The Indian healthcare and wellness market is expected to grow at a growth rate (CAGR) of 5.55 per cent between 2023-2028. Health and wellness refer to the complete wellbeing of an individual's body, mind and soul.
Leaders have the power to transform and women are an integral part of this transformation. In a context where structural inequality is endemic and support systems are fragile, such as India, strong leaders can bring about lasting and positive change in people's lives.
However, after the pandemic, the wellness sector has witnessed tremendous growth and seen women leaders rule the chair for taking Ayurveda, Yoga, Reiki, Nutrition, and many more in the industry forward. BW Businessworld (Wellbeing) presents the 20 Most Influential Women leaders in the sphere of wellbeing. They have been the ones to lead the organisations that contribute exceedingly to the wellness sector.
BIG LEAGUE
Suzy Singh, Coach, Suzyheals
Being an emotional and mental wellbeing coach at Suzyheals, Suzy Singh is also a YouTube edumentor, speaker, and workshop facilitator. Recently, she has won the Most Prominent Leaders in Mental Health Award. She is a professional advisor to the NGO - 'We Listen' on mental health, and has also authored the international best-selling book, 7 Karma Codes - Heal the Storm Within. The book's Italian edition was launched in July 2020 followed by the Serbian edition earlier this month.
As a therapist and healer, Singh has extensive clinical experience in multidisciplinary approaches to health and healing. She has helped thousands of people around the world find clarity, purpose, happiness, stress relief, better health, improve relationships and increase productivity. She was awarded the Bharat Excellence Award for Alternative Healing in 2012.
In addition, she provides life coaching and counselling, writes extensively for various health publications, and speaks at webinars, seminars, webinars and online courses.
Roshani Shenazz, Founder, WHOLEistic Wellbeing, Meher Roshani Foundation
Roshani Shenazz is an Internationally Eminent Spiritual Medium, Wellbeing Happiness, D&I Coach, REIKI Master, and internationally awarded author of the best-selling book Angels Speak and Speaker. She is an accredited holistic therapist and training provider by IPHM UK (International Practitioners of Holistic Medicine, UK) and the Founder of WHOLEistic Wellbeing and Meher Roshani Foundation.
She has been a keynote speaker at the UN XIVth CIFA International in France in 2016 and The Vatican/webinar based on the Pope's latest encyclical in 2020 among many others. Holding many International designations and awards of honours, like the UN ICongo REX Karmaveer Puraskaar JYOTI Award, she is also listed among the 99 Achievers of India 2021, 30 shining stars of the World 2022, and recently as one of the 50 Most Fabulous Happiness Leaders, 2023.
Devi Mohan, Spiritual Diplomat
Devi Mohan is a spiritual diplomat, a multifaceted humanitarian, proponent of traditional yoga and a healing tool. As the official Global Ambassador of the Mohanji Foundation, Mohan is also the Global President of ACT Foundation, an internationally active charity, and Director and Senior Faculty of the Himalayan School of Traditional Yoga. Her autobiography "Home for a Refugee" was published in February 2023 and already touched many hearts.
Mohan travels the world, leading transformational workshops that include traditional yoga, Mohanji meditation, and her deeply spiritual methods such as awakening yoga-nidra (yogic sleep), the light beyond, conscious dancing, group Mai-Tri method, etc.
Conscious Dancing, one of her favourites, is a method of alignment along the central axis that enhances mindfulness, raises one's frequency and provides a profound and tangible experience of the higher planes of vibration.
Garima Parasher, Executive Coach
Garima Parasher's approach to personal development and leadership coaching is truly unique, powerful and effective. She is truly an expert at positive psychology mentoring. With her leadership coaching, Parasher has achieved the honours for Executive Coach (ICF, New York Chapter), Positive Psychology (UPenn), Emotional Intelligence for Leadership (UC Berkley) and scholar of Practical Philosophy (School of practical philosophy, New York).
Over two decades of global corporate experience in TCS, Modi Xerox, and Recognia B2B BFSI sales for India and North America, she is associated with CXO coaching for transformation by overcoming limiting beliefs. Her focus is on Emotional Intelligence development for fostering deep connections at the workplace and at home. Her workshops are for start-up global entrepreneurs to build resilience.
