A Desi Woman Podcast hosted by Soniya Gokhale features dynamic, bold thought leaders from all over the world who are on an endless pursuit of self-empowerment, growth & fulfillment. What is a Desi? Desi is a colloquial term that refers to the people & culture of India and its Diaspora. The voices we are seeking for this podcast may be voices you have never heard before, but you are sure to be inspired by them!
https://chtbl.com/track/EBGC59/
episode 13: A Desi Woman with Soniya Gokhale: Former Air Force Officer, Mountaineer & Motivational Speaker Toolika Rani -- Part 1
A Multi-faceted personality Squadron Leader Toolika Rani has left a powerful imprint in various fields. She served in Indian Air Force for 10 years as an Air Traffic Controller and Outdoor Training Instructor in the prestigious Air Force Academy, Hyderabad, and was associated with the physical training of hundreds of future officers including India’s first three women fighter pilots. With 23 mountaineering expeditions and treks in India, Nepal, Bhutan, Iran, Africa, Russia under her belt, she holds the privilege of being the first woman from Uttar Pradesh to climb Mt. Everest in 2012, the first Indian woman to climb the highest volcano of Asia, Mt. Damavand in Iran, and summiteer member of the first team in the world to reach the top of a Virgin Peak in Himachal. She has been felicitated with several awards such as Global Excellence Award, Stree Shakti Combatant Award 2020, Rani Laxmibai Bravery Award by Uttar Pradesh government, “Outstanding Global Woman Award” by FICCI Ladies Organisation, Hindustan Times Woman Award, “Delhi Ratan” and “Meerut Ratan Award” by All India Conference of Intellectuals, Prathma Women Achievers Award by Amar Ujala and Aspiring She Power Award for Courage and Resilience. She has also dabbled in River rafting, Parasailing and Mountain Trail Running. A prolific writer, her articles on adventure sports, travel, gender equality, geo-politics, Buddhism and Tibetans are regularly published in newspapers and magazines. As a Motivational Speaker, she has delivered 63 talks on various platforms, including the prestigious TEDx talk. An ardent supporter of women rights and social causes she holds many portfolios such as Senior Research Fellow at Defence Studies and Research (DRaS) think-tank portal, Advisory Board Member of IMAF (Itvara Mountaineering and Adventure Forum), New Delhi and The Ultimate Mentors-a group of professional mentors. She is presently doing her Ph.D. on Mountaineering (Sherpas of Nepal) from Bhimrao Ambedkar University, Lucknow. Her achievements have been chronicled in The Hindu, Hindustan Times, Deccan Chronicle, Amar Ujala, Dainik Jagran, Pink Khabar, Ombrelane, Get Beyond Limits, Itvara, Inspirecrew, Wonderwomen websites to name a few. TV Channel Samachar Plus and Itvara Foundation, The Mountain Knights and several others have aired her exclusive interviews.