Leading with Compassion, Vision, and Impact - A Candid Conversation with Jyoti Agarwal

In a special interview with Corporate World, Entrepreneur and Social Reformer Jyoti Agarwal talks about the milestones in her career

The Chairperson of Balco Medical Centre; Founder, Jeewan Jyoti Women Empowerment Institute, and Managing Director of Universal Floritech; Jyoti Agarwal is a unique force—an entrepreneur, social reformer, and impact leader whose path cuts across business, healthcare, women's empowerment, education, and spiritual enrichment. With an abiding passion for creating inclusive communities and amplifying the voices of those underserved, she has been instrumental in crafting transformative institutions that elevate lives at scale. Her conviction of merging purpose and enterprise has led to pioneering work in cancer treatment, rural development, and cultural education.

In this special interview with Corporate World, she talks about the milestones in her career and her pledge to deliver sustainable, inclusive change.

Q. Give us an overview of your professional journey and the key milestones that shaped your career.

My career has been a combination of entrepreneurial spirit and social conscience. I've worked over the years to connect business and social contribution, convinced that success is best defined by the contribution we make to society.

I’ve had the privilege of contributing to the Sterlite Tech Foundation and the Agarwal Family Trust, leading impactful initiatives. As Chairperson of Balco Medical Centre (BMC), I’ve spearheaded a 170-bed tertiary oncology facility that has served over 53,000 patients since its inception in 2018. We’re proud to provide world-class cancer care at an affordable cost, especially for underserved populations.

I also established the Jeewan Jyoti Women Empowerment Institute to educate rural women in vocation skills, benefitting 100+ villages. As Managing Director, Universal Floritech, I've worked for more than two decades spreading indigenous floriculture technologies in India. And through Ved Pathashala, I promote education that combines ancient Vedic wisdom with contemporary learning.

These milestones align with an even greater mission: to promote equity, access, and dignity for everyone.

Q. You’ve been delivering sustainable solutions for over two decades. What inspired your journey as a social entrepreneur, and how has your vision evolved?

Ever since I was small, I had a deep-rooted love for nature. Gradually, I experience a sense of spirituality that revolved around ‘seva’ (selfless service) and viewed entrepreneurship as a powerful tool for creating holistic change.

My experience with Balco Medical Centre as a leader strengthened my focus on equitable healthcare. Today, over 80% of our patients are from below the poverty line. We offer them end-to-end cancer care, including surgery, chemotherapy, radiation, and even mobile outreach.

My other venture Jeewan Jyoti Institute was a result of the society’s glaring gender disparities. I started it with an aim to empower women economically and help provide them a voice in their families and communities.

Universal Floritech is yet another passion of mine that blends technology with floriculture to promote local livelihoods.

Over time, my vision has matured—from building business success to creating purpose-driven ecosystems that uplift people. I’ve learned that transformation must address both tangible needs (health, income) and intangible values (culture, equity). My other passion projects Ved Pathashala, which preserves India’s spiritual heritage, and Sterlite Tech Foundation, echo these sentiments and prove that success isn’t all about profit but also about uplifting communities.

Q3. At STL, how do you ensure women empowerment initiatives are truly impactful and scalable?

We focus on three key areas –  

1. Skill Development – Our Jeewan Jyoti Institute offers MSBVE-certified vocational training in nursing, IT, tailoring, and more. We partner with brands like Ikea and Fabindia to give women real market exposure.

   
   

2. Removing Barriers – We provide free transport, creche facilities, and a women-only campus for safety. We also include financial literacy, health education, and gender awareness as part of the curriculum.

   
   

3. Scalability & Outcomes – The initiative has expanded from 20 villages to over 118 across three talukas. Our alumni now work in government, private firms, or run small businesses, which has boosted family incomes and shifted social norms—like delaying marriage age and encouraging girls' education.

   
   

We align with national initiatives like Skill India and collaborate with Self-Help Groups to ensure long-term relevance and community ownership.

Q. What personal values or life experiences continue to guide your work in impact leadership?

My values such as compassion, innovation and excellence frame literally everything that I do. I was raised in a very compassionate environment that instilled the moral in me that leadership means being in service to people around you.

Determining the impact of a given action is the most powerful lesson I have learned so far, one that is so broad in nature. For example, it's impossible to alleviate poverty without considering education, and improving one's health cannot happen without addressing gender inequality. Spiritual warmth brings to mind another principle of leadership: it is not only about scope, but about the relationship’s richness. Every step that I take is motivated by empathy and the philosophy that “when you lift others, you rise too”.

Q. What do you think needs to change in organisations to support more women in leadership positions?

In order to encourage more women to take on leadership roles, organisations need to lay emphasis on the following three functions:

1. Cultivate Inclusive Ecosystems - Move beyond quotas to address root causes like unconscious bias and inflexible work structures. Introduce mentorship programs, sponsorship networks, and leadership pipelines tailored to women’s growth

   
   

2. Redefine Leadership Norms - Challenge the stereotype that leadership requires “traditional” (often male-centric) traits. Value empathy, collaboration, and adaptive resilience—qualities women usually bring. Promote role models who exemplify diverse leadership styles

   
   

3. Embed Equity in Policies - Implement structural enablers: pay parity audits, hybrid work models, and returnship programs for career-break transitions.

True change demands accountability at the top—tying executive incentives to gender parity metrics—and fostering cultures where women’s voices shape strategy. When organisations align purpose with gender equity, they don’t just support women leaders—they unlock transformative potential for all.

Q6. If you could give one message to young Indian women who aspire to lead change in their communities, what would it be?

Leadership isn’t about waiting for permission—it’s about stepping up, speaking out, and taking action. Change starts with courage, whether in small, everyday moments or bold, transformative movements. Never let doubt hold you back, and never feel that your ambitions are too big. Believe in the power of your voice and your unique ability to reimagine what’s possible.

Women must realise that their greatest strength lies in the experiences they have had and must use them to identify gaps which are often overlooked —whether in education, healthcare, or gender norms. Lead with empathy, but don’t shy away from challenging broken systems. True leadership isn’t about titles; it’s about turning ‘can’t’ into ‘how.’