At the NewBiz Business Women Summit and Awards 2025, the spotlight fell on one of Nepal’s most visionary figures—Gyani Shova Tuladhar, recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award for her transformative contributions to the country’s fashion industry and women’s entrepreneurship.

A true pioneer, Tuladhar has spent nearly five decades reshaping Nepal’s fashion landscape—not just through design, but by institutionalizing fashion education and championing creative entrepreneurship.

From Humble Beginnings to National Legacy

Born on May 7, 1951, in Kathmandu, Tuladhar began her journey in the 1970s with little more than a sewing machine and an unshakable resolve. “From a young age, my mother placed a needle and a pair of scissors in my hands,” she recalled. “My father, encouraging me to learn their value, always said that everyone should master a skill—something they could call their own.”

In an era where fashion was often dismissed as frivolous or foreign, she envisioned it as both a creative art form and a platform for economic empowerment. What began as a modest tailoring venture soon evolved into a movement that redefined opportunity for Nepali women.

Tuladhar’s most lasting contribution lies in education. In 1997, she founded the Namuna Institute of Technology, laying the foundation for structured fashion education in Nepal. Five years later, she established the Namuna College of Fashion Technology (NCFT)—the nation’s first undergraduate fashion college.

A Career Behind and Beyond the Camera

Tuladhar’s influence extended well beyond the classroom. As a costume designer, she contributed to over 100 Nepali films, shaping the visual language for cinema. Her talents also reached global screens through international projects like the “The Light Train to Kathmandu” and the French production “Yeti”.

Academic and Artistic Credentials

Her achievements are grounded in both academic discipline and creativity. Tuladhar holds a bachelor’s degree in economics from Tribhuvan University and pursued advanced fashion training at Zaparkar College of Fashion in Maharashtra, India. She has also served on the Academic Council of Purbanchal University contributing to national curricula in design and technology.

A Role Model for Generations

Tuladhar’s story is more than a series of milestones—it is a testament to resilience, creativity and the transformative power of vision. By forging a path in an uncharted field, she not only built institutions but also inspired thousands of women to pursue their passions, start businesses and shape Nepal’s creative economy. “I never stopped,” she said with quiet pride. “From just a needle and a pair of scissors, I have built an empire.”

The Lifetime Achievement Award is more than just a personal honor—it is a celebration of every barrier she broke and every door she opened for others. In honoring Tuladhar, the NewBiz Summit also honored the very spirit of entrepreneurship: bold, visionary and unafraid to begin with a dream and simplest of tools.

(This article was originally published in  June 2025 issue  of New Business Age Magazine.)