What does it take for a woman to step into leadership, earn trust, carry responsibility, and continue growing when the path ahead is unfamiliar?
That question came to life at “Beyond the Blueprint: Perspectives of Women in Leadership”, an in-person event hosted by IAICC in collaboration with CTIS on July 23, 2026. The evening brought together leaders, professionals, and community members for a candid discussion on purpose, resilience, trust, empathy, reinvention, and the realities women face in leadership.
A Leadership Journey That Was Never Planned
The program opened with introductions to IAICC and CTIS, setting the stage for an evening centered on relationships, collaboration, and shared learning.
The highlight of the evening was a fireside conversation led by Dr. Shankar Rachakonda, Executive Chairman, IAICC US & Mid-Atlantic Region, with Ms. Bharti Shah, CEO at CTIS Inc. Her story demonstrated that leadership is not always the result of a carefully designed career path. Sometimes, it begins when circumstances demand courage.
Ms. Bharti Shah reflected on her journey from India to the United States, motherhood, early childhood education, and the leadership of a health information technology company. She described learning the business by observing, asking questions, listening to experienced colleagues, and trusting the team around her.
When the responsibility of leadership eventually came to her, she did not claim to have every answer. She chose to ask questions, trust the people around her, and learn one day at a time.
Her experience showed that leadership can be built through humility, care, consistency, and the willingness to keep learning.
Women Leaders Are Rewriting Their Own Stories
A panel discussion followed the fireside chat. The panel discussion, moderated by Dr. Aparna Arvind, CEO at Christopher Leah Consulting, Inc., brought together Ms. Bharti Shah, CEO at CTIS Inc., Ms. Sudha Mathew, President at TalTeam, and Ms. Anisha Agarwal, Director at Aurrera Health Group.
Ms. Bharti Shah spoke about channeling personal pain into purpose, creating realistic expectations for her team, protecting employee wellbeing, and building future leaders through transparency, respect, and collaboration.
Ms. Sudha Mathew shared her transition from language studies and teaching into technology entrepreneurship. She described the risks of entering an unfamiliar industry, the effort required to earn credibility, and the importance of certifications, culture, consistency, and hiring the right people when building a company.
Ms. Anisha Agarwal offered the perspective of a younger leader in behavioral health and addiction policy. She spoke about trusting her expertise, leading people who may be older or more experienced, and creating accountability through curiosity, empathy, transparency, active listening, and psychological safety.
Dr. Aparna Arvind connected these experiences to the broader realities of women in leadership. She explored several themes relevant to women in leadership, including imposter syndrome, changing personal narratives, mental fitness, mentorship, burnout, emotional intelligence, and the need for leaders to remain adaptable.
The discussion made one point clear: there is no single blueprint for women to succeed in leadership. Leadership growth often begins when women stop limiting themselves to an older version of who they are.
What Women in Leadership Looked Like in the Room
Throughout the evening, empathy appeared repeatedly as a defining leadership quality. The audience questions brought greater depth to the evening.
They discussed bias, unequal expectations, the pressure to prove credibility, the value younger professionals bring, and the importance of mentors, coaches, families, male allies, boards, and teams.
The event closed with reflections, networking, and a shared commitment to continue amplifying women’s stories and building stronger relationships.
The evening served as another example of IAICC’s commitment to creating spaces where leaders can connect, learn, collaborate, and turn meaningful conversations into lasting relationships.
Join IAICC membership and become part of a community where women leaders, entrepreneurs, professionals, and changemakers connect, collaborate, and create lasting impact together.
Watch the Beyond the Blueprint event on YouTube for deeper insights into how women leaders navigate challenges, build credibility, and shape the next generation of leadership.