Shailendra at 18:46, 16 April 2026

2026-04-16T18:46:26Z

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{{Short description|Indian author and leadership coach}}
{{Multiple issues|
{{COI|date=April 2017}}
{{autobiography|date=April 2017}}
{{notability|1=Biographies|date=April 2017}}
}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2025}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Aparna Jain
| image =
| caption =
| occupation = Author; executive leadership coach
| years_active = 2010s–present
| known_for = ''Own It''; ''Like a Girl''; ''Boys Will Be Boys''; ''Why the Heck Not?''
| website =
}}

'''Aparna Jain''' is an Indian author and executive leadership coach whose work focuses on gender equity and inclusion in the workplace. She has written five books, including ''Own It: Leadership Lessons from Women Who Do'' (2016),<ref name="HarperOwnIt">{{cite web |title=Own It: Leadership Lessons from Women Who Do |url=https://www.harpercollins.com/products/own-it-leadership-lessons-from-women-who-do-aparna-jain?variant=32154006716450 |website=HarperCollins |publisher=HarperCollins Publishers |date=2016-02-04 |access-date=2025-07-27}}</ref> the anthologies for younger readers ''Like a Girl'' (2018) and ''Boys Will Be Boys'' (2019), and, with K.P. Singh, ''Why the Heck Not? Blueprints for Success from the Man Who Built DLF'' (2024).<ref name="PenguinWhy">{{cite web |title=Why the Heck Not? |url=https://www.penguin.co.in/book/why-the-heck-not/ |website=Penguin Random House India |publisher=India Viking |date=2024-11-01 |access-date=2025-07-27}}</ref><ref name="TheWeek2024">{{cite web |title='Why the Heck Not?' review: A sanitised blueprint to Lutyens Delhi deals and magazine-story roundups |url=https://www.theweek.in/review/books/2024/12/01/why-the-heck-not-book-review-kp-singh-dlf-aparna-jain.html |website=The Week |publisher=Malayala Manorama Group |date=2024-12-01 |access-date=2025-07-27}}</ref> ''Own It'' received a Jury Appreciation Certificate at the First South Asia Laadli Media & Advertising Awards for Gender Sensitivity 2015–16,<ref name="Laadli2016">{{cite web |title=First Edition South Asia Laadli Media and Advertising Awards for Gender Sensitivity 2015–16 |url=https://populationfirst.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/WNDoc_National-brochure_FINAL-1.pdf |website=Population First |date=2016-11-10 |access-date=2025-07-27}}</ref> and was shortlisted for the Tata Literature Live! Business Book of the Year 2016. Jain is also a frequent commentator on workplace gender issues.<ref name="BLF">{{cite web |title=Aparna Jain |url=https://bangaloreliteraturefestival.org/participant/aparna-jain/ |website=Bangalore Literature Festival |date=2018-10-27 |access-date=2025-07-27}}</ref><ref name="HTRaje2016">{{cite web |title=Finally, a book that talks about gender-neutral workplace |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/books/towards-fostering-a-gender-neutral-workplace/story-32TrlU2iOhQfWGGWStcSYL.html |website=Hindustan Times |publisher=HT Media |date=2016-04-02 |access-date=2025-07-27}}</ref><ref name="HTWords2017">{{cite web |title=Words that capture the dreams and thoughts of women |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/art-and-culture/words-that-capture-the-dreams-and-thoughts-of-women/story-eNOEJRlqAO3GbugaGU6hQP.html |website=Hindustan Times |publisher=HT Media |date=2017-02-17 |access-date=2025-07-27}}</ref>

Jain founded the leadership coaching and diversity consultancy Zebraa Works in 2011. Publisher biographies describe her as an internationally certified Integral Master Coach™, after two decades in business development and marketing roles in technology and media in India and the United States.<ref name="PenguinAuthor">{{cite web |title=Aparna Jain |url=https://www.penguin.co.in/book_author/aparna-jain/ |website=Penguin Random House India |date=2024-11-01 |access-date=2025-07-27}}</ref> She is also the author of the ''Sood Family Cookbook'' which features recipes from the widespread Sood family featuring pahaadi, Bengali, Italian, Thai, Swiss and other global cuisines.<ref name="HarperSood">{{cite web |title=Sood Family Cook Book |url=https://harpercollins.co.in/product/sood-family-cook-book/ |website=HarperCollins India |date=2013-12-20 |access-date=2025-07-27}}</ref>

