The She Leads Icon Award – Second Edition, held alongside the Women Representatives’ Festival, concluded successfully, celebrating the power, leadership and entrepreneurial spirit of women across Nepal. The event had former President Rt. Hon. Bidya Devi Bhandari as chief guest.
The festival featured vibrant stalls and information centres representing various local governments, showcasing locally produced goods, organic products, and innovative entrepreneurial creations, many of which were brought from remote and underserved regions. The exhibition highlighted the strength of local economies and the creativity of women-led initiatives at the grassroots level.
In recognition of their outstanding leadership and transformative contribution, the following women representatives were honoured as She Leads Icon Award – Second Edition winners:
- Sushila Shahi – Mayor, Lamkichuha Municipality
- Kalpana Kumari Katuwal – Mayor, Barahathwa Municipality
- Bishnu Kumari Limbu – Deputy Mayor, Ilam Municipality
- Pramila Rai – Deputy Mayor, Shadanand Municipality
- Bina Kumari Bhattarai – Deputy Mayor, Thakurbaba Municipality
- Dolma Tamang – Vice-Chairperson, Saipal Rural Municipality
- Devika Kumari Singh – Representative, Kushé Rural Municipality
Additionally, Thakurbaba Municipality, Bardiya received the award for Best Local Products Stall, while Shadanand Municipality was honoured with the Best Stall & Information Centre Award. These stalls stood out for their quality, innovation, and impactful presentation. The stalls and products were judged by an eminent panel – Shanti Chadha, Shyam Badan Shrestha and Basanti Pradhan, all entrepreneurs and proponents of women’s economic empowerment.
A thought-provoking panel discussion on the theme “Building Women’s Entrepreneurship: Opportunities, Challenges, and Possibilities” was also held as part of the programme. The panel featured – Bhawani Rana, First Woman President, Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry; Shobha Gyawali, President, Federation of Women Entrepreneurs of Nepal and Rita Pokharel, Country Director, InDrive Nepal. The session was moderated by Sangeeta Katuwal, journalist.
The event powerfully underscored the growing influence of women leaders across Nepal and reinforced the urgent need to strengthen women’s entrepreneurship at the local level, fostering inclusive growth and sustainable development nationwide.
She Leads Icon is a journey that is rooted in deep transformation to allow women leadership to grow and become increasingly impactful. All entrees go through a rigorous selection process and the finalists have to attend training workshops as well as appear for in person interview with the panel of judges. Politician and the first female Chief Minister, Asta Laxmi Shakya; feminist, gender activist and migration expert, Sharu Joshi Shrestha; and media personality, policy advocate and communication and brand strategist, Charu Chadha formed the panel of judges.
