Empowered by Her: Sheela Shankar, Leading with Strength | Ciel Textile Website

What does it take to lead more than 1,000 people in a textile factory, while rebuilding your life at the same time? 

 

At CIEL Textile, women empowerment is not just a theme for International Women’s Day. It’s lived every day by leaders like Sheela Shankar, Factory Manager at Aquarelle India. 

 

Her journey is one of resilience, growth, and quiet strength.  

 

From Training Manager to Factory Manager: a leadership journey in the textile industry 

 

Sheela started her journey in 2017 as a Training Manager, passionate about building strong teams and helping people grow. She believed that when people gain confidence, performance follows. 

 

Today, she leads a factory of more than 1,000 employees.  

 

Her role now goes far beyond production targets and operational excellence. She shapes workplace culture, builds leadership capability, and ensures that people grow alongside business results. 

Her career growth within CIEL Textile reflects what is possible when women are given opportunities to lead. 

 

Owning her space in manufacturing leadership 

Leading in a large textile manufacturing environment is demanding. Sheela earned her place by learning operations from the ground up.  

 

She built credibility through knowledge. 

 

She built trust through consistency. 

 

Having seen firsthand the challenges faced by many women workers on the factory floor, she leads with empathy, without compromising on accountability. 

 

“When I was a Training Manager, I saw how confidence could transform women who were once unsure into strong performers. That shaped how I lead today.” 

 

Her leadership style blends discipline, fairness, empathy, and support: a balance that strengthens both performance and people:  

 

“The factory floor taught me everything I know. Every challenge made me stronger and wiser.” 

 

Resilience through personal loss 

Five years ago, Sheela faced one of life’s most difficult moments: the loss of a loved one. Despite the emotional weight, she chose to move forward:  

 

“After this huge loss, my daughter has been my biggest strength and motivation to grow personally and professionally.”  

 

With the support of her team at Aquarelle India, she continued to give her best at work every single day. That resilience and determination eventually led her to step into her current role as a Factory Manager. 

 

Financial independence, confidence, and purpose 

For Sheela, working at Aquarelle India has meant more than career progression. 

 

It brought financial stability. 

 

It brought independence. 

 

It brought confidence.  

 

What fulfils her most is seeing teamwork in action and knowing that her leadership helps others grow while securing her own family’s future.  

 

Collaboration, for her, is the foundation of sustainable success.  

 

A message to women leaders 

Sheela’s advice to women aspiring to leadership roles in manufacturing and beyond is clear:  

 

“Believe in yourself. No one else can do that for you. Be clear. Be fair. And show up. If you want your team to give their best, you must give yours first.” 

 

Because strength, as she has learned, isn’t something you’re born with. 

 

It’s something you build.