R ARIVANANTHAM
CHENNAI, OCT 11
What if a girl’s career choices were limited not by her talent, but by the opportunities she had never seen? What if one meaningful conversation with a woman professional could transform a hesitant schoolgirl into a confident future leader? These questions lay at the heart of Udyog Utsav 2026, where hundreds of young girls were encouraged to look beyond their circumstances, discover new career possibilities and imagine futures shaped by their abilities rather than their limitations.
- CAREERS WITHOUT BARRIERS: Avtar Human Capital Trust’s 20th Udyog Utsav 2026 connects hundreds of Project Puthri scholars with corporate leaders and educational opportunities
- FROM ASPIRATION TO ACTION: Industry professionals help girls from underserved communities discover career choices beyond familiar boundaries
- WOMEN WHO INSPIRE: Leaders from education, technology, analytics and corporate communications share insights to broaden young girls’ horizons
- CONFIDENCE IS THE FIRST QUALIFICATION: Career interactions, scholarship distribution, talent awards and a self-defence workshop empower scholars to take charge of their futures
- A GENERATION READY TO RISE: Project Puthri’s growing platform has engaged more than 10,100 scholars and 200 corporates through previous editions of Udyog Utsav
Avtar Human Capital Trust (AHCT), through its flagship initiative Project Puthri, hosted the 20th edition of Udyog Utsav, its annual Career Visioning Conference for Project Puthri scholars, at Guru Nanak Educational Society, Chennai, on Saturday.
Designed to equip girls from underserved communities with the skills, confidence and exposure needed to pursue higher education and meaningful careers, the conference brought together corporate leaders, educationists and professionals from diverse fields. The initiative seeks to help schoolgirls make informed career choices by exposing them to opportunities they may not otherwise encounter.
Over the years, Udyog Utsav has evolved into a significant platform for career awareness and aspiration-building. Previous editions have brought together more than 10,100 scholars and 200 corporates, offering over 150 hours of learning and engagement.
When our girls learn & aspire, their progress becomes our country’s progress
Speaking at the event, Dr Saundarya Rajesh, Managing Director of Avtar Career Creators Limited and Managing Trustee of Avtar Human Capital Trust, said,
“A girl cannot choose a future she has never had the chance to see. For many of our Puthri scholars, Udyog Utsav is that first glimpse of what could be possible. When they meet professionals & hear about careers they may never have considered, they start to see themselves differently; they begin to believe that the world of work has a place for them too. That is the heart of Udyog Utsav. It is about creating that moment of possibility and helping a young girl turn it into career intentionality. As we celebrate the 20th edition, what gives me the greatest joy is knowing that this platform continues to widen the horizon for every girl who walks through its doors. And when our girls learn & aspire, their progress becomes our country’s progress.”
The conference featured addresses by corporate leaders Remadevi Thotathil, CHRO, LatentView Analytics; K.R. Sriram, Vice President – Head of Automation Corporate IT, Worldline; Daisy Leela, Senior Specialist – CSR, Harman; and Jasleen K. Makker, Senior Director – Corporate Communications and Public Affairs, Harman.
Dr R.M. Ezhilarasi, Principal, Guru Nanak College (Autonomous), delivered the opening keynote address. Special addresses were delivered by Dr D. Sowmya, Dean, Guru Nanak Centre for Consultancy and Outreach Initiatives; Pooja Srinivasa Raja, Executive Leader at A2B and Founder of Love Hope Company; and Raja, Former Senior Scientific Officer, Ministry of Defence (VRS) and Founder of Raja IAS Academy.
Their participation gave the scholars an opportunity to interact with professionals from different sectors, understand the skills and qualifications required for varied careers, and explore educational pathways that could help turn their ambitions into achievable goals.
The programme went beyond speeches and career presentations. Scholar testimonials, talent search awards, scholarship distribution for beneficiaries and cultural performances added recognition, encouragement and celebration to the proceedings. A self-defence workshop also highlighted the importance of personal safety and confidence among young girls.
Corporate and institutional stall visits emerged as another key feature, enabling scholars to interact directly with representatives of organisations and educational institutions. These exchanges helped the girls gain first-hand insights into career options, courses, workplace expectations and opportunities for further learning.
Puthri Pledge reinforces the central message of the meet
The scholars also took the Puthri Pledge, committing themselves to approach education and career choices with purpose and intentionality. The pledge reinforced the central message of the conference: aspirations need not remain distant dreams when young people receive the exposure, guidance and support to pursue them.
The 20th edition of Udyog Utsav reaffirmed the importance of sustained interventions that enable girls to recognise their potential and participate more confidently in the world of work. For every scholar who discovered an unfamiliar profession, met a role model or began to imagine a different future, the conference offered something more enduring than a day of activities—a wider horizon of possibilities.
Ultimately, empowering a girl begins by ensuring that she knows her choices are not confined to the world she sees today. When young girls gain access to knowledge, mentors and opportunity, they can begin to shape not only their own futures but also the social and economic progress of the communities they represent.