FICCI FLO, under the leadership of the 42nd National President, Ms. Poonam Sharma, organized an impactful event, “FICCI FLO Conclave on Skill Development for Viksit Bharat” at Taj Ambassador, New Delhi, to highlight the importance of skilling and workforce readiness among women and youth to achieve the vision of Viksit Bharat 2047.
The conclave was held under the FLO Urban Skilling Initiative, led by Initiative Head Ms. Pooja Chauhan and co-chair Ms. Nidhi Goel, with support from team member Ms. Kuwarani Ritu Singh. The Skill Development Conclave brought FLO members, employers, training providers, and educators together to discuss how they can collectively support women and youth by equipping them with future-ready skills as per industry requirements.
The event started with EMCEE, Ms. Ankurita Pathak, Additional Director, FICCI FLO, welcoming everyone and keeping the energy high to ensure an engaging atmosphere. National President, Ms. Poonam Sharma, talked about how the FLO Urban Skilling initiative has empowered women and children through its skill development programs and successfully created sustainable livelihoods.
The following industry pioneers joined the session as the guest speakers who guided participants on making women and youth crucial players in building Viksit Bharat 2047:
- Mr. Deepak Bagla, Mission Head of Atal Innovation Mission.
- Ms. Navika Kumar, Group Editor in Chief, Times Network.
- Mr. Sanjeev Bikhchandani, founder of Info Edge, & Naukri.com.
Also, other senior professionals representing these top organizations attended the conclave: Cognizant, NASSCOM Foundation, Vision India Talent Foundation, and Apollo MedSkills. Around 16 students from Amity University present at the event gained first-hand exposure to industry perspectives on skilling and innovation.
A Skill Report was released at the FLO Conclave on Skill Development, marking a milestone under the Urban Skilling initiative. The report features skilling outcomes across FLO chapters nationwide, which boosted employability and workforce readiness among women.
Key Topics Covered
Speakers provided attendees with valuable industry insights on how they can together create an impact and prepare youth and women for a future-ready workforce. At the end of the panel discussion, the experts also interacted with attendees during a Q & A session. Below are the following three topics covered in this conclave:
- Building a Skilled Workforce for Bharat 2047
Mr. Deepak Baghla shared insights on how the Government of India’s initiatives like Atal Innovation Mission are helping women and youth in gaining future-ready and demanding skills. Mr. Deepak highlighted the importance of technologically advanced classrooms and skilled educators to promote a culture of entrepreneurship and innovation among students in both urban and rural areas.
Also, he stated that incubation centres under Atal Innovation Mission have supported various women entrepreneurs in building successful enterprises. Mr. Deepak Baghla emphasized that innovation-driven skilling will be instrumental in achieving the vision of Viksit Bharat 2047.
- Skilling Women for the Orange Economy
Ms. Navika Kumar inspired the attendees by sharing her own experience of working as a journalist. She said that resilience, perseverance, and continuous learning are key drivers of professional success in the orange economy. She urged present women and students at the conclave to consistently upgrade their skills and face challenges with confidence.
Ms. Navika emphasized that women should support one another through proper collaboration and mentorship. She emphasized that consistent hard work and skilling are crucial for creating strong career pathways in the evolving and creative orange economy.
- Employment Generation for Women
Mr. Sanjeev Bikhchandani ended the panel discussion by highlighting the importance of repeated practice of skills, specialization, and adaptability in building sustainable careers for women and youth. There is already high demand for skilled employees in the corporate world.
Young professionals from urban and rural areas require mentorship to accelerate career growth. Mr. Sanjeev highlighted the importance of flexible and work-from-home opportunities in expanding employment avenues for women.
Impact & Outcome
Total 115 attendees, including FLO members, employers, training providers, and educators, participated in this conclave to witness a meaningful dialogue on skill development and innovation. Experts guided attendees on how they can help underprivileged women and young students in upskilling and providing them with good career opportunities.
Ms. Nidhi Goel delivered a heartfelt Vote of Thanks to express gratitude to speakers, attendees, and the organizing team for making this event successful. The event ended with networking over lunch and interactive engagement activities, fostering collaboration and dialogue among attendees.