For the second year running, we’re teaming up with Vital Voices Global Partnership to connect and empower a dynamic group of emerging women leaders driving societal change.
The Next Movers Program is all about accelerating impact and skill development through six months of peer connections, mentorship, grants, and tailored training. In the coming weeks, we’ll be interviewing the 2024 Next Movers so you can get to know what fuels their passion for change and how this program is helping them amplify and scale their impact.
Our next 2024 Next Mover, Vaidehi Vaidya, is the Founder & Managing Director of Women In Sport India. Vaidehi is transforming the sports industry by creating a platform that promotes equitable opportunities and representation for women.
We asked her five key questions about how she’s driving impact in her cause and community:
Tell us more about your nonprofit/social impact venture. How does it make an impact on your community?
Women in Sport India is dedicated to boosting the representation of women in sports, with a goal of achieving 50% by 2036. We’re committed to creating equitable opportunities for women in sports, as well as those aspiring to build careers in the industry. Our primary focus is on connecting women with sports-related job opportunities and providing access to mentoring and expert guidance, empowering them to grow and thrive in their sports careers.
On Bumble, women can get the conversation started by setting an Opening Move, or a question for someone to respond to. When educating people about your organization, what’s your Opening Move?
“If you could snap your fingers and make one game-changing move for women in sports in India, what would it be?” Or, “What’s the biggest challenge you think women face when trying to break into the sports industry?”
What challenges have you faced in your journey, and how have you overcome them?
The challenges I faced are exactly why I founded Women in Sport India. Entering the sports industry as a woman can feel daunting, especially in a space that’s predominantly male. I struggled to find mentors who could truly guide me, and I often didn’t know where to look for the right opportunities or connect with a strong network of women in the field. It took me over a decade to build that supportive network, find the right mentors, and establish connections with organizations offering opportunities. My goal is to make sure other women in sports don’t have to go through the same uphill battle.
What have you learned so far from the Next Movers program? How has the program influenced your journey as a leader?
The Next Movers program has been an incredible experience, offering practical solutions to real challenges that come up while building a social enterprise. The communication session with Aaron was a game-changer for me, helping me see how we could refine and improve our company’s messaging. One of the highlights was interacting with the Bumble team, hearing their stories, strategies, and the mistakes they made along the way—and how they overcame them. That was invaluable. I’m also really inspired by the work my fellow program peers are doing. It’s a powerful reminder that learning doesn’t just come from the program itself, but from the amazing people around you. I truly believe a leader should be like a sponge, absorbing everything around her, and I can honestly say this program has been a rich source of knowledge that will undoubtedly help me become a better leader.
What advice would you give to other women who want to make an impact in their communities?
My advice to other women looking to make an impact in their communities is simple: Be patient. Change doesn’t happen overnight. It takes time to see the growth and build momentum in the impact you’re making. There’s no shortcut for the time and effort you need to invest in your work. Secondly, be prepared to roll up your sleeves and get your hands dirty. You can’t achieve anything by staying on the sidelines. Real progress comes from diving in, working hard, and getting into the thick of it. You’ve got to be in the trenches to truly make a difference.