DR. LOPAMUDRA PRIYADARSHINI

"THE DAZZLING SAGA OF A WOMAN WHO DARED TO DREAM AND TRIUMPH AGAINST ALL ODDS"

"THE ABILITY OF A WOMAN TO KEEP HERSELF CALM AMIDST THE CIRCUMSTANTIAL CHALLENGES SHE ENCOUNTERS IN LIFE IS BEING A WOMAN OF SUBSTANCE."

To discover what it means to be a woman of substance, we must define it first "substantial or solid character or quality", and "someone who has a separate or independent existence." Being a woman of substance does not always signify or correlate with one's success, career growth, or achievements. But instead, it would mean being able to live her own life on her own terms and in the best of a happier and healthier state of mind. Being able to do what her heart desires. Being true to herself and being responsible enough for her own thoughts and actions.

This precisely summarises the life, thoughts & actions of Dr. Lopamudra Priyadarshini; an irony of being a woman of substance. The life journey of Dr. Lopamudra has been nothing less than inspiration. Not only has she carved her path but also has made a significant impact on the life of people right at the grassroots level. She has successfully made her way & left her mark in the field of CSR, Sustainability and has been a champion of Women Empowerment & Gender Equity. A celebration of an indomitable spirit, here is the remarkable story & achievement of Dr. Lopamudra Priyadarshini, the dazzling saga of a woman who dared to dream and triumph against all odds.

Dr. Lopamudra completed her Honorary Doctorate in Social Work from Commonwealth University in the year 2016 & her Master's in Human Resource Management from the University of Luton, United Kingdom in 2005.

Dr. Lopamudra holds a leadership position at the Aditya Birla Group. She presently holds a leadership role with Utkal Alumina International Limited. She is presently the General Manager - CSR, ESG, Sustainability, Community Relations, Corporate Affairs, External Stakeholder Management, R&R Land, and Communication with Hindalco Industries Limited, Rayagada, Odisha, Aditya Birla Group.

Dr. Lopamudra has been tirelessly fighting against all the challenges, difficulties, and adversities life has been throwing at her. Not only is she affected towards others' opinions of her and she is also non-judgmental about others because they think, do, or say something which you do not approve of. Her definition of an empowered woman is being empathetic toward others and carrying her life with grace, dignity & acceptance. In any given situation, being able to stand up for the right, even if it involves a disagreement with the people around whom you care. This does not need you to be in any formal or work environment to practise it. This needs to be your belief and your values, and you must live by this as an individual.

AT THE GRASSROOTS:

It is not often that someone who has lived and worked overseas gives up on her lifestyle and goes to dusty villages in the tribal belt of Odisha to try and foster change at the grassroots level. She actually lives with the people she cares for, hears them out, and is working towards building their life & livelihood. Right from the roots of the remotest village of Odisha in the tribal hinterlands of Koraput to travelling all the way overseas, Dr. Lopamudra's story of indomitable spirit, resilience & passion is nothing less than an inspiration. Her commitment to making a difference for underprivileged people is praiseworthy.By standing up strong for equality, Dr. Lopamudra has helped other women speak up and empowered them.

RESILIENCE:

Dr. Lopamudra has paved the way in encouraging and supporting girls and women to be financially independent & pursue their dreams. She has been tirelessly working towards becoming self-sufficient and led a path for local and global sustainable social and economic empowerment; philanthropist; and an award-winning international social activist for violence against women.

In the wake of tragedy, challenges, and uncertainty, Dr. Lopamudra rose from being deprived to a Woman of Substance with her iron-willed force and an unstoppable zeal to make things happen. Her journey from a hotel employee to the CSR head with the leading conglomerate, Dr. Lopamudra honed her skills, discovered the meaning of treachery, learned to survive, become a woman, and vowed to make her mark on the world.

Dr. Lopamudra has strongly re-enforced the purpose of aligning her personal goal with the company's long term goal. She further reinstates that at the individual level, any goal you set at work should ladder up to one of the company's stated higher-level goals and excel at work. It's difficult to accomplish anything significant if your personal goals aren't in sync with your company's strategy. Further, Dr. Lopamudra has realised the need of having a very strategic role to CSR & working towards a unidirectional approach. Beyond charity or philanthropy, the company's CSR approach must emphasise empowerment and sustainability.

