CraftHER Leadership in Action 2025

I’m excited to announce that CraftHER Leadership in Action 2025 by @Swara - Voice of Women  has been completed successfully.

Six weeks. Four locations. Countless stories that reminded me exactly why I started Swara.

Two worlds. One bridge.

I’ve had the privilege of learning in two very different worlds. The halls of the University of Oxford, surrounded by some of the smartest and most ambitious leaders I’ve ever met, and the villages of Kerala, where I’ve worked alongside women whose intelligence, resilience, and empathy could fill libraries.

This year’s CraftHER scholars became that bridge.

They brought sharp minds and left with those skills sharpened in ways only lived experience can teach - Listening deeply, building trust across cultures, and recognising leadership in its quietest forms.

Oxford taught me how to think in systems, design strategy, and tackle complexity.

Kerala’s women taught me how to adapt without fear, lead without ego, and keep showing up for each other when resources are scarce.

Different worlds. Different languages.

Yet both full of brilliance.

Through CraftHER, and the stories we share at Swara, I get to connect these worlds. And every time it happens, the impact doesn’t just add up. It multiplies.




Thank you to everyone who made CraftHER 2025 the incredible experience it was:

Durgambika P Varma, Preetha Mathews for going above and beyond to ensure flawless program delivery.

Aisha Shahina for stepping in as program coordinator exactly when we needed you.

Maisy Ekins-Malcolm, Maisie Angus, Elizabeth Reid, Isabel Iino, Maggie Naylor for choosing CraftHER 2025 and bringing your full selves to the challenge and learning experience.

Amy Moore, Nikol Chen and Susanna Kempe - your support made it possible for us to touch so many lives.

Manju Vasudevan, Self Employed Women's Association (SEWA) - Kerala, Sonia George, Archana Women's Centre, Forest Post - thank you for opening your world to us and for your tireless work transforming the lives of women.

Lakshmi Chockalingam - thank you for helping design the leadership journey.

Isabelle Thomas and Sanjana George - thank you for joining as expert session speakers and sharing your wisdom on social entrepreneurship and fitness.

One thing I’m especially proud of, apart from a few wonderful male hosts and drivers, is that every aspect of this program’s delivery, partnerships, and on-the-ground execution was powered by women. From leadership design to artisan collaborations to facilitation in the field, this was truly an all-women effort.

And finally, a heartfelt thank you to anyone I may have missed to mention by name. Your contribution, seen or unseen, was part of what made CraftHER 2025 possible.