Gender should be a differentiator, not a handicap in manufacturing

Kanchan Pant is an inspiring business leader who has successfully navigated both manufacturing and technology. As Proprietor & CEO of Sharada Industries, she has played a key role in expanding the company's sheet metal and assembly manufacturing operations across Pune, Jamshedpur, and Lucknow, serving both auto and non-auto OEMs. Under her leadership, Sharada Industries has grown into a trusted name in the ecosystem, while she also contributes to AlgoAnalytics as Director, bringing her manufacturing insights into the technology domain. In her interview with Neelam Pandey Pathak, Kanchan highlighted how women in MSMEs still face barriers due to a lack of infrastructure and workplace sensitisation, yet sees platforms like WIMA as critical to building support networks, skilling opportunities, and inspiring more women to lead in manufacturing.

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Neelam: What motivated you to lead businesses in both manufacturing (Sharada Industries) and technology (AlgoAnalytics)?

Kanchan: I entered the manufacturing sector in 2003 when I chose to return to India to work alongside my father. The reason I wanted to try my hand at the business was that it was something built from the ground up by my father, and I felt that it had potential.

AlgoAnalytics was founded by my husband, Dr. Aniruddha Pant, where I am a Director and Advisor for the manufacturing domain.

Neelam: Can you tell us about Sharada Industries' journey and its role in the manufacturing ecosystem?

Kanchan: The founder of Sharada Industries, Mr. Modak, worked for Philips in his early years. In 1972, he ventured into his own business - Weldo Works, which manufactured school furniture. What started as a small manufacturing business soon grew into a trusted supplier, providing various automobile parts to Tata Motors, the company's first major client. The company evolved into Tata Motors, and the automotive industry evolved alongside it.

Today, Sharada Industries specialises in sheet metal parts and the traditional manufacturing of assemblies. The company has production facilities in three geographical locations - Pune, Jamshedpur, and Lucknow- and supplies to both non-auto and automotive OEMs.