==Early life and [[HarperCollins|education]]==
Jain was born in [[New Delhi]], but grew up in [[Bangalore]] in [[Karnataka]]. She has studied in different schools including [[Sophia High School]] in Bangalore, and [[Rishi Valley School]], Madanapalle, [[Andhra Pradesh]]. Jain then moved to [[Switzerland]] where she studied at the Alpina School of Hotel Management and received a Diploma with a double specialisation in Sales & Marketing and Food & Beverage in 1993. She moved back to India to pursue a post graduate programme in Hospitality at the Oberoi School of Hotel Management in New Delhi. Jain is also certified as an Integral Master Coach by Integral Coaching in Canada.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.integralcoachingcanada.com/icc_coaches?location=All&field_language=All&keywords=aparna+|title=ICC Coaches | Integral Coaching Canada|access-date=2017-04-07|archive-date=2017-04-07|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170407233103/https://www.integralcoachingcanada.com/icc_coaches?location=All&field_language=All&keywords=aparna+|url-status=live}}</ref>

==Career==
Before moving into coaching, Jain worked in technology and media. She held marketing leadership roles at the [[India Today]] Group for ''Cosmopolitan'', ''Good Housekeeping'', ''Design Today'' and ''India Today Travel Plus''; in 2010 she joined ''[[Tehelka]]'' as vice-president, marketing, and served as executive director of the THiNK festivals in 2011 and 2012. She later acted as consultant country head for Partridge, Penguin Random House India’s self-publishing division.<ref name="NotionPress2016">{{cite web |title=Ex-Marketing Head of HarperCollins, Aparna Jain's advice for first-time authors |url=https://notionpress.com/blog/ex-marketing-head-of-harpercollins-aparna-jains-advice-for-first-time-authors/ |website=Notion Press Blog |publisher=Notion Press |date=2016-06-06 |access-date=2025-07-27}}</ref><ref name="SoundCloud2016">{{cite web |title=Aparna Jain on first books and publishing (podcast) |url=https://soundcloud.com/firstbookpodcast/aparna-jains-first-book |website=SoundCloud |publisher=First Book Podcast |date=2016-05-26 |access-date=2025-07-27}}</ref>

Jain writes and comments on gender, workplace culture and harassment law, with columns and interviews in outlets including ''Hindustan Times'', ''The Times of India'', ''Firstpost'' and ''Mint''. During the public debate around R.K. Pachauri and [[The Energy and Resources Institute|TERI]] in 2016, she argued for institutional accountability and safer workplaces.<ref name="HTRaje2016" /><ref name="TOI2016">{{cite web |title=Backing Pachauri is like saying women's safety doesn't matter: Aparna Jain |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/sunday-times/all-that-matters/Backing-Pachauri-is-like-saying-womens-safety-doesnt-matter-Aparna-Jain/articleshow/50978330.cms |website=The Times of India |publisher=Times Group |date=2016-02-14 |access-date=2025-07-27}}</ref><ref name="FirstpostTERI">{{cite web |title=#PachauriHatao: For those who ask why women delay harassment complaints, remember the TERI case |url=https://www.firstpost.com/living/pachaurihatao-for-everyone-who-asks-why-women-delay-harassment-complaints-remember-the-teri-case-2619448.html |website=Firstpost |publisher=Network18 |date=2016-02-10 |access-date=2025-07-27}}</ref><ref name="HTWords2017" />

==Writing==
Jain’s first book, ''[[The Sood Family Cookbook]]: 101 Recipes for Every Home'' (HarperCollins, 2013; 168 pp.), is a family memoir-cookbook drawing on Pahadi and North Indian traditions. It was noted in ''Mint'' and ''Hindustan Times'' round-ups of Indian cookbooks.<ref name="HarperSood" /><ref name="Mint2014">{{cite web |title=All in the family |url=https://www.livemint.com/Leisure/3IXYhspfIwBpJngrK2vxXN/All-in-the-family.html |website=Mint Lounge |publisher=HT Media |date=2014-01-11 |access-date=2025-07-27}}</ref><ref name="HTBrunch2014">{{cite web |title=Comfort food, and some family drama |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/brunch/comfort-food-and-some-family-drama/story-gNKnXbxjPkdWIMthwRsfoN.html |website=Hindustan Times – Brunch |publisher=HT Media |date=2014-03-22 |access-date=2025-07-27}}</ref>

