Meet the Women of Twenty5

We are proud to celebrate the Women of Twenty5 this International Women’s Day and Women’s History Month. The following women are incredible leaders, innovators, and change makers who help drive our success every day.

Meet and get to know the wonderful women of the Twenty5 Team and learn more about what inspired them to pursue their careers, significant personal achievements, women who’ve inspired them, and more!

Varsha Afzalpurkar

Microsoft CRM Developer, Twenty5

What inspired you to pursue the career you have today and why?

I was drawn to my career because I enjoy optimizing processes and helping businesses work smarter. Seeing how CRM systems like Dynamics 365 transform customer interactions and operational efficiency inspired me to dive deeper into this field. I love the challenge of creating solutions that drive real business value.

What is one significant achievement in your career that you're most proud of?

One of my achievements as a Microsoft Dynamics 365 Developer was successfully leading a system migration and customization project. I optimized performance, streamlined processes, and enhanced user experience while integrating Dynamics 365 with other systems and automating deployments. This experience strengthened my ability to deliver impactful solutions.

Who is a woman—past or present—who has inspired you, and why?

My mom has been my biggest inspiration. As a working woman, she taught me how to face challenges with resilience and grace. Her strength and wisdom continue to guide me in both my personal and professional life.

What is a piece of advice you would give your younger self?

I would tell my younger self to embrace patience and trust the process. Every challenge is an opportunity to learn and grow. Stay confident in your abilities, and don’t be afraid to take risks or step outside your comfort zone.

Sugandhi Kumari

Frontend Developer, Twenty5

What inspired you to pursue the career you have today and why?

I pursued a career as a frontend developer due to my passion for creating intuitive, visually engaging user interfaces. This role allows me to blend creativity with technical problem-solving while continuously learning and adapting to new technologies. I find great fulfillment in building seamless digital experiences that enhance user interaction and accessibility.

What is one significant achievement in your career that you're most proud of?

One significant achievement in my career as a Frontend Developer is successfully integrating a complex API to improve user experience and data synchronization. Overcoming challenges like authentication and performance optimization, I enhanced the application’s functionality and responsiveness, ensuring a seamless user experience.

Who is a woman—past or present—who has inspired you, and why?

My mother and sister have been my greatest inspirations in shaping my career. Their unwavering support, guidance, and encouragement instilled in me a strong sense of determination and a passion for problem-solving. They always emphasized the importance of continuous learning, resilience, and striving for excellence. Their influence motivated me to pursue a career that aligns with my strengths and aspirations, enabling me to grow both personally and professionally.

What is a piece of advice you would give your younger self?

I would tell my younger self to embrace new technology, never give up on challenges—whether in career or personal life—and always keep learning. Every obstacle is an opportunity to grow, and staying adaptable will open doors to success.

Jenny Minney

Marketing Manager, Twenty5

What inspired you to pursue the career you have today and why?

I was inspired to pursue a career in Marketing and Design because it perfectly combines my two passions of creativity and problem-solving. Growing up, I constantly had a creative outlet, whether it was ballet dancing, painting, ceramics, sketching, architectural drawings, graphic design, social media, video editing, collaging, I’ve always found self-expression through my creativity. When it came time to enter the workplace, I knew I didn’t want to let go of that creativity, so pursuing Marketing and Design has allowed me to remain creative, help build other people and businesses build value and grow and ultimately help myself grow in the process.

What is one significant achievement in your career that you're most proud of?

One achievement I am proud of is graduating university, moving to a new big city, starting a new job in marketing and design, building community, and navigating life transitions in recent years. There is always fear of the unknown at any stage of life when you are embarking on a new path or moving to a new place, but I’ve learned from this experience that fear isn’t something to run away from, it’s something to lean into and trust and soon what was fearful before, isn’t so fearful after all.

Who is a woman—past or present—who has inspired you, and why?

My grandma, Penny Minney, has and always will be a huge inspiration for me. She passed in 2023, but I know she still lives in through me and all my family every single day. Her approach to life was so beautiful and full of curiosity, kindness, generosity, creativity, and love, and I try to live my life with the same values every day. I remember we used to work on creating books together, she would write the chapters full of characters who went on adventures, faced challenges, and then overcame them. She would leave space on the pages for me to illustrate and draw pictures bringing her words to life. Those memories with my grandma are so special to me and will stay with me forever as a reminder to stay creative and fill in my life with color and illustration whenever I get the chance.

What is a piece of advice you would give your younger self?

I would tell my younger self that discomfort is a sign of growth.

Jenny Norton

Financial Controller, Twenty5

What inspired you to pursue the career you have today and why?

I was always good with numbers, and realized early on that a career in accounting would integrate my desire for financial security with my passions for teaching and being essential to a successful team.

What is one significant achievement in your career that you're most proud of?

