12 Indian Changemakers You Need To Know in 2025

12 Indian Changemakers You Need To Know in 2025

At UNIREC, we believe that every changemaker deserves a stage. That’s why we launched ‘UNIREC Changemakers Spotlight’, a campaign dedicated to highlighting individuals who are driving ‘real change’ across industries. Over the past week, we gave a shoutout to these incredible leaders on our social platforms—an initiative that sparked over 10,000 views in just 7 days! The response was nothing short of phenomenal, proving that inspiration is contagious.

This blog brings together the stories of our featured changemakers, ensuring the momentum continues. Their journeys, passion, and impact deserve to be celebrated far and wide. Whether you’re an entrepreneur, innovator, or someone looking to make a difference, let these stories fuel your drive. Join us in amplifying their impact and, who knows—you might be the next changemaker in the spotlight!

Rachana Gupta - Founder of Gynoveda
Rachana is revolutionizing women’s healthcare with a bold mix of Ayurveda and tech. Her game-changing platform puts women in control—self-diagnosing, connecting with doctors, and tapping into a powerful community. With 6L+ women impacted across 20,000 pin codes, she’s now building 200+ fertility clinics to support 10 million couples.

Dhanvita Sathyanand - Founder of Aecoz Bioware
Dhanvita is flipping the script on food packaging with her products that have already saved 4L+ kgs of plastic from trashing the planet. Think 1M+ sustainable, 100% biodegradable alternatives to plastic that are as chic as they are eco-friendly. From sleek paper cups to sturdy meal boxes, they’re giving restaurants a guilt-free glow-up with packaging that’s good for the Earth and great for business.

Sahar Mansoor - Founder & CEO of Bare Necessities
Sahar’s zero-waste platform is redefining sustainable living—selling 2.4L eco-friendly products, keeping 68M+ plastic items out of landfills, and turning millions into eco-warriors. Fueled by her love for nature and ethical consumption, she’s proving that sustainability isn’t just a trend—it’s the future, and she’s making it look damn good!

Anisha Padukone - CEO of LLL (LiveLoveLaugh)
Anisha Padukone is making waves in mental health advocacy, leading LiveLoveLaugh to treat 17,000+ individuals and support 39,000+ caregivers. With a bold mission to break stigmas and foster open conversations, she’s transforming access to treatment, counseling, and economic upliftment. Anisha isn’t just leading a foundation—she’s driving a movement for mental wellness in India.

Aishwarya Lahariya - Co-Founder of JIWYA
With 150+ generational artisans, 100+ heritage textile arts, and a workforce of 33,000+, Aishwarya is rewriting fashion rules with JIWYA—a luxury brand that’s as planet-friendly as fabulous. From heading the technical team to designing and leading creative campaigns, she’s blending India’s rich textile legacy with sustainability to make eco-luxury the ultimate trend.

Shreya Ghodawat - Podcasting Host & Climate Advocate
Shreya Ghodawat is a sustainability rockstar with her podcast "Sustainable Tea," with 20,000+ subscribers and 11 million views. As a ‘SHE Changes Climate’ India Ambassador and co-founder of "Meat Less Meet More," she champions vegan living and climate solutions across 65+ countries. A TEDx Speaker and more—Shreya has been making sustainability seriously stylish and impactful!

Arushi Sana - Co-Founder of Santerra Industries
Arushi is redefining the game in agriculture! By converting 40,000+ kgs of agro-waste into bio-coal (coal alternative), she is helping reduce air pollution, generating a reliable fuel source for electricity, and helping increase farmers' incomes. She is also a voice of sustainability and entrepreneurship at several international forums. A winner of many awards, she also co-founded NYK Daily, a global news platform focusing on positive stories.

Chetna Gala Sinha - Founder of Mann Deshi
Chetna founded Mann Deshi Bank in 1997 to empower rural women with financial independence. Despite initial setbacks, she built a banking model offering micro-loans, daily repayment options, and doorstep services. Today, Mann Deshi supports 300,000+ women, fostering entrepreneurship and self-reliance across Maharashtra and Karnataka with an impressive 98% recovery rate.

Vani Murthy - Founder of SWMRTBengaluru
Vani is flipping the script on Bengaluru's waste problem. Since 2013, she has been leading efforts to de-centralize waste in a city of 15 million people, by championing her efforts of composting, waste segregation, and even empowering waste-pickers. Lovingly known as "Worm Rani" to her 2.3L Instagram followers, Vani proves that sustainability isn't just a lifestyle—it’s a movement.

Ramkripa Ananthan - Head of Design at Ola Electric
Ramkripa is a visionary designer who has left her mark on India's automotive landscape. From redefining SUVs like the XUV500 and Thar to pioneering futuristic designs at Ola Electric, she has been at the forefront of innovation. Her designs seamlessly blend functionality and aesthetics, setting new benchmarks for the auto industry.

Neha J. - Founder of Zerocircle
Neha J. is tackling one of the biggest environmental crises—plastic pollution. With Zerocircle, she’s working to replace 500M+ single-use plastic items with seaweed-based alternatives. Her mission is simple yet groundbreaking: to create packaging that is not only biodegradable but also beneficial for marine ecosystems.

Bhoomi Thakkar - Co-Founder at Himalayan Pine & Co.
Bhoomi is turning an environmental hazard into an opportunity. By transforming pine needles into sustainable products, she is not just preventing forest fires but also creating eco-friendly alternatives that promote conscious consumption. Her work is a testament to how innovative thinking can drive impactful change.

The Power of One. The Strength of Many.
As we celebrate these 12 extraordinary changemakers, one thing becomes clear: real change starts with a single idea, a single step, a single person willing to challenge the status quo. But the ripple effect of that courage? It transforms industries, communities, and generations to come.

Their journeys are proof that impact isn’t reserved for the privileged few—it’s created by those who dare to dream and persist against all odds. They remind us that innovation isn’t just about technology; it’s about heart. It’s about seeing problems as possibilities and setbacks as stepping stones.

So, let this be more than just a story you read. Let it be a call to action. A spark. A push to take that leap, champion that cause, and believe in the power of your own potential. Because the world doesn’t change on its own—it changes when people like you decide to make a difference.

The next changemaker? It could be you.

Now, go change the world.

Cheers, 
Kapil Bhatia,
Founder & CEO
UNIREC