Shamila Gopalan: A Global Voice for Inclusive Leadership and Women Empowerment

 
Shamila Gopalan: A Global Voice for Inclusive Leadership and Women Empowerment


In a world where leadership is still largely defined by outdated norms, Shamila Gopalan is rewriting the script—one bold move at a time. A corporate strategist turned social impact champion, Shamila is globally recognized for empowering women of color and migrant women through business leadership, mentorship, and entrepreneurship. Her career spans decades across international media, startups, and purpose-led ventures. Today, she leads from the front as the founder of HerWit and a senior executive at SisterWorks Inc., helping build inclusive ecosystems that uplift underrepresented voices.

Foundations of Her Career:

Shamila’s journey begins in Malaysia, where she was born to parents of Indian descent and raised in a multicultural household rich with tradition, diversity, and ambition. This upbringing gave her an early appreciation for intersectional identity, which would later become the core of her mission.

With a strong academic foundation, she earned a master’s degree in business from The City University of New York, equipping her with the tools to navigate global corporate landscapes. She began her professional career at CNN, quickly ascending the ranks to strategic leadership roles.

Over nearly 20 years, she held senior positions at some of the world’s top media giants—including CNN, Fox International, and National Geographic Channel—where she oversaw large-scale content and commercial operations across Asia and the U.S.

Career Development and Growth:

Despite her upward trajectory, Shamila faced a reality many women of color know too well—being the only woman of color in senior leadership spaces. “It wasn’t just about being seen,” she recalls. “It was about pushing back against systems that weren’t designed with people like me in mind.”

That realization pushed her to take a sabbatical from corporate life and explore entrepreneurship. It wasn’t an easy leap—but it was a necessary one. Drawing on her strategic know-how and vast network, Shamila built two successful businesses, one of which she exited independently.

Her impact was soon recognized across the region. In 2016, she was named one of Asia’s Top 50 Female Leaders and went on to serve as a board member and advisor for several organizations, including the Asia Content Marketing Association and Brilliant Women Global.

 

Present Endeavors and Leadership:

Today, Shamila Gopalan is the founder of HerWit, a for-purpose business platform that helps women entrepreneurs—particularly women of color—launch, scale, and lead with confidence. HerWit bridges business coaching with inclusive leadership training, ensuring that women are equipped not just to build, but to thrive.

In her role as Chief Growth Officer at SisterWorks Inc., Shamila focuses on creating economic pathways for migrant, refugee, and asylum-seeking women in Australia. Her work at SisterWorks is about more than empowerment—it’s about building systems of equity that enable women to earn, learn, and lead independently.

Shamila also co-hosts the acclaimed podcast “Unapologetically Brown,” where she dives deep into conversations on race, culture, identity, and leadership, giving a voice to lived experiences that often go unheard.

 

Achievements and Legacy:

Shamila’s legacy is one of resilience, vision, and transformation. She has consistently built platforms where representation isn’t tokenistic—it’s structural.

Key Highlights:

  • Asia’s Top 50 Female Leaders (2016)
  • Founded and scaled multiple businesses across Asia, the U.S., and Australia
  • Co-host of Unapologetically Brown—a podcast redefining narratives on race and identity
  • Leadership roles at CNN, National Geographic, and HerWit
  • Spearheaded economic empowerment for hundreds of women through SisterWorks Inc.
  • Global speaker, mentor, and advocate for inclusive leadership and entrepreneurship

 

Shamila Gopalan isn’t just leading change—she’s building the blueprint for it. Her life’s work is a powerful reminder that leadership should reflect the world we live in: diverse, equitable, and deeply human. Whether through HerWit, SisterWorks, or her mentorship and storytelling, Shamila continues to pave the way for the next generation of changemakers.

 

Read more about Global Indian Story Click Here.


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Uppma Virdi: From Lawyer to Successful Ayurvedic Chai Entrepreneur

Image
Uppma Virdi: From Lawyer to Successful Ayurvedic Chai Entrepreneur Are you looking for inspiration on how to turn your passion into a thriving business? The story of Uppma Virdi, an Indian-Australian entrepreneur and founder of Chai Walli, is a perfect example of courage, cultural pride, and innovation. In this article, we explore Uppma’s journey from a commercial lawyer to a celebrated chai business owner, her commitment to authentic Ayurvedic chai blends, and how she’s redefining the tea culture in Australia and beyond. Who is Uppma Virdi? Uppma Virdi was born in Chandigarh, India, and raised in Melbourne, Australia. Growing up between two cultures, she developed a deep appreciation for her Indian heritage, especially the tradition of Ayurvedic chai passed down from her grandfather, an Ayurvedic doctor. Despite pursuing a career in commercial law, Uppma’s passion for chai and wellness never faded. The Leap: From Law to Chai Entrepreneurship: Wh...
Read more

The Incredible Journey of Lakshmi Mohanbabu: Art Beyond Earth and Ocean Depths

Image
  Lakshmi Mohanbabu is a groundbreaking Singapore-based artist, architect, and fashion designer who has achieved something truly extraordinary. She is the first artist in the world to have her artwork both orbit Earth in space and be permanently installed at the ocean’s deepest point - nearly 7 kilometers below sea level near the Mariana Trench. This incredible feat marks a new era where art meets science and technology in the most extreme environments on our planet and beyond. From Architecture to Artistic Innovation: Lakshmi’s journey began with a degree in architecture from Manipal Institute of Technology, India. She initially worked with architectural firms but soon realized her passion extended beyond buildings. Her travels across Europe and Asia inspired her to explore fashion design and visual arts, leading her to study at the National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT), New Delhi. She also illustrated books for organizations like the World Health Organization and the Vo...
Read more

Manasi Chaudhari: Empowering Women Through Legal Innovation and Entrepreneurship

Image
  In today’s India, where legal knowledge can often feel inaccessible, especially for women, Manasi Chaudhari emerges as a beacon of change. As the founder and CEO of Pink Legal, India’s first digital platform dedicated exclusively to educating women about their legal rights, Manasi is reshaping how women engage with the law — making it approachable, actionable, and empowering. From Passionate Lawyer to Social Entrepreneur: Manasi’ s journey began with a deep-rooted passion for law and justice. A top graduate from Jindal Global Law School, she further honed her expertise by assisting Justice D.Y. Chandrachud at the Supreme Court of India on landmark cases including the decriminalization of homosexuality (Section 377), Aadhaar privacy issues, and the Sabarimala temple case. These experiences ignited her commitment to gender equality and human rights. Her early career spanned diverse roles — from corporate legal counsel to founding her own boutique law firm specializing in e...
Read more