FICCI FLO, under the leadership of 43rd National President, Ms. Puja Garg, organized a landmark inaugural event, titled “Palki Sharma Live: Power, Perspective and the Stories that Shape Us,” on April 23, 2026, at the Hyatt Regency, New Delhi. The evening brought together an influential gathering of women business leaders, entrepreneurs, policymakers, members of FLO and YFLO, creating a vibrant platform for meaningful dialogue and global engagement.
The highlight of the event was an insightful and compelling session by renowned journalist Palki Sharma, Founder of India Global Review, who reflected on her foray into journalism, sharing both personal and professional experiences that have shaped her journey from a journalist to an entrepreneur. She emphasized the importance of being an authentic voice in today’s media landscape, underscoring the need to be well-read, well-prepared, and deeply informed to build credibility and impact.
Drawing from over two decades of experience, she also offered sharp perspectives on geopolitics, evolving global power dynamics, and the role of media in shaping public discourse. The award-winning journalist engaged in a thoughtful and impactful conversation with moderator Kalyani Chawla, Founder & CEO of Rezon Luxury Silverware, covering key themes such as the Women’s Reservation Bill 2026, the importance of upskilling women, and navigating challenges while building a strong and resilient career in journalism.
In her address, National President Puja Garg emphasized the importance of perspective-driven leadership in an increasingly interconnected world and underscored FLO’s role in enabling women to engage with global narratives, build influence, and lead with confidence. During her address, Palki Sharma revealed that she is trained in textile design. She owns a designer saree brand named Reyva, which showcases a powerful entrepreneurial move to transform from a media personality into an entrepreneur in the fashion space.
The event witnessed strong participation from Past Presidents, Governing Body Members, and the wider FLO and YFLO community, reflecting the strength and diversity of the network. Vice President FICCIFLO, Pooja Chauhan, proposed the Vote of Thanks. Ankurita Pathak, Additional Director FICCIFLO, was the emcee for the event.
FICCI FLO also extended its gratitude to Title Sponsor Sunita Kanoria, Governing Body Member and Past Chairperson – Kolkata, for her generous support, and to gifting partner The Splendor of Kashmir, led by Governing Body Member Varuna Anand, for adding a touch of elegance to the evening.
Key Takeaways
- The current landscape of journalism in India is undergoing a rapid, technology driven transformation due to people consuming more content online especially on social media platforms.
- To ensure public trust and become a source of credible information, news reporters and journalists are needed to cover stories with complete honesty, facts and data.
- There is a need to bridge the gender gap in journalism as women are still underrepresented in the leadership and senior editorial roles. More mentors and leaders are required to inspire and support more women and young girls to become editors, anchors, and reporters.
- Despite this underrepresentation, women are changing the narratives by taking senior editorial leadership roles while taking care of the household responsibilities. There is a constant pressure on women to excel in both career and home roles while navigating a male dominated industry.
- Women journalists and reporters are often assigned to cover soft news topics, such as lifestyle, education, and entertainment, while men are likely to cover news for sports and geopolitics.
- Confidence, courage, and passion are crucial for women journalists to increase their involvement in covering high risk topics, such as politics, crime, and investigative journalism.
- Other main challenges women faced in comparison to men in the journalism domain, include gender pay gap, harrassment, and other safety issues in the field.
Impact & Outcome
Around 200 attendees witnessed the impactful and engaging session led by Palki Sharma and Kalyani Chawla about the current landscape of journalism and the need to bridge the gender gap in this domain.
Marked by high engagement, thoughtful conversation, seamless execution, and a full house, the event reinforced FLO’s positioning as a platform for impactful thought leadership and meaningful dialogue, concluding on an inspiring note with renewed perspectives for all attendees.