Oftentimes, there is much buzz about entrepreneurs transforming the world through their unique endeavors, which is good. But not much limelight on differently abled business leaders who defied the odds to rise to the top and continue to change perspectives. They are inspiring entrepreneurs who are role models to not only people with physical and mental impairments but for all. To anyone looking to turn their dream into a reality, take these entrepreneurs as heroes who have opened new opportunities and eased certain difficulties. The way they lead teams by placing inclusivity above all and proving that nothing can beat willpower is worth taking notes from their entrepreneurial leadership. Let’s celebrate these entrepreneurial heroes who are silently inspiring the rise of many success stories around us.
Nipun Malhotra, Co-Founder, Nipman Foundation - A Staunch Cultivator of Inclusivity in Workplaces for the Physically Impaired
After graduating with a master's degree, Nipun Malhotra set out to the worklife with confidence of his strong resume. But to his dismay, many firms were not ready to take him in considering his disability more than he ever did. Nipun was born with arthrogryposis, a rare congenital condition that prevents limbs and legs from developing fully, making him a wheelchair user. He came close to giving up, but the support from his family and friends pulled him up again. All these unfortunate circumstances pushed him to ensure that no one with disabilities should ever experience the same prejudice.
This led to the foundation of the Nipman Foundation, a firm that improves the lives and workplaces of people with disabilities, including other disadvantaged sections of society. He also founded another firm, Wheels for Life, a technology platform that provides consultancy services to companies looking to make themselves inclusive for people with special needs by connecting donors and deserving recipients.
Nipun is a passionate advocate for diversity and inclusion, holding a wealth of experience in spearheading the development and promotion of D&I plans and enhancing organizations' missions to cultivate an inclusive and varied workplace.
Simon George, Promoter, ACCESSIBILITY AND ACCESSIBLE TOURISM - An Icon of Accessible Tourism
During his B Tech days at the MA College of Engineering in Kothamangalam, Kerala, India, Simon became paralyzed from the waist down. But he stood headstrong and went on a mission to render support to the empowerment of physically impaired people since 2000. Through the years, he has organized events, including job fairs, seminars, cultural programs, mass marriages, premarital meetings, accessibility campaigns, and exhibitions. His contributions were showered back with honors, including an award ceremony held at the Indian International Centre in New Delhi with the Hon. Indian Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu awarded him for his accessible India campaign with the NCPEDP-Mphasis Universal Design Award 2015. Another was by the Kerala government, which also decided to create "Accessible Tourism," a service to encourage travel by people with disabilities inside the State.
He has given accessible tourism workshops to government bodies, college students, and travel agencies. One also includes a power point which highlights his talk on accessible road transportation in New Delhi. The Indian government has considered many of his fruitful recommendations by implementing some of them as well.
He currently operates as a Promoter of ACCESSIBLE CONSTRUCTIONS AND EQUIPMENTS, which provides advisory services to construction companies. He also engages in research on accessible houses, buildings, and public spaces. In the process of researching accessible equipment, he created the most cutting-edge wheelchair. He also organized a show called Flywings Megashows for differently abled artists to showcase their talents in classical dance, comedy, acting, magic shows, and music.
He has also penned a book on accessible travel to benefit those from Government agencies, travel agencies, and college students.
Sai Kaustuv Dashgupta, Founder, Happiness Unlimited - Spreading Smiles Everywhere
Sai Kaustuv Dashgupta is a Motivational Speaker - Rotary International, Graphic and Visual Design Senior Analyst - Accenture, Global Advisor - Billion Strong and a Community Changemaker - Global Network of Young Persons with Disabilities. Fondly called the "Wheelchair Warrior of India," Sai is a superhero to many youths, showing that nothing can stand against positivity. This Bangalore-based warrior was struck with an uncommon brittle bone, Osteogenesis Imperfecta, that caused over 50 fractures, 90 percent locomotor disability, and an 80 percent hearing impairment. Yet, he stands unshaken and is regarded as the first certified Happiness Coach from India who is also a creative designer and an outspoken supporter of diversity and inclusion. Sai committed himself to inspiring people by giving inspirational speeches and supporting Harvard Medical School's Mental Health Program. He is known for having a contagious smile among his other abilities, such as singing, composing, and entrepreneurship, and he holds over 16 Guinness World Records from Limca, India. He spreads his motivation through his venture, ‘Happiness Unlimited,’ which strongly stands for acceptance, optimism, and fortitude in the face of adversity.
Sai is also recognized for his outstanding efforts in the areas of accessibility, inclusivity, and diversity. The President of India, Smt. Droupadi Murmu honored him with the esteemed National Award for Individual Excellence in the "Shrestha Divyangjan" category. His exceptional leadership qualities have earned him a position as the fourth global icon whose inspirational talks strike an emotional connection with many people globally, especially those including corporate professionals, PWD employees, global leaders, and representatives of prestigious institutions across the US, Australia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Indonesia, and Nepal.
He believes that an ideal world is one that makes India a wheelchair-accessible nation. He is working towards making that dream a reality by launching initiatives for special needs children's schooling, accessible public areas, and special parent counseling. To name one, he was identified as a Global Equality Champion for representing India on the D-30 Disability Impact List and advancing the inclusion of people with disabilities in SDG 2030 at the UN. He is even making use of digital tools by reaching out to people virtually through his online community, ‘Happiness Unlimited.’
Gunavathy Chandrasekaran, Founder - Guna's Quilling: Reality Maker of Many People’s Creative Dreams
Hailing from Dindigul, Tamil Nadu, Gunavathy Chandrasekaran found her calling to quilling and worked at it with zeal. Gunavathy was deemed incapable after surviving a polio episode at the age of two, and at sixteen, she was married off.
But a few bits of paper pulled her back up showing how creative she can be through her artwork. Under her brand, Guna’s Quilling, she makes other women interested in business to sell quilled wall art, greeting cards, jewelry, tiny figurines, and much more under the brand name Guna's Quilling.
Pranav Desai, Executive Sponsor, Access ERG - NTT DATA - A Tech Star Changing Lives of the Differently abled
Pranav Desai is the founder of Voice of SAP, a Global Advocacy Organization with a Special Consultative Status with UN ECOSOC. From a very early age, he was left physically impaired due to polio. Despite it all, he grew successful by becoming an Engineer, MBA graduate and a global IT business executive with a career path spanning nearly 30 years across major multinational corporations. He raises awareness and helps to make a difference in people’s lives, especially those who are differently abled through "Vision to Reality," by collaborating with volunteers and leaders. In the corporate field, he is a leader in business, sales, and DEI who has founded new business units (BUs) with a mid-market focus and initiated the ACCESS ERG to advance disability inclusion at NTT DATA. He has successfully turned around a dormant, loss-making portfolio into NTT DATA's highest margin business unit and is a P&L leader. He has won five awards, including two from NTT Japan for social impact on written multiple opinion pieces, articles for print and digital media, and interviews on major US and Indian TV networks.
Since 2019, he has been serving as the Executive Sponsor of ACCESS ERG. His experience includes managing delivery teams and global sales teams, building up an offshore high-performing sales team with the same quota as an onshore SE, structuring complex transformation deals while fostering a compassionate culture, and more.