Taking inspiration from the former President Shri A.P.J. Abdul Kalam's dream project of provide urban amenities in rural areas for which he had coined the acronym "PURA" - Providing Urban Amenities in Rural Areas (PURA): A vehicle for sustainable Development, Dr. Lopamudra has been relentlessly working towards making this a reality. She believes that the effective implementation of PURA programmes will reduce the further influx of population to urban slums. Youth both men, women and child education has been primal in the thoughts so India can be an educated nation and become a developed nation in the times to come rather being always considered as a developing nation.

Utkal Alumina International Limited (UAIL), a subsidiary of Hindalco Industries Limited of Aditya Birla Group has always been gender centric in promoting business women and women entrepreneurs in its peripheral villages inhabited by ultra-poor communities facing social and economic exclusion. The business models introduced by the most dynamic CSR Head Dr. Lopamudra Priyadarshini has been keeping pace with needs and aspirations of the communities around the company.

Lopamudra, a competent motivator herself, also heads the company's Community Relations & Sustainable wing thus being sensitive to the felt needs of the communities and looking into the sustainability, scalability and replicability of the entrepreneurial initiatives. Dr. Lopamudra has been able to facilitate a process through with a gender equilibrium reigns in the area amidst a man's world. One such unique and innovative project of UAIL called "UDYAMEE", has been recently awarded along with its five promoted women entrepreneurs during 2nd National Conclave on Financing Women Entrepreneurs organised by Odisha Corporate Foundation(OCF) at Bhubaneswar. To promote 300 youth entrepreneurs from Kashipur Block of Rayagada and Thuamul Rampur Block of Kalahandi in non-farm and agri-allied sector Utkal Alumina has partnered with EDII (Entrepreneurship Development Institute of India) and launched project UDYAMEE at Tikiri, Kashipur, Rayagada.

The award was conferred for the unique corporate project which is focused to promote women entrepreneurship. The deliberation by Lopamudra on project objective, approach and model in pursuance of creating an entrepreneurial doctrine in this region was highly appreciated by the forum. These enterprises were being promoted under project UDYAMEE and are provided with a package of business development services which includes business plan preparation, technical hand holding, financial and market linkages.

CSR should not be interpreted as a source of financing/ funding the resource gap. Dr. Lopamudra strongly advocates the need for collaboration between corporates and Government to address the challenge of creating health infrastructure, livelihood opportunities and integrating all rural CSR schemes in participatory mode and to work together in a way that optimises resources and improves the community in question. This will have a multiplier effect in the minds & hearts of the people.

At her personal level, Dr. Lopamudra is inspired by the UN Sustainable Development Goals and her focus is to work on the grassroots level and bring actual change. She has been the ambassador of SDG Choupal for Odisha and is committed to supporting the national and state governments, and institutions' vision for SDG implementation in India. Her efforts have been clearly towards supporting gender equality and empowering women with a holistic approach by creating an opportunity and making them self dependent through small entrepreneurial and lifestyle interventions.

Her core values have been her guiding principles and she is driven by her philosophy of equality, diversity, empathy, respect and integrity. Her deep domain knowledge and experience are in the implementation of CSR and ESG programs that are growth oriented and value centred in the financial inclusion development, skill and education, and livelihood sectors right at the grassroot level across healthcare, women empowerment, skills and vocational training, and financial and digital literacy.

"I feel greatly humbled to be recognized as one of the most loved 8 recognized individuals in and around my support systems. With power enough to shatter the shackles of patriarchy, women are rising above societal hurdles every single day, making them a stronger force to reckon with, in modern times."
- Dr. Lopamudra Priyadarshini

AWARDS & RECOGNITION

Dr. Lopamudra has been honoured with many prestigious awards at the National and the International level:
ESG Thought Leader of the year, honoured at the 2nd annual ESG Summit and Awards by Transformance Forums.
CSR Leadership Award, presented during the 6th edition of the Corporate Social Responsibility Summit & Awards organised by UBS Forums
Iconic Women CSR leadership Award, conferred by Golden AIM Awards & Dynergic Business Solutions
Best CSR Head of the Year - 2022 by Indian CSR Awards 2022, by Brand Honchos.
Woman Changemaker of the year 2022, by 3rd International Inspirational Women Award
IWEC Inspiration Award 2022, Honoured by ICC Women Entrepreneurship Committee, Odisha.
2022 Most Inspiring Women Leader Contributing to CSR for Community Development" by Right Choice Awards 2021 - 22

My experiences and interactions have shaped me into who I am today. You have to learn to get back up, trust your instincts, and push forward. There is no reason why women need to stay somewhere where there isn't encouragement to seek and achieve leadership goals."