NITA M AMBANI: In A League Of Her Own

A renaissance imagined. A vision achieved. Mrs Nita M Ambani, Her Circle’s founder and Reliance Foundation’s Chairperson, is a business luminary, a philanthropist and a trailblazer in the art, heritage and sports spectrum with her transformative leadership emblazoned on the cultural landscape of India. Her Circle, on the precipice of its 3rd anniversary with a 590 million plus reach and 4.50 lakh registered women users on the app, is a shining beacon of Mrs Nita Ambani galvanising a movement built to bridge the digital gender divide. To mark the third anniversary of Her Circle, she announces a special initiative that encompasses her passion for sports and gender inclusion, a step forward and a giant leap ahead for women athletes. In a special interaction with Her Circle’s editor-in-chief, Tanya Chaitanya, she gives an insight into the grassroots programs to the major championships she supports along with her vision for an equal playground for all.

TANYA: It is both a surreal and gratifying moment for me, to talk to you on Her Circle’s third anniversary celebration. An idea that we believed in to a movement that is now India’s largest content and networking platform for women. Her Circle has been a revelation for me. What are your thoughts on this momentous occasion?

NMA: It is so heart-warming to see what started as a dream grow into a reality, and become a movement today! Three years ago, we had started with a belief, and today, Her Circle is a thriving digital community of women learning, collaborating, and growing together.

I welcome each and every woman on our platform to an experience that gives them a safe space to interact, share experiences and build together. I hope this inclusive community built on trust and togetherness only continues to grow stronger over the years.

TANYA: On our first anniversary, we launched the Hindi version of Her Circle as an expansion in the regional space and in our endeavour to reach out to those beyond the English-speaking audiences. On our 2nd anniversary, we launched the Her Circle EveryBODY Project, a body-positive initiative to include all—beyond, shape, size and colour. Taking that legacy forward, on the 3rd anniversary of Her Circle, you have a major announcement to make. Do tell the world what you have in mind as the next step for the movement.

NMA: In about a decade, India will have the largest number of women in the world. Empowering them is no longer just a responsibility, it is a necessity for our country to prosper.

I firmly believe that what women cannot do, cannot be done.

Her Circle has been envisioned as a platform that addresses women’s concerns and encourages their ambitions, be they in the boardroom or the playground. This time we are focussing on supporting, cheering and championing women athletes.

The story of women in sports is a story of sheer triumph! It’s a wonderful time for women in sport, especially in India. Our women have made India proud in multiple sports at the highest levels.

When we support and celebrate women in sports, we're not just promoting equality on the field; we're also sending out a strong message to the little girls who are watching - a message that they are unstoppable and that nothing is impossible!

The WinnHER Circle Project fosters a culture that empowers women in sports, spotlights the effort of women athletes and tells their stories of excellence.

The intent is to encourage women and girls to believe that the opportunities in the space of sports are unlimited and at par for all genders.

TANYA: It has the makings of a massive initiative. And it also reflects your passion for sports. Were you always a sports enthusiast?

NMA: When I was growing up, my two biggest loves were dancing and swimming.

I was passionate about both and my dream was to be the best in both these fields. But coming from a middle class family. I remember one day my mother told me that we couldn’t afford to pursue both dancing and swimming.

I had to make a choice. I chose dancing and trained in Bharatnatayam. But my love for swimming stayed with me and I continue to enjoy it.

However, my journey with sports began with Mumbai Indians at the age of 44, when most sportspersons retire!

When I took charge of the team in 2009, I didn’t know anything about cricket. From that point to seeing MI become the growing global franchise that it is today, it has been quite a journey!

We’ve been champions over and over again and then last year we proceeded to participate in the first-ever Women’s Premier League and our Mumbai Indians women’s team lifted the trophy.

Cricket was just the beginning! In 2014, Reliance Foundation started our football league, the Hero ISL which recently completed its tenth season.

Our vision is to make India a multi-sporting nation.