Dr Dimple Kaur, Hypnotherapist, Psychotherapist
Delhi-based clinical psychotherapist and hypnotherapist Dr Dimple Kaur is also one of the top Bharatnatyam dancers. She made a niche for herself and society as she attempted to combine the cohesive aspects of her science education and the spiritual enlightenment of dance. Today, she is a pioneer in using this combination as Dance Movement Therapy. She calls herself a 'Dancing Healer'.
As a psychologist, Dr Kaur believes that everyone has the potential to be happy and successful.
She has formulated a New Age Expressive Therapy by Integrating the Modern Science of Psychology with the Ancient Art of Natya Shastra in Applied Natya Therapy. Her work has been greatly appreciated by world-renowned psychologists and psychotherapists. Dr Kaur's psychotherapeutic solutions are categorised by age, relational framework and peer framework.
Dr Niru Kumar, Medical Doctor, Social Activist
A 2021 Padma Shri awardee, Dr Kumar is a renowned 'diversity and inclusion' consultant. Her work in women's empowerment, diversity and inclusion started in 2012, and she is no ordinary private-sector consultant. After working as a senior manager for 25 years with the Central Government Health Scheme (CGHS), she voluntarily retired to work in diversity and inclusion. In addition to 'gender awareness', her method emphasises 'gender intelligence' - a conscious way to minimise differences.
She is a Mars Venus trainer, coached by Dr John Gray (author of the book - Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus). Other reputable international partnerships include the TGIG (Gender Intelligence Group) led by Barbara Annis, the FutureWorks Institute led by Margaret Regan, and QED Consulting's Dr Alan Richter and Jennifer Brown. Also, Dr Kumar's sessions are unique as she skillfully uses a variety of techniques, NLP and hypnotherapy to bring about profound and authentic transformation in her personal and professional lives.
Dr Ramon Llamba, Founder, Golden Age Transformation
Dr Ramon Llamba is a life coach and has a doctorate in metaphysics and human psychology. Her approach towards wellness and healing is holistic, and she helps people realise their true potential.
She has always been willing to help individuals in realising their true potential and living their life with joy and success. Dr Llamba takes a holistic approach towards healing as she believes that the four pillars for true harmony in anyone's life are: Physical, Mental, Spiritual and Emotional.
Dr Llamba is a certified 'Heal Your Life' workshop leader which is based on the philosophies of Louise L. Hay. This workshop can serve as a "stepping stone" on one's pathway of self-discovery. Being a PhD in Quantum Physics, she is also an excellent life coach and therapist.
Vesna Pericevic Jacob, Founder, Vesna's Alta Celo
Vesna Pericevic Jacob is a Bosnian living and working in Delhi. She is a former national basketball player who has become an all-rounder fitness expert. She is an excellent physical therapist, author, pilates teacher, and applied functional scientist.
Jacob is also a lifestyle coach, motivational speaker, clinical hypnotherapist, and healer. This combination of skills makes her unique and involved in all aspects of fitness and health, focusing on the mind-body-soul connection. She combines her skills with her expert knowledge of the human body to deliver a true experience of wellbeing.
Jacob is the creator of his own "3D Functional Pilates", based on the fundamentals of postural alignment as well as functional science principles. She is the first person from India (as well as Bosnia) to graduate with a degree in Functional Applied Science from Grays Institute of Applied Functional Sciences (USA, MI, Adrian) under the GIFT scholarship program.
Dr Chytra V Anand, Founder, Kosmoderma Clinics
Dr Chytra Anand is a renowned celebrity-cosmetic dermatologist. Her journey as an Indian beauty guru and world-renowned dermatologist began more than a decade ago with the launch of Kosmoderma Skin-Hair-Body Clinics, as the concept of a cosmetic clinic is something new in India. Behind the scenes, she started a revolution that changed the view of beauty in India forever.
Her businesses, whether cosmetic products or services or KAAM (Kosmoderma Academy of Aesthetic Medicine), are established with more than 15 years of experience in the beauty and beauty care industry on three continents. Dr Anand has performed the highest level of fillers and Botox in South India.
