05 Mar 2026
By Sunita Poddar, Founder of Oakminster Healthcare.
As we mark International Women’s Day, this year’s theme, “Give to Gain”, resonates deeply with me.
It reflects a principle I have lived by throughout my three decades in business: when we invest in others, we create environments where women can thrive. And when women thrive, businesses and communities thrive too.
When I founded Oakminster Healthcare 30 years ago, I was one of only a handful of female-owned care home operators in Scotland. I vividly remember attending an early industry event and realising I was the only female owner in the room, and certainly the only one wearing a sari.
That experience was symbolic of a wider issue. Although around 80% of the care workforce is female, far fewer women were represented in ownership and leadership roles. Somewhere between the care home floor and the boardroom table, women were being filtered out.
I decided early on that if I wanted to see change, I would have to create it.
My commitment to supporting women was initially a moral decision rather than a commercial one. I wanted to build an organisation where female employees could see a pathway to leadership and where ambition was encouraged rather than constrained.
What followed surprised even me.
Through mentoring, supporting and empowering the women in our workforce, Oakminster grew stronger. Today, our senior leadership team is majority female. We employ more than 350 staff across Glasgow and have provided care to of thousands of residents over the past three decades.
Opening the door for women has been one of the most important drivers of our growth, not simply culturally, but commercially.
Diverse leadership fosters better decision-making and stronger community relationships. In a sector built on trust and compassion, those qualities are invaluable.
Last year, we were incredibly proud to be named Glasgow’s Favourite Business at the Glasgow Business Awards.
The messages I received afterwards from former staff, residents’ families, community members and fellow care professionals reinforced the power of investing in people. Many of those who reached out were women who had grown their careers with us and gone on to make their own mark elsewhere. Their continued connection to Oakminster is, to me, the clearest example of “give to gain” in action.
Looking back, the industry has changed significantly since those early days when I stood alone in a room of male peers. But while progress has been made, there is always more to do. Encouraging female entrepreneurship, championing leadership development and building inclusive workplaces must remain priorities.
If my journey has taught me anything, it is this: empowering women is not just the right thing to do, but it is a powerful catalyst for sustainable business success.