In October 2019, we welcomed the National Basketball Association (NBA) to India - played between Indiana Pacers (IP) and Sacramento Kings (SK) in Mumbai - for the first time in the country.

Presenting the ceremonial 'Match Ball' to NBA officials, along with the NBA commissioner Adam Silver in a stadium full of enthusiastic fans was a beautiful feeling!

Today, classrooms and stadiums are two of my favourite places 😊

TANYA: You were honoured with the 'Rashtriya Khel Protsahan Award' in 2017 and your commitment to making sports accessible to all is something we have all witnessed. Please shed some light on the Reliance Foundation Youth Sports.

NMA: Through Reliance Foundation Youth Sports (RFYS) program, we focus on development of sports in schools and colleges through inter-institutional competitions.

We hope to provide our children and youth with platforms to increase participation and also help with scouting and nurturing talent.

This also supports institutions with sporting infrastructure, equipment and training of coaches, having worked with over 10,000 schools and colleges across India.

We also launched the Reliance Foundation Young Champs programme in 2015, with the objective of being India’s best residential football academy.

In 2019, RFYC became the only Indian academy to achieve five-star status by the All India Football Federation (AIFF), and in 2020, it was conferred a 2-star (out of 3) status by Asian football Confederation (AFC).

Apart from providing a world class platform for training, the Young Champs program puts strong emphasis on education and holistic development of the young players.

Presently, 88 children are part of the program and our 27 graduates have earned professional contracts across the previous three seasons of ISL

TANYA: Your support to sports in the nation has been legendary. In 2016, you became a member of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) becoming the first Indian woman to be a part of the non-governmental sports organisation. Then in October 2023, you hosted the 141st session of the International Olympic Committee after a gap of 40 years in India. A landmark moment and it was your dream!

NMA: Sport has always been a beacon of hope and inspiration for millions around the world.

It is the ultimate unifier and energizer. It instils discipline, forges friendships, builds character, teaches hard work, and develops the ability to take wins and losses in our stride.

Sport unites us, and binds us together in the most beautiful ways.

As one of the youngest and most diverse nations of the world, it is our shared dream for every child in India to have the Right to Sport along with the Right to Education.

Through Reliance Foundation’s Education and Sports for All initiative, we have so far touched the lives of over 22 million children.

At the historic 141st IOC Session in Mumbai, our Honourable Prime Minister Shri Narendrabhai Modiji, formally declared India’s intention to host the 2030 Youth Olympic Games and the 2036 Summer Olympic Games in our country!

As an IOC member and as a proud Indian, it is my dream to bring the Olympics to India, and see our athletes win medals for the country!

And I remain committed to making this dream a reality for 1.4 billion Indians!

TANYA: Beyond sports, the Reliance Foundation has invested in many causes. We would love to know more from you on the on-going initiatives.

NMA: The Reliance Foundation works in the areas of education, child welfare, women empowerment, and gender equality.

We’re present in all states of India and have helped 70 million people, focusing extensively on providing better health care to women, improving digital literacy, and educating them with skills to improve employability.

Working with women and children has always been close to my heart. I always say the most rewarding part of working with and for women, is the ripple effect that it creates.

Every time we empower a woman, we empower her children, her family, her community! And that is why, women and children (especially the girl child) are at the heart of everything we do at Reliance Foundation.

We work especially with women from marginalised communities in rural and urban locations, to help them become more independent, build new skills, gain access to new opportunities, and shape their destiny.

Across education, sport, healthcare, rural transformation, skill development, art and heritage –we work with young girls and women to support them in whichever way we can.

With the power of Jio and now through Her Circle as well, we have a much wider reach and amplification amongst women from different backgrounds and geographies.

TANYA: Thank you for all that you do and the zest and passion with which you do it.

NMA: Thank you so much, Tanya. Here’s looking forward to our impact on an even larger global scale building a space where women can feel at home in the safety of Her Circle.