Her accomplishments include the introduction of fractional lasers for acne scar rejuvenation, non-surgical thread lifting, MediFacials, PhotoFacials, and the introduction of the world's most powerful laser hair removal device.
Kubbra Sait, Holistic Wellness Expert, Actress
Actress Kubbra Sait, best known for her character Kukoo on the hit Netflix show Sacred Games, is an all-rounder with a routine of yoga, weight training, cardio, and core strengthening, she covers everything in her workout, from relaxing mind and body.
She is known for her intense workout routine videos on Instagram and she always inspires people with her workout regimen. As a fitness buff, she constantly inspires people to stay fit and great with her engaging workout videos on Instagram and motivating people.
Monique Jhingon, Nutrition and Lifestyle Consultant
Monique Jhingon is a functional nutrition and lifestyle consultant with over 12 years of experience, a master’s degree in Personalised Nutrition, and certifications in Functional Nutrition and Lifestyle Counselling, Functional Root Cause Diagnostic Testing, Nutrigenetics, Gut and Microbiome Restoration, Yoga and more.
Jhingon's priority and passion are helping people get on top of their health so that they can live their best life. Being an experienced consultant with a deep understanding of functional nutrition, bio-individuality and biohacking, she uses a personalised, evidence-based, holistic and root-cause approach to address a wide variety of health concerns.
Rachna Chhachhi, Author, Nutritionist
Rachna Chhachhi is an independent thinker who looks at every possible opportunity when it comes to evaluating business scenarios. She is the founder of RachnaRestores
Chhachhi is a nutritional therapist who specialises in treating chronic lifestyle-related illnesses without medication.
Although she started as a writer, she changed careers when she suffered from an immune disorder, rheumatoid arthritis. She went through her usual medical treatment until the side effects started affecting her health, after which she enrolled in a two-year nutritional therapy course at Oxford University, UK. Announced that she has cured herself and has cured hundreds of patients for whom medical science has no cure except to eliminate the disease, Chhachhi helps patients find the cause and eliminate the disease.
Raageshwari Loomba, Actress, Mindfulness Speaker
Raageshwari Loomba is an award-winning actor, singer and MTV VJ. At the height of her career, she suffered from Bell's palsy. She recovered with the help of yoga and mindfulness. Her mindfulness career includes her work with guru Jack Canfield, an affirmation CD with the late Louise Hay, a documentary on Tibetan rituals, and a performance at Nobel Peace Center.
Living in London, UK, she speaks at countless organisations around the world on the power of the mind and is a guest speaker at the Oxford Mindfulness Center. She also hosts the children's AIM London literary festival.
RISING STARS
Manissha S Bhagat, Senior Nutritionist, Health Coach
Manissha Bhagat is a trained Holistic Health Coach from the Institute for Integrative Nutrition, New York. During her training, she has studied 100s of dietary theories, practical lifestyle management techniques, and innovative coaching methods with some of the world’s top health and wellness experts.
Having successfully catered to over 1000 clients including professionals, housewives, CEOs, and sports enthusiasts she works with diabetics, patients of PCOS/PCOD, heart disease, weight gain and more so that they can completely heal through the plate and not through a pill. Bhagat also coaches how one should reclaim this long-lost relationship with food, to reclaim the fit, healthy body but also reclaim the life one always wanted to live.
Shonali Sabherwal, Macrobiotic Nutritionist
Shonali Sabherwal is India's first graduate student and a Macrobiotic Advisor/Chef/Instructor at the Kushi Institute (USA). Healing with food is her passion, Shonali started this journey when her father had prostate cancer and she was looking for a diet to help him.
Being an expert nutritionist and dietician, Sabherwal can help people with healthy meals and beauty diet consultation. She believes that the disease is the result of an imbalance in the body caused by poor diet, lifestyle and mental health or stress. This can be corrected through food (medication), lifestyle changes, and the use of complementary therapies. With a macrobiotic approach, she seeks to achieve a balance between the acidic and alkaline states of the blood and works to create a strong immunity.
