Winpe and Russell Reynolds Associates chart a path to gender diversity in senior leadership roles with the Winpe ProClub

Mumbai — Winpe ProClub, a leading 1:1 mentorship programme from Winpe in partnership with Russell Reynolds Associates, for women entrepreneurs and mid-senior level investors, is set to put into motion Cohort IV, comprising 12 mentees from private equity, venture capital, startups, and related sectors.

This is a curated mentorship programme spanning 12 months, dedicated to empowering mid-senior level women in the industry and propelling them towards unprecedented success. Among the mentees from the first two cohorts, more than 70% have achieved tangible career progression, including promotions, increased funding, and substantial business growth. Some of the remarkable women who have benefitted from this mentorship are Asha Krishnan, Vice President, General Atlantic; Rochelle D’Souza, Managing Director, Lighthouse Advisors; Sakshi Chopra, Managing Director, Peak XV Partners; and Vineeta Singh, CEO, SUGAR Cosmetics.

Nupur Garg, Founder and CEO, Winpe, said, “We are thrilled to witness the transformative journey of our mentees and the positive impact our programme has had on their professional lives. Winpe ProClub remains committed to providing unparalleled mentorship experiences, shaping the future of women in business and investment.”

Vinita Katara, Managing Director, Russell Reynolds Associates, said, “We have been in this journey of facilitating mentorship for women in the investing ecosystem with Winpe for 3 years. Our learning is that supportive, fostering environments enable growth – both professional and personal. Our aim has been to create an objective, unbiased platform to do so, which has resulted in a positive impact. We remain committed to doing our bit around enabling professional and personal growth for the next generation of leaders.”

Winpe ProClub’s Cohort III is on track to graduate in November 2023, with a remarkable third of the cohort already experiencing significant professional growth. About 15 women investors and entrepreneurs were selected for the third cohort and matched with eminent industry leaders. Winpe ProClub’s advisory mentors include Matangi Gowrishankar, Independent Director, Strategic Advisor and Certified Coach, and Shyamala Gopinath, Non-Executive Chairperson, HDFC Bank Ltd. Notable mentors in the cohort include Arvind Thakur, Member, Board of Management, NIIT University; Deepak Kapoor, Independent Director, Tata Steel, HCL Technologies, Nayara Energy, and Delhivery; Nithya Easwaran, Managing Director, Multiples Alternate Asset Management; Padmaja Ruparel, Co-Founder and President, Indian Angel Network; Roshini Bakshi, Managing Director, Private Equity, Everstone Capital Asia; Sanjeev Krishan, Chairperson, PwC India; Soumya Rajan, Founder and CEO, Waterfield Advisors; Vivek Gambhir, Chairperson, boAt Lifestyle, and VT Bharadwaj, Co-founder and General Partner, A91 Partners.

Some figures who were part of the third cohort are Ayshwarya Vikram, Principal, Blackstone; Bhavna Suresh, Co-Founder and CEO, 10club; and Jayshree Kanther Patodi, Co-Founder and Partner, Enzia Ventures.

Commenting on the programme, Adhunika Premkumar, Counsel, Trilegal, said, “The mentorship programme offered by ProClub was truly enriching – it made me self aware and prepared me to overcome challenges that affected my growth personally and professionally. The one-on-one mentoring over a period of one year allowed me to be more candid and speak about issues that I was otherwise hesitant to discuss.”

Neha Mishra, Co-Founder and CEO, The Fin Lit Project, said, “Full of gratitude to Winpe and RRA for selecting me as part of the ProClub mentorship programme. This one-year journey is a transformational experience focused on inclusivity, as it brings women like me who are new to the VC/PE space and handholds them through the entire experience, making the journey not just supportive but creating an exponential impact.

Parita Ashar, VP, Oman India Joint Investment Fund, said, “Over the course of the last year, the mentorship programme has helped me grow both professionally and personally and progress to being a lot more mature and strategic in my thoughts and decisions. The discussions with my mentor have also enhanced my understanding of the various nuances of our industry.”

Mentorship has been acknowledged as one of the most powerful tools driving professional success. In the case of women, mentorship is a key success factor, as women deal with workplaces largely dominated by men. Winpe believes that this initiative will help create a long pipeline of female leaders for the industry, fostering much-required gender parity in leadership positions and shaping the future course of the industry.

Cohort IV is set to start on November 28, 2023, and it will comprise 12 participants, including Ankita Balotia, Vice President, Fireside Ventures; Neha Gupta, Vice President, NIIF; Sushma Kaushik, Partner, Aavishkar Capital; and Tushara Garg, Vice President, True North.

The Winpe ProClub mentorship programme continues to make a profound impact, fostering a community of empowered women who are breaking glass ceilings and reshaping the landscape of their respective industries. What sets this programme apart is its bespoke approach, meticulously matching mentee needs with mentor experience. Russell Reynolds Associates, a leading New York-based management consulting firm, is the knowledge partner for the Winpe ProClub mentorship programme.