The Times of India launches SheUnLTD Awards 2019 on International Women's Day 2019

India is witnessing a sea-change in the way the women are choosing to work. While the proportion of women in the workforce has seen a steady decline over last two decades, women exploring alternate careers and starting their own businesses have been on the rise. Bending archaic gender stereotypes, each of these trailblazers have a story to tell the world. The journey of an entrepreneur who started off from her home is inspiration to many. This International Woman’s Day, The Times of India, the leading news media publisher of the country, launches Times SheUnLTD. Awards, powered by Senco Gold & diamonds, to honour these women achievers.  This new brand-property from TOI will focus on inspirational stories of women who have dreamt of unique business ideas and creative work-spaces and made these alternate careers their mainstream. Additionally, TOI has also associated with FICCI FLO as the Empowerment Partner and Sheroes as the Community Partner each of who will help extend the reach of the property.

The achievers will be chosen post screening and deliberation by a panel of jury comprising experts. The campaign will be widely covered through TOI’s metro supplement brands - Bombay Times, Delhi Times, Gurgaon Times, Chennai Times and Bangalore Times. In this first chapter, Times She UnLTD Awards powered by Senco Gold and Diamonds, will focus on achievers across the fashion, beauty and food industries in the country, and provide them a platform to share their compelling stories with aspiring women entrepreneurs. Future chapters of this award will see addition of more sectors like Fitness, Entertainment, Health & Wellness, Creative Arts, Technology, Travel and so on.

It is exciting times for entrepreneurs with the world opening to unique ideas and fresh points of view and rapidly evolving technology that is diffusing boundaries. In this debut chapter, Times SheUnLTD Awards will focus on the achievements of women who are successfully running their respective businesses (from home or a setup) and have had a significant influence in the society through their actions. This will cover a wide spectrum of businesses across food, fashion and beauty industry where she may be offering consultancy services or running the enterprise through owned or leased premises. This is a long list that will include, but not limit to, bakers, chefs, designers, stylists, seamstresses, boutique owners, restaurants owners, makeup artists, hairstylists, product manufactures and so on. One can nominate herself or someone he/she thinks is deserving on www.timesheunltd.com.

A panel of jury members who have been handpicked among the best in the respective field will review the entries and shortlist the finalists. The finalists across each city – Mumbai, Delhi (Noida & Gurugram), Bengaluru and Chennai – will have a chance to present their story and business journey to the Jury Panel. This event will be hosted in the respective city. Watch out for the announcement of the jury panel, they are the most respected names in their respective work field. The campaign will be an ongoing engagement over four months.

Commenting on the new property launch, Sanjeev Bhargava, Director, Brand TOI said, “TOI has constantly endeavoured to drive positive change especially by challenging gender stereotypes. Women entrepreneurship is witnessing a profound change; more women are opting to start-up and be self-employed.  Whether it is for work-flexibility or sheer ambition to shine bright, India is witnessing a change in the way the women are making their career choices. We believe we should bring these inspirational stories of these successful businesswomen who once started from home, to our readers. We believe these stories will inspire and empower many to choose their work-spaces. Following the success of our national campaign on inclusivity #NoConditionsApply, we are honoured to announce the launch of the Times SheUnLTD Awards. We wish to reward the achievements of women who have let their passions win over fear and have dared to give wings to their dreams.”