Naari 2026: AIA and Indian Consulate Honor 48 Trailblazing Women Leaders in San Francisco

SAN FRANCISCO, CA: On March 8, 2026, the Association of Indo Americans (AIA), in strategic partnership with the Consulate General of India, San Francisco, hosted “Naari 2026.” Held at the Consulate, this flagship International Women’s Day celebration served as a prestigious platform to honor the leadership, perseverance, and community impact of 48 extraordinary women.

The event featured a high-profile assembly of community leaders, diplomats, and public officials, blending professional networking with cultural celebration and poignant storytelling.

Distinguished Speakers and Global Leadership
The program was headlined by an elite lineup of speakers who addressed themes of empowerment and cross-cultural collaboration:

Eleni Kounalakis: Lieutenant Governor of California

Dr. Srikar Reddy: Consul General of India, San Francisco

Shefali Razdan Duggal: Former U.S. Ambassador

Neeru Khosla: Co-Founder of the CK-12 Foundation

Catherine Stefani: California State Assemblymember

Penny Coulter: Chief of Protocol, San Francisco

Christine Pelosi: Renowned Political Strategist

Prathima Reddy: Spouse of the Consul General of India

Consul General Dr. Srikar Reddy expressed his pride in hosting the gathering, praising the AIA for its consistent efforts in fostering community engagement. Lieutenant Governor Eleni Kounalakis emphasized that events like “Naari” are vital for strengthening international trade and cultural ties by bridging diverse backgrounds.

Honoring Lifetime Achievements and Legacy
A major highlight of the afternoon was the presentation of Lifetime Achievement Awards to three women whose careers have shaped global education, diplomacy, and governance:

Eleni Kounalakis (Lt. Governor of California)

Shefali Razdan Duggal (Former U.S. Ambassador)

Neeru Khosla (Co-Founder, CK-12 Foundation)

Neeru Khosla was specifically lauded for her transformative work in democratizing education through accessible digital resources. Additionally, the Geetha Ramakrishnan Memorial Award was presented to CA. Srima Ranganathan (Former Chairperson, ICAI Dallas), honoring the legacy of excellence left by the late ICAI Chairperson.

The Trailblazer Awards: Recognizing 48 Icons
The event celebrated 48 women across sectors including technology, healthcare, public service, and entrepreneurship. Each awardee shared reflections on their personal journeys, offering the audience lessons in perseverance and leadership.

The Naari 2026 Honorees:
Prathima Reddy Koppula, Eleni Kounalakis, Shefali Razdan Duggal, Neeru Khosla, Catherine Stefani, Penny Coulter, Christine Pelosi, CA. Srima Ranganathan, Sonita Lontoh, Lily Mei, Sherry Hu, Anita Manwani, Noreen King, Hannah Kain, Mamta Bhandari, Dr. Nilima Ragavan, Beena Ammanath, Vasu Jakkal, Shalini Govil-Pai, Sundari Mitra, Sulata Mitra Sarkar, Sumita Jayaraman, Shabana Shiraz, Sema Sharma, Amrita Kar, Leela Mathur, Priya Kannan, Meena Sivaramakrishnan, Padma Parthasarathy, Shubha Prithviraj, Reema Mukherjee, Lizy John, Reni Poulose, Lekshmi Shaiju, Rinu Nair, Namrita Yuhanna, Shampy Prakash, Renu Bhatt, Sudha Prabhunandan, Sheetal Jharia, Gayatri Joshi, Archana Panda, Renuka Chavva, Radhika Sharma, Jyothi Chigullapalli, Minal Joshi, Meghna Patel, and Riya Patel.

Community Impact and Collaboration
The Association of Indo Americans (AIA), a coalition of over 50 non-profits, organized the event with the support of Silicon Valley leaders, including M.R. Rangaswami (Indiaspora) and Anita Manwani (TiE Silicon Valley).

The AIA team extended deep gratitude to Dr. Srikar Reddy, Prathima Reddy, and the Consulate staff for their hospitality. By amplifying the voices of these 48 leaders, Naari 2026 reaffirmed a collective commitment to gender equality and inspiring the next generation of women to break barriers in every field.

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