Passing the CPA exam was a huge accomplishment, as was publishing my first CPE course. It illustrates my commitments to continuous learning, expertise, and to paying it forward by educating and guiding others.

Who is a woman—past or present—who has inspired you, and why?

Martha Stewart has recently become an inspiration for me as a trailblazer who successfully integrated her personal passions with business pursuits and reached the highest levels of success in business by becoming CEO of her own internally developed, global brand. Growing up, I was inspired by both my mom (a teacher) and my stepmom (a business executive) for their work ethic and ability to be equally dedicated to their leadership roles at home and at work.

What is a piece of advice you would give your younger self?

Eat more vegetables!

Henshika Bishnoi

Frontend Developer, Twenty5

What inspired you to pursue the career you have today and why?

I've always been drawn to technology and how things work behind the scenes. The idea of building something that people can interact with and enjoy is what pushed me toward this path.

What is one significant achievement in your career that you're most proud of?

One achievement I'm proud of is quickly adapting to new challenges in frontend development and contributing to creating smooth, user-friendly interfaces.

Who is a woman—past or present—who has inspired you, and why?

I find inspiration in sci-fi stories written by women. Their ability to create new worlds, challenge norms, and explore futuristic ideas has shaped the way I think about creativity and problem-solving.

What is a piece of advice you would give your younger self?

You did good. Right or wrong, you made the best choices you could with what you knew at the time.

Zohra Mevawala

Implementation Consultant, Twenty5

What inspired you to pursue the career you have today and why?

What inspired me to pursue a career as a consultant, after working in a support role, was my desire to take on more responsibility and directly contribute to solving complex business problems. In my support role, I gained valuable experience in understanding client needs, troubleshooting issues, and ensuring smooth operations. This hands-on experience sparked my interest in consulting, as I realized I wanted to be more involved in strategic decision-making and offering tailored solutions to drive business success. I was inspired by the idea of transitioning from a reactive role to a more proactive one, where I could have a direct impact on shaping solutions and guiding organizations toward their goals. This career shift allows me to leverage my problem-solving skills and provide value in a more dynamic, impactful way.

What is one significant achievement in your career that you're most proud of?

One significant achievement I’m most proud of is a series of small wins that have collectively shaped my career. In my previous role, I led a project on implementing a chatbot, which improved customer interaction and streamlined support processes. I was also honored to receive an award from the government on behalf of the company, recognizing our efforts in innovation. Additionally, I’ve had the opportunity to explore various roles in T5, each offering new challenges and learning experiences that have contributed to my growth. These experiences have not only helped me build a diverse skill set but also fueled my passion for continuous improvement and taking on new opportunities.

Who is a woman—past or present—who has inspired you, and why?

A woman who has truly inspired me is my mother. She has always been a pillar of strength, resilience, and kindness. Growing up, I watched her balance work, family, and personal challenges with grace, never letting anything stand in the way of her goals. Her unwavering determination and ability to remain positive even in difficult times taught me the importance of perseverance and compassion. She showed me that success isn’t just about achievements but about the way you uplift others and handle life's challenges. Her influence has shaped who I am today, and I continue to draw strength from her example.

What is a piece of advice you would give your younger self?

If I could give my younger self one piece of advice, it would be to trust the journey and embrace uncertainty. I spent too much time worrying about the future, thinking I needed everything figured out. But growth comes from stepping out of your comfort zone and being open to new experiences. I’d also remind myself to be kinder and more compassionate toward myself. I was often my harshest critic, setting unrealistic expectations. Self-compassion is just as important as ambition, and it’s okay to take a break when needed.

I'll tell me younger self to enjoy each stage of life and live it fully. I’d remind myself to embrace every moment, even the tough ones, because in the end, everything will work out as it’s meant to. And if it doesn’t, well, it’s not the end—it's just part of the journey. Life is full of surprises, and sometimes the unexpected turns lead to the best outcomes.

Swati J

Frontend Developer, Twenty5

What inspired you to pursue the career you have today and why?

A passion for building intuitive, high-performing user interfaces that drive client engagement and business efficiency inspired me to pursue front-end development. Bringing designs to life keeps me motivated.

What is one significant achievement in your career that you're most proud of?

Successfully optimized system performance by resolving complex issues, implementing key enhancements, and collaborating with stakeholders to improve overall project efficiency.

Who is a woman—past or present—who has inspired you, and why?

My aunt, an architect, inspires me with her creativity, precision, and passion, balancing her career despite challenges. Similarly, my mother’s resilience and dedication have shaped my work ethic, teaching me perseverance and adaptability. Their insights and wisdom continue to motivate me, making it difficult to choose just one source of inspiration.

What is a piece of advice you would give your younger self?

Keep experimenting, stay updated, and trust the process, growth comes through continuous learning, real-world experience, and user-focused innovation.