Meet India Gary-Martin, the New Chair of the Women Business Collaborative

This podcast is about an amazing woman and her journey from Wall Street to Purpose-Driven Leadership. Meet India Gary-Martin’s and listen to her amazing journey to Chair the Women Business Collaborative (WBC).

On this episode of On the Brink with Andi Simon, I had the great pleasure of speaking with India Gary Martin—an accomplished global executive, entrepreneur, and now the new Chair of the Women Business Collaborative (WBC). India’s story is more than a professional journey—it’s an inspiring narrative about opportunity, resilience, and leadership rooted in purpose.

A Global Journey Rooted in Advocacy

India began her career with ambitions far from Wall Street—initially pursuing drama at Spelman College, an all-women’s institution that helped shape her lifelong commitment to advancing women. A pivot to business led her to Wall Street, where she spent nearly 25 years rising through the ranks and across borders, holding CEO and CTO roles in major financial institutions. Her global career took her to London, Frankfurt, Tokyo, and Hong Kong, all while raising a family and nurturing a growing passion for justice and equity.

Through it all, India remained grounded in one core belief: opportunity emerges when you stay open to change. Her career was not meticulously planned but rather built through taking chances—ones that would later translate into entrepreneurial ventures and global leadership roles.

From Banking to Beauty: The Entrepreneurial Chapter

India’s foray into entrepreneurship was sparked not only by her desire to chart her own path but by a wake-up call. After returning from a business trip, her young daughter barely recognized her. It was a moment of reckoning—and renewal.

What followed was a bold leap: the launch of a green nail polish line that grew from two retail shops in London to 300 stores across Europe and the Middle East, including Harvey Nichols and Space NK. But success is never linear. Brexit disrupted the business, scaring off investors and forcing India to shut it down. “It was the hardest thing I’ve ever done,” she told me, “but I learned how to pivot, and that failure isn’t failure—it’s just learning.”

Her next chapter returned her to her roots in leadership. With Leadership for Execs and Lucent Learning, India created scalable coaching and leadership development platforms for companies, governments, and nonprofits. She also launched Act Three, a community designed to support women in midlife transition. Each venture reflects her holistic vision of leadership: adaptive, inclusive, and deeply human.

Carrying Forward a Vision: Honoring Edie Fraser

The Women Business Collaborative (WBC), which India now chairs, was founded by the remarkable Edie Fraser, a visionary leader in her own right. Edie had a bold and clear mission: to accelerate progress for women in business by uniting the efforts of organizations, corporations, and individuals under a single collaborative umbrella. She recognized that too many were working in silos—fighting the same battles for equal pay, position, and power. Edie’s vision was both simple and powerful: we can go farther, faster, together. Her leadership transformed a concept into a movement, building a platform that now connects over 80 partner organizations, dozens of corporate champions, and countless advocates committed to equity. India Gary Martin steps into this legacy with both reverence and readiness, taking WBC into its next chapter of impact.

You will enjoy watching our podcast with India here:

Why WBC, Why Now?

India’s appointment as Chair of the Women Business Collaborative couldn’t have come at a more important time. As she told me, “WBC has a tremendous opportunity right now to be a beacon for women in business. It’s not just about convening—it’s about shaping the future.”

With over 80 partner organizations, sponsors, and donors, WBC stands at the forefront of driving change. India brings to it not just experience, but a deeply reflective, philosophical approach to leadership. She believes that collaboration doesn’t mean compromising your mission—it means amplifying what unites us.

“I don’t believe in pushing the boulder uphill,” she said. “We do this with ease because it’s who we are. It’s how we operate.”

Leading by Redesigning the Container

One of the most profound insights India shared during our conversation was about the importance of culture in shaping behavior. “People behave as the container creates,” she explained. Rather than focusing on fixing people, she argues, organizations should focus on fixing the environment in which they operate.

This anthropological lens is close to my heart. Culture isn’t changed with a program or a policy—it’s transformed through trust, relationships, and the daily experiences that shape how people feel and behave. As India noted, work has become transactional. We must bring it back to being relational.

A Call to Community

As we wrapped up our conversation, India left listeners with three powerful takeaways:

1. You are not alone. Find your tribe. WBC is one of them.

2. Opportunity is everywhere. Even the stormiest moments will pass—every storm runs out of rain.

3. We are better together. None of the changes we seek can happen in isolation. Collaboration is not a strategy—it’s a necessity.

India also shared her excitement for the upcoming Women’s Capital Summit in New York City on May 21–22. This event is all about connecting women founders with funders—and building the future of shared success. “Founders and funders, please come out,” she urged. “This is a real moment for us.”

Final Thoughts

India Gary Martin’s story reminds us that the path to leadership isn’t always straight—but it is always full of opportunity if we stay open. She embodies the power of living with purpose, leading with vision, and building together.

To learn more, listen to the full podcast on On the Brink with Andi Simon and be sure to check out WBC’s work and the Women’s Capital Summit. Let’s go further, faster—together.

Other podcasts you will enjoy:

432: Gloria Bohan: From School Teacher to Travel Titan

419: Jennifer Leslie: Transform your Business with Self Awareness

405: How Denielle Finkelstein and Thyme Sullivan Are Revolutionizing Period Care

Additional resources for you:

• My two award-winning books: Rethink: Smashing The Myths of Women in Business and On the Brink: A Fresh Lens to Take Your Business to New Heights
• Our newest book, Women Mean Business: Over 500 Insights from Extraordinary Leaders to Spark Your Success, co-authored with Edie Fraser and Robyn Freedman Spizman
• All of our white papers, particularly those on Blue Ocean Strategy
• Our Medium publications (come friend us)
• Our website: Simon Associates Management Consultants

Listen + Subscribe:

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Reach out and contact us if you want to see how a little anthropology can help your business grow.  Let's Talk!

From Observation to Innovation,

Andi Simon,PhD
CEO | Corporate Anthropologist | Author
Simonassociates.net
[email protected]
@simonandi
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