Her second book, ''Own It: Leadership Lessons from Women Who Do'' (HarperCollins, 2016; 328 pp., ISBN {{ISBN|978-9351777915}}), draws on interviews with about 200 senior women professionals in India and examines bias, harassment, motherhood penalties and advancement barriers. Reviews in ''Firstpost'' and ''Hindustan Times'' described it as a useful resource for women and for leaders seeking gender-neutral workplaces. The book received a Laadli Jury Appreciation Certificate (2015–16) and was shortlisted for the Tata Literature Live! Business Book of the Year (2016).<ref name="HarperOwnIt" /><ref name="FirstpostReview2016">{{cite web |title=Book review: Aparna Jain's 'Own It' brings out of unarticulated darkness the indescribable things that happen to women at the workplace |url=https://www.firstpost.com/living/book-review-aparna-jains-own-it-brings-out-of-unarticulated-darkness-the-indescribable-things-that-happen-to-women-at-the-workplace-2614092.html |website=Firstpost |publisher=Network18 |date=2016-02-06 |access-date=2025-07-27}}</ref><ref name="HTRaje2016" /><ref name="Laadli2016" /><ref name="BLF" />

With the Context imprint of Westland, Jain wrote two illustrated anthologies for younger readers. ''Like a Girl: Real Stories for Tough Kids'' (2018; ISBN {{ISBN|978-9387578173}}) profiles more than fifty Indian women across fields. Coverage in ''Mint Lounge'' and ''Scroll.in'' highlighted its effort to present both achievements and complexities. The book later appeared on the Crossword Book Awards Popular Shortlist.<ref name="Mint2018">{{cite web |title=Goodnight stories for tough Indian girls |url=https://lifestyle.livemint.com/news/talking-point/goodnight-stories-for-tough-indian-girls-111645266222320.html |website=Mint Lounge |publisher=HT Media |date=2018-07-07 |access-date=2025-07-27}}</ref><ref name="Scroll2018">{{cite web |title='I wanted children to know that there is good and bad with greatness': Aparna Jain on ''Like A Girl'' |url=https://scroll.in/article/887196/i-wanted-children-to-know-that-there-is-good-and-bad-with-greatness-aparna-jain |website=Scroll.in |publisher=Scroll Media |date=2018-07-18 |access-date=2025-07-27}}</ref><ref name="AbeBooksLikeAGirl">{{cite web |title=Like a Girl (Westland) – bibliographic record |url=https://www.abebooks.com/9789387578173/Girl-Jain-Aparna-9387578178/plp |website=AbeBooks |date=2018-07-01 |access-date=2025-07-27}}</ref><ref name="MumbaiLive2019">{{cite web |title=Popular Shortlist for 17th Crossword Book Awards released |url=https://www.mumbailive.com/en/art/crossword-announces-the-shortlist-for-crossword-awards-41307 |website=Mumbai Live |date=2019-10-22 |access-date=2025-07-27}}</ref>

''Boys Will Be Boys: Inspiring Stories for Smart Kids'' (Context, 2019; 192 pp., ISBN {{ISBN|978-9388754897}}) profiles 45 Indian men in fields including science, public service, business and sport.<ref name="AmazonBoys">{{cite book |title=Boys Will Be Boys: Inspiring Stories for Smart Kids |date=2019-12-20 |id={{ASIN|9388754891|country=au}} }}</ref><ref name="Onmanorama2019">{{cite web |title=After female-centric books, author Aparna Jain writes on men |url=https://www.onmanorama.com/lifestyle/news/2019/12/11/author-aparna-jain-boys-will-be-boys.html |website=Onmanorama |publisher=Malayala Manorama |date=2019-12-11 |access-date=2025-07-27}}</ref>

