Empowering Voices at IMA: Celebrating International Women’s Day
Across the globe, women are rewriting the script, breaking barriers, and making their presence felt across industries, especially those considered predominantly male-dominated. International Women’s Day serves as a poignant reminder of the progress women strive to continuously make and the challenges that still lie ahead.
Over the years, extraordinary women have made an impact at IMA, not only excelling in their careers but also adding the esteemed CMA title to their names. International Women’s Day holds particular significance for IMA, as we honor the incredible achievements of women who have shattered glass ceilings and left an indelible mark on the accounting and finance profession. These women embody the essence of inclusion, inspiring others to reach for the stars and break barriers in their own right.
IMA is proud to showcase these remarkable trailblazers – women who have risen to the top through hard work and perseverance. Their stories are examples of inspiration, illuminating the path for others to pursue excellence in accounting and finance and beyond.
Madhavi Lokhande, Ph.D., CMA
An academic by profession, Madhavi Lokhande is the director and dean of the Welingkar Institute of Management (We School) in Bangalore, India. Her association with IMA began when she volunteered at the Bangalore Chapter. Soon enough, her commitment to go above and beyond the routine expectations of her job led her to take on the role of president of IMA’s Bangalore Chapter.
Madhavi staunchly believes in taking the initiative to inspire others to work collaboratively and creatively. It was one of the reasons why she chose to join the Bangalore Chapter despite her busy schedule. In an article written by Madhavi titled, “IMA Life: Empowering the Next Generation,” she said, “Most of my experience at IMA has been driven by my belief in individual social responsibility, and I firmly advocate for the cause of diversity, equity, and inclusion every chance I get. I’m glad that IMA shares this commitment.”
Madhavi also volunteered as a mentor for women microentrepreneurs as an educator for activities of the National Entrepreneurship Network. Additionally, she runs Padhaai, a not-for-profit and voluntary organization that promotes inclusive education. Moreover, Madhavi was also recognized with the R. Lee Brummet Exemplary Educator Award in 2023.
Madhavi’s journey is that of dedication, passion, and an unwavering commitment to making a difference. Her story is an inspiration for us all, reminding us of the transformative impact that one individual can have on their community and industry.
Roopa Venkatesh, Ph.D., CMA
As an educator at the University of Nebraska at Omaha, Roopa Venkatesh took on the task of researching and bringing updated information to her classrooms. In her pursuit to better understand IMA resources and how they can help her students, Roopa became a volunteer with IMA, which changed her path completely.
Roopa proactively decided to revive IMA’s Platte Valley Chapter in Nebraska in 2013 with a fellow volunteer. What started as a local initiative soon propelled Roopa on a global journey of discovery, both in management accounting and within herself.
She undertook the role of the founding board member of IMA’s Platte Valley Chapter and is now also a member of the IMA Global Board of Directors. Additionally, she became a member of the Diversity and Inclusion (D&I) Committee and chair of the Committee on Academic Relations.
In an article titled “IMA Volunteerism: The Best Way to Learn” Roopa writes, “I’ve had to push myself beyond my familiar environment with colleagues in my university and local professional community to one where I need to interact and work with new people from different parts of the world. The diversity of thought of these global leaders and their unique contributions to IMA and the management accounting profession have influenced my leadership style.”
Through her journey as an IMA volunteer leader, Roopa has cultivated resilience, courage, and a profound appreciation for inclusivity. She has spearheaded fundraising efforts, pioneered women’s leadership events, and facilitated numerous educational initiatives. Her dedication has strengthened ties within the IMA community and bridged connections between local and global networks.
Shweta Kshirsagar, CMA, International Roller Hockey Player– Asian Gold Medalist
When perseverance and grit fuel passion, nothing is beyond reach. A perfect example of this is Shweta Kshirsagar. Shweta has two passions– roller hockey (rink hockey) and commerce. While Shweta practiced and excelled at roller skating, she sought something that would give her a competitive edge over other students in commerce.
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She came across the CMA certification while pursuing her degree at Osmania University in India. Soon, Shweta discovered the potential of the CMA certification to elevate her career prospects. As a professional player representing Telangana, India, on the international stage, her real challenge was balancing the rigorous demands of the CMA certification with the extensive travel and practice schedules of roller skating.
Shweta, however, wasn’t one to easily give up. She dedicated herself to her passion, putting in equal time and effort to excel in both. In her testimony, Shweta says, “We have practice in the early mornings, so my routine was to make time after practice. What I mostly did was take mock exams and keep challenging myself to perform better and better on them.” Her perseverance paid off when she passed both parts of the CMA exam and earned her certification.
Equipped with her CMA certification, Shweta is now the Senior Associate at Knowcraft Analytics. Drawing parallels between her athletic endeavors and professional aspirations, Shweta recognizes the valuable lessons in teamwork, discipline, and resilience gleaned from her years on the hockey rink.
Kavya V Ramesh, CMA
Kavya V Ramesh’s journey in accounting and finance began with childhood simulations instilled by her father, fostering a passion for problem-solving. With an ingrained passion for finance, Kavya explored the possibilities of a CMA certification, which is when she was introduced to IMA and IMA’s Student Leadership Conference.
Kavya became the only Indian student to attend the Student Leadership Conference in Houston, Texas, where she networked with worldwide peers, attended sessions on forensic accounting, ethics, and other topics, and enriched her trust in IMA’s core values. With her newfound knowledge and experience, she undertook leadership roles at her university.
Kavya was awarded the “Best Outgoing Student” award when she graduated for excelling in both academics and extracurricular activities. Her next step was to pursue the CMA certification, which she passed with flying colors.
Describing her journey in an article titled “IMA Life: Earn What You Deserve,” Kavya says, “I read about IMA’s Young Professional Leadership Experience and was impressed by the magnitude of the experience IMA was offering to its younger members. Being passionate about growing through empowering others, I put my heart into my application and was ecstatic when I was selected as one of the five young professionals to participate in the IMA Global Board and other meetings in Amsterdam.”
Kavya is currently the Co-founder & COO of Solution Theory, a B2B SaaS startup reinventing and revolutionizing the corporate travel and hotel industries.
IMA salutes the strengths and determination of these women and their valuable contributions to the world of accounting and finance. They are the true essence of empowerment and the limitless possibilities that lie within reach for those who dare to dream and strive for greatness.
Roopa Venkatesh, Ph.D., CMA
Co founder - Simandhar Edu | Building Global talent|Awarded 40 Under 40 Top accounting professionals in the US |Author | Speaker|
8 个月So proud to see my alumni Shweta Kshirsagar in this ???? Sunil Deshmukh , FENIL VADAKKEN , Simandhar Education , Pothani Manoj