Saundarya Rajesh: The Trailblazer Transforming How India Sees Second Careers

What if a career break wasn’t the end—but a new beginning?

That’s the question Saundarya Rajesh set out to answer when she launched Avtar Group, pioneering the concept of second career opportunities for women in India. At a time when maternity breaks or family responsibilities often meant the end of the road for professional women, Saundarya saw potential where others saw a pause—and built an entire ecosystem around it.

A former HR professional turned social entrepreneur, Saundarya Rajesh recognized early on that India’s corporate world was missing out on a massive pool of talented women who had temporarily stepped away from the workforce. In 2005, she founded Avtar I-Win (Increasing Women’s Inclusion)—India’s first platform to bring qualified women back into meaningful careers. What started as a bold idea became a nationwide movement, catalyzing policy shifts and inclusive hiring models across Fortune 500 companies.

But Saundarya Rajesh didn’t stop there. Through her research and thought leadership, she has shaped the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) landscape in India. Her work led to the creation of the Best Companies for Women in India (BCWI) study in partnership with Working Mother Media, sparking deeper accountability and culture change in corporate India.

Here’s a lesser-known twist: Saundarya herself faced barriers when trying to re-enter the workforce after a break. That personal struggle lit the spark for a career that now empowers thousands. Today, she’s not just a champion for women—she’s a business innovator, a TEDx speaker, and a force reshaping the future of work.

So why should young professionals and entrepreneurs care?

Because Saundarya Rajesh’s story isn’t just about inclusion—it’s about recognizing untapped value. It’s a powerful reminder that the best innovations often emerge from overlooked problems. In a world obsessed with disruption, Saundarya disrupted mindsets.

As we build the workplaces of tomorrow, her journey offers a clear takeaway: inclusion isn’t a checkbox—it’s a business strategy. And sometimes, the boldest moves start by giving someone a second chance.