Women have notably transformed the startup ecosystem and led it towards growth and innovation. Each sector: healthcare, technology, sustainability, and social impact has bloomed under the touch of a female founder. Their leadership makes the organisations prioritise purpose, collaboration, and long-term impact. As a founder in the realm of hearing healthcare for the past three decades, I have realised that building solutions in a startup or a social initiative stem from the same entrepreneurial spirit: identifying unmet needs, creating innovative systems, and empowering communities.
Female leaders play a crucial role in healthcare worldwide. A study indicates that women make up nearly 70% of the global healthcare system. Another study shows that globally, women account for 22% of health-tech founders, with a growth from 15% in 2015. Despite this, women-led health startups face significant funding disparities from global venture capital. Making one appreciate the women’s success and making one wonder about their untapped potential, due to a lack of support on a global forum.
At JOSH Foundation and Hearing Hearts, our mission is to mend gaps between hearing care and scalable solutions for early detection, access to hearing technology, and rehabilitation for underprivileged children. Here, we transform our entrepreneurial spirit to work towards social impact.
“Change is Here”, is a campaign that we launched after recognising the need for awareness about hearing health. This featured two films: “Early Matters: For a Better Future” and “A Sound Start: For a Better Living”. Through visual storytelling, we aim to create awareness and drive meaningful change on a larger scale. With the right vision, hearing care innovations can transform millions of lives.
Over the years, I have focused on building systems for early detection of hearing problems and their rehabilitation. Through our two forums, we have now supported more than 2,500 underprivileged children. As a sense of recognition and motivation, my work was honoured with the National Award for “Outstanding Individual Working for the Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities,” by Govt of India, in 2025. I am also the only Indian to win the “Humanitarian Award” from the American Academy of Audiology (AAA), USA, in 2012.
Many women-led startups prioritise social impact alongside profit, especially in healthcare. Entrepreneurial women across the globe prove that successful ventures can combine innovation with empathy, profitability with purpose, and growth with social responsibility. Regardless of the industry, female leadership makes organisations more inclusive, resilient, and impactful.
