Over 160 members of the OMPEG networking group attended the organisation’s annual dinner on 3 December 2023 to hear two fireside chats including an in-depth discussion about equality, diversity and inclusion (ED&I) in the workplace with Diversity UK Chair, Lopa Patel MBE. The sell-out event marked the seventh year in operation for the group, set up exclusively to promote a spirit of entrepreneurship within the Maharashtrian community. Posing the questions to Lopa was Mayura Chandekar and the pair debated the progress made in the UK to promote equality; what positive steps businesses could take to close the gender pay gap and the inclusive hiring practices that have been shown to work.
They also discussed the glaring disparities in women’s health, the healthtech industry and funding for women-led startups that are operating in this sector. OMPEG hosts a number of pitching events to support start-up entrepreneurs, including in the healthtech sector.
Guests also heard a fireside chat with fintech entrepreneur, Asesh Jani, the co-founder and CEO of Ribbon Plc, a net zero digital financial services super app for the Indian diaspora in the UK, Gibraltar and India. Asesh described his business and entrepreneurial journey and spoke about the need to connect Indian diaspora communities across the globe.
About OMPEG
OMPEG (Overseas Maharashtrian Professionals and Entrepreneurs Group) is a UK based networking group set up exclusively to promote a spirit of entrepreneurship within the Maharashtrian community. Launched in April 2016 by successful community leaders and entrepreneurs, in just 5 years OMPEG has successfully connected hundreds of professionals and entrepreneurs and created many success stories of collaboration and new business launches.
https://www.ompeg.org.uk/