople are the foot soldiers of every business, always exploring uncharted territories for expansion and are the first to be deployed. This award seeks to recognise an exceptional salesperson who has had a positive impact on the company’s business by demonstrating excellent coordination with customers, effective internal coordination for order fulfilment, a deep knowledge and passion for the industry, and excellence in her work.
Varsha Pal
Senior manager, Print-Packaging.com
Varsha Pal has spearheaded national and international accounts with her company, leading flagship projects such as Pamex, Bharat Print Expo, and Flexo Summit Asia. Under her stewardship, Pamex has achieved a consistent year-on-year growth of 30% in scale and participation since 2015. She successfully launched Bharat Print Expo, now South India’s largest printing show. Her approach to sales combines insight, trust-building, and long-term value creation. Known for customised pitch strategies and post-event engagement innovations, she has driven stronger exhibitor retention and faster client conversion. Pal is also a mentor, fostering ownership and collaboration within her team, and has streamlined internal sales processes to improve cross-functional efficiency. Respected for her professionalism and proactive client support, Pal exemplifies the values of impact-driven, relationship-based sales.
Rajalakshmi Ezhumalai
Assistant manager of sales for food products, Suba Solutions
With a strong foothold in the food packaging segment, Ezhumalai has successfully sold over 100 food box-making machines across India in the past five years. These sales include various carton erecting machines that operate for clients such as cloud kitchens, bakeries, quick-service restaurant chains, and sweet manufacturers. She has consistently exceeded annual sales targets through solution-oriented selling and personalised client support, securing repeat orders by ensuring strong service coordination and post-installation support. Ezhumalai handles end-to-end sales execution, from lead conversion to machine dispatch, coordinating with design, production, service, and logistics, to ensure customer experience. Beyond sales, she guides junior team members, collaborates with technical teams for product enhancement, and actively represents Suba Solutions at major industry expos, converting leads into confirmed orders. Ezhumalai advocates the inclusion of women in packaging operations, believing that consistent steps can lead to meaningful change.
Mentor of the Year
This award recognises individuals whose exceptional leadership, communication, and strategic planning have driven innovation and transformation. It celebrates mentors whose guidance and teachings leave a lasting impact on their colleagues, regardless of where their careers take them.
Priyanka Rathi
Head of marketing communications, Holostik India
Priyanka Rathi has over 15 years of diverse professional experience, including more than eight years in the printing, packaging, and brand protection industry. She has a track record of shaping brands and building high-impact teams. Coming from the oft-overlooked part of organising presence at trade fairs, Rathi leads a 14-member multidisciplinary team, including a remarkable seven-woman-strong technical pre-sales unit. Under her mentorship, the team has achieved exceptional performance, including a 40.5% average marketing qualified lead conversion rate and a 2.73x return on investment from integrated digital marketing campaigns. They also increased organic traffic by 65% and quadrupled monthly LinkedIn engagement. Her journey includes active contributions to national platforms like the All India Federation of Master Printers and the Association of Label Printers and Suppliers. She has held leadership roles at Jetsci Global and Digtik, where she drove innovation in India’s digital printing landscape. Rathi has been empowering women to confidently lead technical conversations and client engagements has been one of her most fulfilling achievements.
Young Business Leader
This award recognises women who have not only achieved growth for their businesses but also demonstrated strategic direction and leadership competencies during the eligibility period, through honed business acumen and strong industry networks.
Kaveri Satija
Head of operations, Janvi Arts
Kaveri Satija has played a transformative role in shaping Janvi Arts into a technically advanced, service-led flexographic prepress business in North India. As head of operations, Satija has driven a 2.2x increase in plate production output over 2024, scaling from 184-sqm to 403.69-sqm monthly through infrastructure expansion, workflow automation, and precision-focused investments such as a 42x60 CDI imaging system and Esko software integration. Satija has implemented a 35-point artwork quality checklist, introduced standard operating procedures across production, and led prepress fingerprinting trials to achieve over 90% proof-to-press consistency. Her leadership spans both operational excellence and client engagement, with Janvi Arts now serving printers across Chandigarh, Punjab, Himachal, and Uttarakhand. By combining hands-on technical depth with a clear strategic vision, she has positioned Janvi Arts as a trusted, high-performance supplier, reshaping regional prepress standards and establishing herself as one of India’s most promising young leaders in flexo.
Packaging Person of the Year
This award honours a packaging professional who has been the invisible engine of excellence, whether it’s managing people, processes, or places, particularly in administration and operations. The awardee demonstrates a consistent track record of operational effectiveness, process optimisation, and proactive problem-solving.
Tejaswini Dhanaji Patil
Doctoral researcher, Indian Institute of Technology, Roorkee
Tejaswini Dhanaji Patil, a doctoral researcher in the field of paper technology at IIT Roorkee, is honoured as Packaging Person of the Year for her work in sustainable food packaging. Her innovation lies in developing edible, biodegradable packaging materials from millets (climate-resilient, indigenous crops), addressing both environmental and agro-economic challenges. Her millet-based edible straws offer a safe, plastic-free alternative for the beverage industry and align with national initiatives such as Swachh Bharat Abhiyan and Aatmanirbhar Bharat. Patil leads interdisciplinary teams and has published her findings in leading international journals like Scientific Reports and ACS Food Science and Technology. She has received the STAR (Science and Technology Achievement Recognition) Award from the South Indian Education Society School of Packaging (SIES SOP) in 2024, and the Best Poster Presentation Award from the Association of Food Scientists and Technologists (India). Her work has featured in The Times of India, The Hindu, and Packaging Insights.
Execution Excellence
This award honours a professional who has been the engine ensuring stability, scalability, and seamless execution behind the scenes. Whether it’s managing people, processes, or places, particularly in administration and operations.
Tania Hansoti
Marketing director, S Kumar Multiproducts
Starting in the printing industry five years ago, Tania Hansoti quickly embraced a multifaceted role beyond marketing in the family-owned business, envisioning it as a benchmark in packaging print for all stakeholders. She has consistently aligned business growth with execution excellence, expanding the customer base and retaining key accounts through solution-based selling and strong client relationships. Hansoti also initiated standard operating procedures (SOPs) across pre-press and production, reducing bottlenecks, improving accountability, and enabling the company to handle high-volume projects. She led the installation of an ERP system to strengthen operations. In human resources, she leads initiatives, including streamlining hiring and implementing inclusive policies, and created an ExtraPunch award to recognise employees. Hansoti developed a structured internship programme, mentoring young talent in print and business development.