"Joy is the holy fire that keeps our purpose warm and our intelligence aglow," perfectly resonates with Jyoti’s views of Inner Wheel as a beacon of hope and service. She believes that the joy derived from selfless acts of kindness and purposeful action fuels the collective spirit of Inner Wheel, enabling members to illuminate lives with compassion and dedication. “Leadership is not about titles or power; it’s about impact, influence, and inspiration.” Jyoti embodies this philosophy through her dedication to education, empowerment, and service.

Born in Delhi, Jyoti Mahipal did her schooling in both Delhi and Kolkata. She is a qualified Cost Accountant with a Master’s degree in Commerce, and her unwavering enthusiasm for learning led her to complete a Montessori Training Course.

A significant influence in Jyoti’s life has been her mother, whose unwavering determination and resilience shaped the person she is today. She believes that every achievement and every milestone she has reached is because of the values her mother instilled in her.

Her journey of associating herself with Inner Wheel began in 1995, wherein she was inducted as a member of Inner Wheel Club of Gwalior. Not complacent, she strove to do something really remarkable in the field of ‘Social Welfare’. Driven by this desire, took up as Club President in 2010 and entered the district in 2013 as District Editor. She became the District Chairman of 305, in 2017 –18. Her contribution has been immense in expanding and enriching the district adding five New Clubs and giving 76 happy Schools.

Since 1998, Jyoti has been passionately involved with the activities of Montessori House. Initially working as a teacher, she later became a faculty member for Montessori Teacher’s Training at the NGO CHIP (Children in Pain). Her dedication to serving those in need found a meaningful avenue when she joined Inner Wheel in 2006 as a member of the Inner Wheel Club of Calcutta Mahanagar.

Her leadership journey began in 2007-08 when she served as Club Secretary, followed by her tenure as Club President in 2008-09. As President, she initiated the project Gyan Jyoti, which provides scholarships to students from disadvantaged backgrounds. This project remains a permanent feature of her club. She also realized her vision of creating impactful initiatives such as:

• Saheli: A skill center empowering women.
• Prarambh: A Montessori school for underprivileged children.
• Golpo Ghar: A community space for senior citizens.
• Swavlamban: Empowering women by giving 100 bicycles and sewing machines on micro-credit.

District Journey

Jyoti joined the District Executive Committee of Inner Wheel District 329 in 2016-17 as District Editor and held various district-level positions before serving as District Chairman in 2021-22. Her tenure as District Chairman was marked by notable achievements:

Career Counselling Programme – Udaan: A guiding platform for students.

Meri Kitaab Initiative: Released 75,000 copies of a book to commemorate India’s 75th Independence Anniversary.

Promoted women entrepreneurs in her District by bringing them onto a virtual platform, Stree Shakti.

Encouraged clubs to register for CSR certification, enabling medical projects worth over ₹1 crore through CSR funding.

65 clubs executed 35 joint projects serving under various avenues of service.

She also organized innovative events such as the Shero Cricket Cup for District members and the Inner Wheel Idol Contest at a pan-India level.

• Established 10 new Inner Wheel Clubs.
• Launched a monthly e-bulletin in District – UPDATE.
• Successfully hosted the East Zone Meet, Confetti, in Kolkata.

Jyoti is married to Rotarian Vinod Mahipal, a businessman who has been her constant source of strength. They are blessed with a son, Jash, who holds a degree in Economics and Computer Science from the University of California, Berkeley, and an MBA from the London Business School. Her daughter-in-law, Devanshi, a graduate of Wellesley College, is an educationist.

A Rotarian herself, Jyoti is a Major Donor, and her club received the overall Best Club award when she served as President of the Rotary Club of Calcutta Mahanagar in 2023-24. Her involvement with organizations such as Millennium Mams, Ladies Study Group, FICCI Ladies Organisation, and her passion for theatre have significantly enriched her perspective and contributed to her personal growth.

She has attended four International Inner Wheel Conventions, five Triennial Conferences, two South Asia Rallies, and numerous zonal meets and Multi-District Rallies.

Inspired by Maya Angelou, her mantra is: “My mission in life is not merely to survive, but to thrive and to do so with passion, compassion, humor, and style.” Her personal philosophy is encapsulated in her IKIGAI: to do everything with heart and soul and strive for excellence. She firmly believes that the strongest action for a woman is to love herself, be herself, and shine among those who never believed she could. Together, let’s strive towards a future where we can collectively shatter the glass ceiling and unlock our full potential.

Jyoti believes that women need to shift from thinking “I’m not ready to do that” to thinking “I want to do that.” Let’s encourage more women to dream the impossible dream…!!