17/09/2026
Day 2 of the EmpowHER Fellowship Workshop was filled with conversations, perspectives, and moments of learning that extended well beyond the classroom.
The day began with our previous fellows, Samhita and Saniya, sharing their experiences from their EmpowHER journey. Their reflections gave the current cohort an opportunity to hear directly from those who had walked the path before them, understand the possibilities the fellowship can open up, and reflect on their own journey ahead.
The fellows then had an enriching interaction with Prof. Arya Kumar, followed by an engaging meeting with the institute leadership. We are grateful to Prof. Sudhirkumar V Barai, Prof. Arya Kumar, Prof. Udayan Chanda, Prof. Navin Singh, Prof. Rajesh Mishra, and Prof. Meghana Tare for taking the time to join the fellows, interact with them, listen to their experiences, and understand their aspirations and reflections. These conversations made the experience richer, giving the fellows an opportunity to connect with faculty beyond their regular academic spaces, learn from their perspectives, and feel heard and encouraged.
The interaction continued over lunch at VFast, bringing together the fellows and leadership in a warm and informal setting. Moments like these reminded us that some of the most meaningful learning happens through conversations outside classrooms and structured sessions.
The afternoon opened the door to another rapidly evolving area: Artificial Intelligence. Ms. Nikita Sadhnani introduced the fellows to emerging career pathways, applications of AI across industries, entrepreneurship, practical projects, portfolio building, productivity, and automation, encouraging them to think about how they can engage with AI not just as a technology, but as a tool for creating opportunities. The day concluded with an informal evening interaction with the EmpowHER mentors, giving the fellows space to continue conversations, ask questions, exchange ideas, and reflect on the day in a more relaxed setting.
Day 2 was a reminder that EmpowHER is as much about people and conversations as it is about structured learning: learning from those who came before, connecting with faculty and mentors, and discovering new possibilities for the future.
