“Every story has left an indelible mark on me. Whether it was about a Moroccan woman building an astronomical observatory on Antarctica or the one being the first Astrophysicist from Philippines or the youngest to summit the Everest from Nepal or a taekwondo gold medalist from Afghanistan, each story taught me something about courage, being a woman and creating something bigger than myself.” Today’s dreamer is Shaina Shah, an artist and chartered accountant working to share the stories of other female artists across the world. Shaina has trained in several forms of visual art for over 20 years, with exhibitions in countries ranging from Thailand to the UK. She founded her latest venture, the WOW Women Project, in 2020. It aims to bring together women artists from all 196 countries of the world and tell their stories through portraits and letters. Shah spoke to Women Who Win about her progress towards the project and some of the inspiring stories she uncovered along the way.
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“Women are a minority in this field, and Indian women are a minority within this minority. One of the most shocking statistics that comes out of this field is that 75% of women architects are single, married but childless, divorced, and single parents.’ Today’s woman dreamer, Ratna Dalal was an award winning architect for over 10 years before she decided to make the leap to other creative ventures. Before working on her five-star-rated books The Watercolor of Life, Nature Inspired Creativity and From Passion to Products, she had worked on architecture in the fields of healthcare, retail, hospitality, and residential design. Today, Dalal continues to write and create floral designs for her store on Zazzle. Ratna’s Seasonal Art takes inspiration from the natural flora and fauna of the changing landscape and translates it to mugs, shirts, bags and more through watercolor. Dalal also regularly posts on her blog, Creative Joys, where she talks about the latest florals that are on her mind. Her current obsession? Yellow Magnolias, which she describes as “heaven on earth.” Dalal hosts events and book talks in her hometown in Massachusets where she discusses what inspires her and the motivation behind her books. She spoke to Women Who Win about making the leap from architecture to art, finding inspiration, and more. We are excited to share her story!
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“The sooner we (women) stop thinking that we are different, the better it is. I was never reminded that I need to act or think differently, because I am a woman.” Today’s woman dreamer, Swati Biswas is a Clinical researcher with a love for art. She is the Associate Director of Medical Writing at Moderna and a dedicated classical dancer. In this inspiring interview with Women Who Win, Swati reflects on her research career, her passion for dance and global art, and also shares her favorite holiday tradition! Enjoy her inspiring story!
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“The connection I felt to these ladies is just what I needed to stay motivated in these tough times. We formed a sisterhood” Today’s woman dreamer, Manvee Vaid is a dedicated social entrepreneur, empowering women across India’s vast artisan community. Artisans are the backbone of India’s non-farm rural economy, and the workforce is primarily made up of women. These communities faced significant challenges during Covid-19 that many of us aren’t aware from. from lack of raw materials to lockdowns and closures of factories. Manvee’s mission is to bring a voice to these artisans, who carry India’s rich history and tradition through their work. In this inspiring interview, Manvee shares her exciting journey as a social entrepreneur, and her passion for building community.
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“People do things and are creative sometimes, out of necessity. For me, creativity has been a passion of mine.” Today’s woman dreamer, Noureen Sultana is the owner of “Noureen Design”, a family-run mehndi business. A talented artists, she holds 7 Gold Medals from the All India Industrial Exhibition across various mediums including Henna (Mehndi), embroidery, and painting. The creativity runs in the family, as Noureen’s sons, Mahid and Danish are embracing the family business. Noureen states, “I always take my sons to many social events where they would show their work of art and would get appreciation and inspiration from the community. This has been one of the major factors for my sons to contribute equally in this business”. An exciting small business based in our Boston community, enjoy the story behind this mother-son mehndi business!
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“Many people have the impression that all artists do is paint. The reality is that artists are like any other entrepreneur. Not only do I create artwork, I have to create opportunities to get exposure for my work.” Today’s woman dreamer, Lisa Teo, is truly living her dream life as a full-time artist based in Kuala Lampur. Ever wonder what a day in the life looks like for an artist? Lisa shares her daily routine (starting with 5 am sun salutations). She provides actionable tips to artists on how to build their brand, how she navigated her career change from law to art, and the key learnings she had from her first solo exhibition at the renowned Gallery 1819 in Singapore. A must read for all creatives, enjoy Lisa’s story!
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“A few years ago, I began a second act when I realized I had so much more to contribute and give to the society and world around me. I decided to leave my career and pursue a new journey with my creative passions.” Today’s woman dreamer, Raksha Soni, is a prolific artist, with a passion for making a difference in her community. She shares how she created a second act to her life, in leaving her technology career, and founding Brush & Paisley. An inspiring story about career change, Raksha lives her life by the 3 Cs - creativity, community, and compassion! Enjoy.
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“I try and break out of the expected is by looking ’outside’ - signage on the streets, an old family photograph, a scenic moment outdoors, an inspiring museum exhibit” This past spring, today’s woman dreamer, Niloufer Moochhala beautifully brought the thoughts and sentiments of her community (town government, front-line workers, small business owners and more) to life through an installation art piece, displayed at Arlington Center. An inspiring mixed media artist with a dynamic career in the creative world, Nilou recieved her MFA from Yale, has been featured in Boston and New York, and has interned at renowned cultural institutions like the Smithsonian and Sotheby’s. Enjoy Nilou’s artistic journey!
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“Henna/mehndi is an ancient art, with so much richness to learn. But it is not recognized as publicly as many other art forms. My dream is to see the younger generations learn and preserve the Henna art form, so that we do not lose its wonderful traditions and practice.” Today’s woman dreamer, Manisha Trivedi, founder of Henna Cafe, shares her passion for the traditional art form, her tips for beginner henna artists, and the importance of using clean & natural ink. A true artist, enjoy Manisha’s lovely story!
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“Little did I know when I started teaching a few students at my home, that teaching and spreading the love for art would grow into an entire arts academy.” Today’s woman dreamer, Java Joshi, is an Art Entrepreneur. A passionate artist, she shares how she built the Academy of Creative Arts, teaching students and budding artists of all ages, 3-73. Looking to explore your artistic side in 2021? Java highlights the power of art and art education. From stimulating the imagination to reducing stress and building self esteem, Java shares some exciting ways to get creative this year!
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My passion for ceramics was sparked at the age of nine and the fascination of taking a lump of clay and making it into art. Today’s woman dreamer, Meenakshi Garodia, cultivates her passion for art to empower global women and capture the human emotion behind daily life. Creating conversation and reflection, her piece, “Silenced” explores how countless women around the world are silenced for myriad reasons, be it culture, family or gender expectations. She shares her passion behind art and her advice to young artists and creatives.
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Strolling through Boston Public Garden or the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum on a summer afternoon, you may have had a peak at talented photographer Sangeeta Kumar’s work. Today’s woman dreamer, Sangeeta Kumar shares her journey as a woman photographer. Growing up in Jaipur, Sangeeta is inspired by the colors and people around her, seeking to paint a picture of the world around her and put her unique stamp on it.
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Be a Virtual Volunteer and Take Initiative: Jharna Madan inspires us all, as she shares how she views Covid-19 as the time to give back to the community, in all different ways.
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