In November 2024, Penguin Random House India published ''Why the Heck Not? Blueprints for Success from the Man Who Built DLF'' (India Viking; 304 pp., ISBN {{ISBN|978-0143472889}}), co-authored by K.P. Singh and Jain. ''The Week'' called it an insider account of Gurgaon’s real-estate transformation while noting that parts read like a “sanitised blueprint”.<ref name="PenguinWhy" /><ref name="TheWeek2024" />

==Selected works==
* ''The Sood Family Cookbook: 101 Recipes for Every Home''. New Delhi: HarperCollins India, 2013. 168 pp. ISBN {{ISBN|978-9353571443}}.<ref name="HarperSood" />
* ''Own It: Leadership Lessons from Women Who Do''. New Delhi: HarperCollins India, 2016. 328 pp. ISBN {{ISBN|978-9351777915}}.<ref name="HarperOwnIt" />
* ''Like a Girl: Real Stories for Tough Kids''. Chennai: Context (Westland), 2018. 197 pp. ISBN {{ISBN|978-9387578173}}.<ref name="AbeBooksLikeAGirl" /><ref name="Mint2018" />
* ''Boys Will Be Boys: Inspiring Stories for Smart Kids''. Chennai: Context (Westland), 2019. 192 pp. ISBN {{ISBN|978-9388754897}}.<ref name="AmazonBoys" />
* K.P. Singh with Aparna Jain, ''Why the Heck Not? Blueprints for Success from the Man Who Built DLF''. Gurugram: India Viking (Penguin Random House India), 2024. 304 pp. ISBN {{ISBN|978-0143472889}}.<ref name="PenguinWhy" />

==Recognition==
* Jury Appreciation Certificate, Book (Non-fiction), First South Asia Laadli Media & Advertising Awards for Gender Sensitivity 2015–16, for ''Own It''.<ref name="Laadli2016" />
* Shortlisted, Tata Literature Live! Business Book of the Year 2016, for ''Own It''.<ref name="BLF" />

==Coaching qualifications==
Jain is listed by Integral Coaching Canada among its certified coaches and is described in publisher biographies as an Integral Master Coach™. ICC states its flagship Integral Coaching® Certification Program is accredited by the International Coach Federation for 202 training hours, with a Master-level track.<ref name="ICCFindCoach">{{cite web |title=Find a Coach |url=https://www.integralcoachingcanada.com/FindACoach/FindACoach |website=Integral Coaching Canada |date=2025-07-27 |access-date=2025-07-27}}</ref><ref name="PenguinAuthor" /><ref name="ICCPrograms">{{cite web |title=Coach Training Programs |url=https://www.integralcoachingcanada.com/Programs/Programs |website=Integral Coaching Canada |date=2025-07-27 |access-date=2025-07-27}}</ref><ref name="ICCModules">{{cite web |title=Integral Coaching® Certification Program |url=https://www.integralcoachingcanada.com/Programs/ProgramModulesLearnMore?programId=1 |website=Integral Coaching Canada |date=2025-07-27 |access-date=2025-07-27}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==Further reading==
* {{cite web |title=Finally, a book that talks about gender-neutral workplace |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/books/towards-fostering-a-gender-neutral-workplace/story-32TrlU2iOhQfWGGWStcSYL.html |website=Hindustan Times |publisher=HT Media |date=2016-04-02 |access-date=2025-07-27}}
* {{cite web |title='I wanted children to know that there is good and bad with greatness': Aparna Jain on ''Like A Girl'' |url=https://scroll.in/article/887196/i-wanted-children-to-know-that-there-is-good-and-bad-with-greatness-aparna-jain |website=Scroll.in |publisher=Scroll Media |date=2018-07-21 |access-date=2025-07-27}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Jain, Aparna}}
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Indian women writers]]
[[Category:Indian women children's writers]]
[[Category:Indian children's writers]]
[[Category:Indian business executives]]
[[Category:Women business executives]]
[[Category:Writers from Delhi]]
[[Category:Year of birth missing (living people)]]
[[Category:Rishi Valley School alumni]]

Aparna Jain - Revision history

Shailendra at 18:46, 16 April 2026