‘Sheroes Amongst Us: Real Women, Real Stories’, an inspiring anthology co-authored by Falguni Desai and Dr. Amit Nagpal. Featuring foreword by Shardha Sharma, Founder & CEO of YourStory Media, and Afterword by Sachin Karnik, Founder & CEO of The Great Unicorn Hunt, this book showcases the extraordinary stories of 32 trailblazing women who have broken barriers and redefined success.

With stories spanning leadership, entrepreneurship, technology, and social impact, this book offers inspiration, guidance, and reassurance to anyone seeking mentorship or navigating uncharted paths. These are just a few of the extraordinary stories that illuminate the pages of this book. Each narrative offers a glimpse into struggles, breakthroughs, and unwavering dedication to making a difference.

Here is an excerpt from the book:

The Butterfly Effect in Business and Life
Bhawna Bhatia

Bhawna’s story is one of extraordinary metamorphosis — much like a caterpillar that doesn’t transform just once, but continuously throughout its life. She has turned the cocoon of self-doubt and conventional expectations into wings of success and self-discovery. From a shy, asthmatic child to a confident professional breaking barriers in the tech world, her path has seen a series of unexpected evolutions.

Early Life and Education
Now an experienced thought-leader in the computer software industry and an Architect Advisor at SAP, Bhawna’s career is a testament to resilience, adaptability and continuous learning. With expertise across various technologies and industries, she has consistently driven impactful business outcomes. But her path to success was far from straightforward.

I come from a family that has gone through India’s partition, Bhawna begins, her voice tinged with pride and reflection. My grandmother stayed in Lahore in a transit camp before moving to India. She wasn’t educated herself, but she ensured all her kids were educated. She was very progressive for her time.

Bhawna’s story is one of extraordinary metamorphosis — much like a caterpillar that doesn’t transform just once, but continuously throughout its life. She has turned the cocoon of self-doubt and conventional expectations into wings of success and self-discovery. From a shy, asthmatic child to a confident professional breaking barriers in the tech world, her path has seen a series of unexpected evolutions.

This progressive spirit ran through the family. Bhawna’s father and mother, coming from a not very well-to-do but educated family, broke barriers to become doctors. These early influences shaped Bhawna’s worldview and instilled in her a deep respect for education and perseverance.

However, Bhawna's childhood wasn’t without its challenges. Up to the third grade, I was a very shy child, she recalls. I could not speak in class and had major confidence issues. I would cry to not go to school. Because of childhood asthma, I would have anxiety issues every morning. The turning point came in the third grade when Bhawna encountered a teacher who severely impacted her confidence. She was cruel, Bhawna says, her voice hardening at the memory. She would throw personal insults at us without understanding why we had ended up in that situation. By the end, she killed my confidence so much that I just did not want to go to school.

But life had other plans for Bhawna. In fourth grade, she met a teacher who would change the course of her life. She saw something in me that I did not recognise, Bhawna remembers fondly. She would personally spend time with me and be very appreciative even for the small things I did. It gave me so much confidence that I transformed as a person. This transformation was nothing short of remarkable. From a struggling student, Bhawna blossomed into a top performer. I was getting C’s and B’s in class, and suddenly I became an A-grade student. I started figuring in the top ten of my class, she says with pride. I topped my 12th standard and was a gold medallist. Imagine a student who up to the third grade could not speak in class transforming into a student who could top 12th standard.

Career Beginnings and Challenges
Bhawna ‘s journey took an unexpected turn when she chose to pursue Economics Honours at Lady Shri Ram College, despite having no prior background in the subject. This decision set the tone for her career, marked by a willingness to venture into uncharted territories.

I am a science with biology student who chose Economics Honours without having studied Economics in my high school, Bhawna explains. Later, I went into a BPO in a procurement pre-sales role. Procurement is something that you never study in school or college. But again I encountered amazing mentors who helped me shape my career.

However, her college life wasn’t without its challenges. In her second year, Bhawna faced a significant mental health crisis. I had a mental breakdown during my exams, accompanied by panic attacks, she recalls. My mother, who is a doctor, had to put me on antidepressants. This experience taught Bhawna invaluable lessons about stress management and mental health. Now, I never let myself take stress professionally, she says. That moment made me realise that till you’re not dying and you’re there, everything can be solved. It may be hard, it may take time, patience and resilience but its never unsurmountable.

[…]

A Legacy of Impact
Bhawna emphasises the importance of continuous growth and self-discovery. Your personality is like an onion. You have to keep peeling the layers, one by one, and that is the only way you can truly discover yourself, she reflects.

As Bhawna approaches her next innings, she’s contemplating her larger purpose in life. I want to start mentoring people, helping them grow in their careers and shape their trajectories, she shares. She also dreams of setting up a space where people can work on their mental well-being, inspired by her own experiences and her family’s medical background.

To young women, Bhawna offers this advice: Break the mental barriers in your head. Break the barriers that somebody will not allow you to do something. If you have a desire to do something, put your heart into it and go all out. You don’t have to prove anything to anyone, except yourself.

Bhawna Bhatia’s journey from a shy, asthmatic child to a confident, successful professional and aspiring mentor, is a powerful reminder that our potential is not defined by our starting point, but by our willingness to learn, adapt, and push beyond conventional boundaries.

Success Mantras
❖ Never Stop Learning: Be a student for life. Your education doesn’t end with college.

❖ Break Conventional Barriers: Don’t be confined by traditional career paths. You can excel in any field with passion and logic.

❖ Your Mind is Your Biggest Obstacle: Overcome mental barriers to unlock your true potential.

❖ Embrace Continuous Growth: Your personality is like an onion— keep peeling layers to discover yourself.

❖ Value Time: Time doesn’t wait for anyone. Make the most of every moment.

❖ Be Humble: Humility keeps you grounded and open to new learning experiences.

❖ Read the Room: Be aware of your environment and adapt accordingly, especially in professional settings.

❖ Balance Confidence with Openness: Have opinions, but be open to learning from others.

❖ Create Your Support System: Build a circle of supporters who will be your flag bearers.

❖ Give Back: Use your experiences and success to help others grow.

[The excerpt reproduced with the permission of the publishers.]