“When you just aren't taken seriously, when you're taken frivolously and lightly, the only way to deal with it is to just keep going.”
— Manisha Girotra, CEO, Moelis India

Some stories stop you in your tracks, not because they’re extraordinary, but because they’re real.

The recently concluded Women in Deals 2025 event by Alvarez & Marsal India, celebrated precisely that spirit: candid, unvarnished conversations with women who’ve built careers in private equity, investment banking, and corporate finance.

Set in a casual and relaxed environment, the event also saw a panel discussion with Manisha Girotra, Ayshwarya Vikram, Bharati Agarwal and Nandini Chopra sharing not only their backgrounds and the journey that brought them to success but also about paving the way for the future.

“There are many women‑focused events, but Women in Deals stood out for its focus on leadership, real experiences, and forward momentum. It was an inspiring conversation about ambition and impact, and how we can redefine what is possible together.” - Ayshwarya Vikram, Managing Director, Blackstone

Held last month in Mumbai, the War Story Collective was an evening of unfiltered dialogue, shared insight, and quiet strength, that brought together women at different stages of their careers, to exchange lessons that go beyond the transaction table.

Leaders spoke not only about deal-making, growth and value creation, but also about resilience, reinvention and the small, stubborn moments that shaped who they became.

“The conversations we had were very real and raw. Despite keeping children out of the conversation, we covered a lot of issues that many women today face.” - Bharati Agarwal, Managing Director, TPG NewQuest

What emerged was more than networking. It was connection, an acknowledgment that leadership is not only about strategy and scale, but about showing up, standing firm, and staying true.

“The room was full of high achievers – women leaders who have claimed their rightful place based on grit and determination, deep domain knowledge and a lived experience in a world of deals that can be brutal for its high-pressure dynamics and binary outcomes.” - Nandini Chopra, Managing Director, Alvarez & Marsal Corporate Finance