Bhopal, Dec 22 : The lady Director of a Madhya Pradesh-based private steel company has become the youngest person to be conferred the 'Outstanding Entrepreneurship Award-2009' at the Asia Pacific Entrepreneurship Awards (APEA).
''With this Award, I hope that I am able to change the notion of the steel industry being quintessentially 'male-dominated' and redefine the role of women entrepreneurs in it,'' commented Rathi Iron and Steel Industries Ltd (RISIL) Director Akansha Rathi who received the honour from APEA President William Ng at Mumbai on December 16.
''(ArcelorMittal Chairman and Chief Executive Officer) Lakshmi Niwas Mittal is my role model -- as he has made a name for himself globally -- though I have not met him yet,'' she told UNI.
Pointing out that there are not too many women in the steel sector, Ms Rathi added that she wanted to tell women entrepreneurs that nothing really is impossible if one has determination.
The jury panel comprised former chief justice of India Ramesh Chandra Lahoti, MP Abhishek Manu Singhvi and Dr Bibek Debroy of the Centre for Policy Research. Ms Rathi won the Award for outstanding performance and leadership in business and for having redefined the role of women in the domestic steel industry.