WOMEN IN LEADERSHIP: DRIVING CHANGE ACROSS SECTORS

For more than two decades, Sonali Bhagwati has been at the forefront of shaping modern Indian architecture. Bhagwati’s journey in architecture is all about blending vision with real-world impact. It all started at CEPT University in Ahmedabad, where she laid the foundation for her design thinking. A scholarship from L’Institut Français d’Architecture soon took her to Paris to work under Bernard Kohn – a formative experience that sharpened her global outlook and shaped the thoughtful, context-driven design philosophy she’s known for today. Today, at DPA, she leads design strategy and she walks the talk on inclusion – 60% of the team being women.But Bhagwati’s impact goes beyond buildings. She’s pushed for pedestrian-friendly planning and green corridors as a member of the Delhi Urban Arts Commission, led citizen reforestation efforts in Sirifort, and advised the Ministry of Environment on the Aravalis.At DPA

My role model as Women Icon is my mother who at the age of 90 started catering business in Delhi, now famously called Nani’s Nasta.