Houston gathering honors women leaders and shines a light on the courage and resilience behind their achievements
Our Bureau
Houston, TX
The Indian American Public Affairs Council (IAPAC) drew a packed house to Raindrop Turkish House for WE@IAPAC , Women Who Inspire, an evening celebrating women whose courage, leadership and service continue to strengthen communities and inspire future generations.
Chaired by IAPAC Board Members Ruchi Gupta and Jagruti Sarkar, the event brought together elected officials, civic and business leaders, professionals and community advocates, including many accomplished women whose own stories of courage, leadership and service could have equally taken center stage.
In her welcome remarks, Gupta reflected on IAPAC’s commitment to civic engagement and the significance of honoring women whose leadership and contributions continue to shape America’s story as the nation marks its 250th anniversary. “As America commemorates 250 years of independence, this evening is an opportunity to celebrate courage, leadership, and the lasting legacy women continue to create for those who follow,” she said.
ABC13 News Anchor Pooja Lodhia adeptly guided the evening as emcee, bringing warmth and ease to the program.
A highlight of the evening was the presentation of the 2026 IAPAC Community Impact Award to Vaishali Dev, an entrepreneur, author and philanthropist who transformed profound personal adversity into a life of purpose, service and impact. IAPAC Founder and Board Member Dr. Roopa Gir introduced Dev and presented the award, highlighting her resilience, entrepreneurial journey and commitment to empowering women through the Blume Foundation.
The centerpiece of the evening was a candid conversation moderated by civic and business leader Sanjay Ramabhadran, Founding Principal of Versa Infrastructure and former Chairman of Houston METRO. Moving beyond professional accomplishments and polished biographies, Ramabhadran drew out the rarely told stories behind each woman’s journey, the doubts, sacrifices, turning points and experiences that shaped who they are today. The conversation offered a deeper glimpse into four extraordinary women and the courage, resilience and sense of purpose behind their achievements.
Paula McCann Harris, author, speaker and former global sustainability executive at Schlumberger, reflected on navigating corporate spaces and overcoming self-doubt. “A big part of what’s never on the resume is the times that you were scared and felt like, ‘Do I belong here?’ I want to remind young women that you do belong at that table, and to design your career to live the life you want.”
Nory Angel, President of the American Leadership Forum, spoke about finding purpose through service and bringing people together. “I had an epiphany early on: if I have to work hard, I want my work to count. A lot of my work centers on bringing people into the room to talk, bridge divides, and continue seeing each other’s humanity.”
Dr. Rathna Kumar, Founder of the Anjali Center for Performing Arts and Artistic Director of Samskriti, spoke about perseverance, joy and the legacy of mentorship. “I have learned to make every experience in life joyful. What I want to leave behind is a legacy beyond dance, instilling enduring values, discipline, and resilience in generations of students.”
Dr. Kavya K. Manyapu, space scientist and elected Vice-Chair of the International Astronautical Federation’s Human Spaceflight Committee, reflected on fear, possibility and encouraging the next generation to reach beyond perceived limitations. “Behind every line on a resume is turning fear into focus and anxiety into excitement. I hope we show the next generation that possibilities are limitless, because a human is not a resource, a human is a possibility.”
The evening also received recognition from local and federal officials. U.S. Congressman Al Green delivered remarks and presented Congressional recognition to IAPAC and the honorees, with IAPAC President Naveen Kochoth accepting on behalf of the organization and its Board. IAPAC’s work in civic education, engagement and leadership was also recognized with a proclamation from the Office of Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo, presented by Community Engagement Specialist Hina Kadri.
The Office of Harris County Precinct 4 Commissioner Lesley Briones presented certificates of recognition honoring the evening’s awardees, speakers and IAPAC leadership for their contributions to the event and the community. Among the public officials attending were Dr. Letitia Plummer, former Houston City Council Member; Fort Bend County Commissioner Dexter L. McCoy; Stafford Mayor Ken Mathew; Judge Surendran K. Pattel of the 240th Judicial District Court; and Chief Larry J. Satterwhite, Director of Public Safety and Homeland Security for the City of Houston.
The event was supported by Leadership Champions Blume, the Rupani family, and Leela and Nat Murthy; and community partners Raindrop Foundation, The Dialogue Institute Houston and UNA-USA Houston Chapter. Guests also enjoyed an Indo-Chinese dinner by Biryani Pot, specialty tea by Trishna Tea, and hot masala chai provided by Sabiya Nizar, adding to the warmth and hospitality of the evening.
In her closing remarks, Jagruti Sarkar thanked the honorees, speakers, sponsors, partners, volunteers and guests, and invited the community to IAPAC’s upcoming Gala on October 25, 2026.
The women’s candid and deeply personal stories captivated the audience—at times moving, at times inspiring, and often filled with humor, with Dr. Rathna Kumar’s stories drawing laughter throughout the room. The evening celebrated not only achievement, but the courage, perseverance and humanity behind it, leaving many in the audience inspired by the extraordinary women whose journeys they had come to know beyond their accomplishments.
About IAPAC
The Indian American Public Affairs Council (IAPAC) is a 501(c)(3) nonpartisan nonprofit organization dedicated to civic education and engagement. Through dialogue, partnerships and initiatives including WE@IAPAC, IAPAC works to educate, engage and empower communities and encourage greater civic participation and leadership.