Kajal Ilmi, MD and CEO, Aviom
Kajal Ilmi has global academic exposure and has studied in China, Denmark, UAE, Oman, Bahrain, Mongolia, Hong Kong, etc. She has an extensive corporate experience of 10+ years and has worked in companies like PVR, DLF, and Reliance ADAG to name a few. She was also an active member of various human rights organisations for 12 years with a focus on tier 2 and tier 3 cities in India.
Awarded CNBC young Turk for her work in real estate, under her transformational leadership, Aviom has rapidly increased financial support for building sanitation facilities and she was also responsible for introducing the concept of the Aviom Shakti model. The model empowers 55,000+ rural women with the opportunity to work with Aviom as their agent to earn commissions and incentives. Today, the Shakti model has created a cost-effective way of sourcing business on variable costs for Aviom.
Tina Sapra, Senior Nutritionist, Doctor Diet
Tina Sapra is a registered dietitian with the American Dietetic Association and holds a Master's degree in Public Health from Loma Linda University School of Medicine in California, USA. She is a certified diabetes educator and lactation educator from the University of San Diego, also in California, USA.
Sapra has over 11 years of professional clinical and community nutrition counselling experience at several major California hospitals, such as Kaiser Permanente and St Jude Medical Heritage. Before starting with Doctor Diet, Sapra was the Head of Clinical Nutrition at FORTIS, Gurgaon. She was passionate about clinical nutrition and envisioned a healthy Indian population. When she returned to India after 16 years, she was motivated to launch the Doctor Diet by examining the health perceptions that are common in the country today.
In the United States, she is fascinated by the holistic approach to medicine, of which nutrition is an integral part. Thus, Doctor Diet was imagined as a place to give dietary and nutritional advice for lifestyle changes and not deliver quick results. Tina strongly believes in getting to know her customers personally and then helping them make good lifestyle changes without changing their eating and daily habits much.
Dr Nalini Saligram, Founder, Arogya World
Dr Nalini Saligram, PhD in Biochemistry, is the founder and CEO of Arogya World, a non-profit global health organisation committed to changing the course of chronic disease. She was felicitated with Ashoka Awards in 2015.
Under her leadership, Arogya World designs and implements scalable, science-based diabetes prevention programs in schools, workplaces and communities in India. A tireless advocate for NCD prevention, Dr Saligram leverages public-private partnerships and global platforms to improve the world we live in.
Minnku Buttar, Founder and Director, The Circle Of Joy
Minnku Buttar is a TEDx speaker, national award-winning transformation facilitator, intuitive life coach, healer, Founder of “The Circle of Joy” (that offers Self Mastery Programs and Retreats), and host of a successful YouTube talk show called, 'Stories and Secrets from around the world' (that brings wisdom from global influencers). She is also an artist (her art has sold through galleries to eminent buyers), a fashion designer, and a visionary curator (ideating and curating dozens of out-of-the-box programs for corporates and other Institutions).
As a published author, she has been part of the two Anthologies: “Diversity: the perspective we see the world with” (it won the Scholars Book World record), and “Mission Hope”, and now regularly writes a column for a top New York based lifestyle, art, Culture magazine. She is recipient of various National awards: Swami Vivekananda Award: Change Maker of 2020, Women of Excellence Award and Iconic woman 2020 (From the Women Economic Forum), “STRI SHAKTI AWARD, 2021” (From the Telangana Government), The SASHAKT NAARI SAMMAN (Influencer of 2022).
Deepti Pathak, Executive Coach, Keynote Speaker
A leadership coach, and licensed NLP practitioner (UK), Deepti Pathak, Founder of Deepti Pathak Company, is on a mission to empower leaders, change-makers and institutions, to help them surpass all their limitations and make a significant improvement in the quality of their lives.
Pathak is the nation's leading speaker on leadership and personal mastery. Her goal is to help you achieve your personal and professional goals faster and easier than you ever imagined.
She works with Fortune 500 companies, SMBs, leaders and ambitious individuals who want to reach new heights. Her sessions are designed to inspire, engage and empower audiences, to help them grow both personally and professionally. Having battled her inner demons in her youth, she displays a deep passion for helping people become the best version of themselves.