The hallway of international flags at the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center was impressive, sure—but today, they were just background noise. The real power in the room? 

A lineup of Indian-American women who had built empires, smashed barriers, and redefined what leadership looks like. 

This wasn’t some polite panel on “women’s empowerment” where everyone nods along and claps at the right moments. No, this was a front-row seat to the raw, unfiltered realities of success—where culture, ambition, and sheer force of will collide.

These women weren’t waiting for permission. They weren’t here to make their success digestible. They were here to talk about what it really takes to win—and if you think it’s all grit and grind, think again. Because when you break through glass ceilings, you don’t just step through. 

Buckle up. This is the conversation you need to hear.

Keerthi Swamy, CEO of a scrap metal empire (yes, empire), leaned back in her chair and said it best: “You know how many times I’ve been the only woman in a room full of men who think I don’t belong? Good. I stopped counting.”

She wasn’t alone. Pallavi Saboo, the executive powerhouse behind Harmonia Holdings, had a similar story—except her approach wasn’t just about proving herself. It was about winning so definitively that doubters became irrelevant.

And here’s the kicker: Indian-American women are the only female demographic in the U.S. who out-earn white men, bringing in $1.07 for every dollar they make. Read that again. The so-called “pay gap” isn’t a gap for these women—it’s a reversal. So, if anyone’s waiting for a seat at the table, they might want to check who already owns it. 

Of course, success doesn’t come without sacrifice. When the topic of work-life balance came up, the panel gave a collective smirk. Balance? That’s a buzzword designed to make women feel guilty no matter what they choose.

Nandini Selvam, President of IQVIA Government Solutions, didn’t sugarcoat it: “You can have it all. Just not at the same time.” She spoke about setting hard boundaries, turning off her phone at a certain hour, and not glorifying overwork. Others, like Keerthi, had a different take—success meant long hours, sacrifice, and an unapologetic drive that didn’t leave room for hesitation.

Then, there was the parenting debate. Some refused to let their children feel the pressure of outdoing them, while one panelist sent daily 9 PM texts with life lessons, because, as she put it, “If I don’t teach them, who will?” The consensus? There is no one way to do this. Success isn’t a formula—it’s a choice.

And just when you thought the conversation was all business, it took a delicious turn. The panelists were asked how they treat themselves now that they’ve made it. The answers? Not a single apology in sight.

Massages. Facials. A closet that rivals the most stylish Bollywood socialites. One panelist casually mentioned her love for fast cars. Yet another, Travel. The kind where first class isn’t optional. Because after years of proving themselves, they weren’t about to shrink their success for the comfort of others.

And that, right there, was the real takeaway.

This panel was about power—real, earned, and unshakeable. It was about women who took the expectations placed on them and bulldozed right through them. It was about rewriting the rules entirely.

So, the next time someone talks about South Asian American women in business, don’t frame it as a struggle story. Frame it as a takeover. Because if there’s one thing this panel made clear, it’s that they’re not asking for space anymore.

They own it.

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