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{{Short description|Indian entrepreneur and Padma Shri awardee}}
{{AI-generated|date=June 2025}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2025}}
{{Use Indian English|date=June 2025}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Shashi Soni
| image =
| caption =
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1941|04|04|df=y}}
| birth_place = Lahore, British India
| occupation = Entrepreneur, philanthropist
| known_for = Founder of IZMO Ltd., Deep Group
| awards = [[Padma Shri]] (2024)
}}

'''Shashi Soni''' (born 4 April 1941) is an Indian entrepreneur and philanthropist. She is the founder and chairperson of IZMO Ltd., a publicly listed technology company that provides automotive e-retailing and digital marketing solutions. She was awarded the [[Padma Shri]], India's fourth-highest civilian honour, in 2024 for her contributions to trade and industry.<ref name="padma2024">{{Cite web |title=Padma Awards 2024 |url=https://www.padmaawards.gov.in/Document/pdf/CitationsForTickets/2024/2024119.pdf |publisher=Ministry of Home Affairs |access-date=25 June 2025}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Padma Awards 2024 announced |url=https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1999790 |publisher=Press Information Bureau, Government of India |date=25 January 2024 |access-date=25 June 2025}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=This Woman Started Her Business With Rs 10,000, Now Owns Rs 4000 Crore Company – She is Shashi Soni |url=https://www.india.com/business/this-woman-started-her-business-with-rs-10000-now-owns-rs-4000-crore-company-she-is-shashi-soni-her-business-is-izmo-success-story-7514325/ |publisher=India.com |date=11 February 2024 |access-date=25 June 2025}}</ref>

== Early life and education ==
Shashi Soni was born on 4 April 1941 in Lahore, British India (now Pakistan).<ref name="padma2024" /> She began her entrepreneurial career in 1971 by founding Deep Transport with a seed capital of ₹10,000.<ref name=":0" />

== Career ==
In 1975, Soni established Deep Mandir, the first air-conditioned cinema in Mulund, Mumbai. In 1981, she founded Deep Oxygen Pvt. Ltd., which became the first industrial gas manufacturing unit in Mysore.<ref name="india-com">{{Cite web |title=This Woman Started Her Business With Rs 10,000, Now Owns Rs 4000 Crore Company |url=https://www.india.com/business/meet-woman-shashi-soni-padma-shri-awardee-and-housewife-started-business-with-rs-10000-now-owns-company-worth-rs-4000-crore-izmo-limited-oxygen-pvt-ltd-gas-deep-transport-shashi-soni-net-worth-7382167/ |publisher=India.com |date=26 January 2024 |access-date=25 June 2025}}</ref> She was later elected as the only woman member of the Managing Committee of the All India Industrial Gas Manufacturers Association and served on the Director General of Technical Development panel of the Government of India.<ref name="izmo-bio">{{Cite web |title=Mrs. Shashi Soni - Biography |url=http://assetsin.izmocars.com/userfiles/103890/Mrs%20Shashi%20Soni_Biography%2030%204%2016%20_2_D.pdf |access-date=25 June 2025}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Success Story: IZMO Ltd. की चेयरपर्सन Shashi Soni – नेट वर्थ, सैलरी और टोटल एसेट्स और Padma Award |url=https://hindi.news18.com/news/business/success-story-izmo-ltd-chairperson-shashi-soni-net-worth-salary-and-total-asset-get-padam-award-8019569.html |publisher=News18 (Hindi) |date=12 January 2024 |access-date=25 June 2025}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Success Story of Shashi Soni: हाउसवाइफ से बनीं 4000 करोड़ की कंपनी की मालकिन |url=https://navbharattimes.indiatimes.com/business/business-news/success-story-of-shashi-soni-housewife-who-started-business-with-rs-10000-built-rs-4000-crore-company/articleshow/110882936.cms |publisher=Navbharat Times |date=7 June 2024 |access-date=25 June 2025}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Padma Shri Shashi Soni : నవతరానికి స్ఫూర్తిమంత్రం |url=https://www.andhrajyothy.com/2024/navya/the-story-of-eminent-industrialist-1202620.html |publisher=Andhra Jyothy |date=28 January 2024 |access-date=25 June 2025}}</ref>

In 1996, Soni founded IZMO Ltd. (formerly Logix Microsystems Ltd.), which is listed on the NSE and BSE. The company provides digital retailing platforms for the automotive sector and operates in North America, Europe, and Asia. It has served over 1,800 clients globally.<ref name="etnow">{{Cite web |title=This Lady's Entrepreneur Mind Turned ₹10K into Global Biz Empire |date=31 December 2024 |url=https://www.etnownews.com/success-stories/this-ladys-entrepreneur-mind-turned-rs-10k-into-global-biz-empire-with-her-hard-work-she-is-article-116819449 |access-date=25 June 2025}}</ref><ref name="simplywall">{{Cite web |title=IZMO Limited's NSE:IZMO Market Cap Up ₹10B Last Week |date=11 December 2024 |url=https://simplywall.st/stocks/in/software/nse-izmo/izmo-shares/news/izmo-limiteds-nseizmo-market-cap-up-10b-last-week-benefiting |access-date=25 June 2025}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=স্যUCCESS Story: Padma‑Shri প্রাপ্ত Shashi Soni – 4,150 কোটি টাকার ব্যাবসার মালিক |url=https://bengali.abplive.com/business/success-story-shashi-soni-padma-shri-awardee-owner-of-4150-crore-business-1098737 |publisher=ABP Live (Bengali) |date=10 June 2024 |access-date=25 June 2025}}</ref>

During the COVID-19 pandemic, she spearheaded the establishment of Hughes Precision Manufacturing Pvt. Ltd., an ammunition facility in Verna, Goa. The project was completed within 18 months under the Government of India's "Make in India" initiative and became the only private-sector ammunition exporter in the country, serving 14 nations.<ref name="toi-goa">{{Cite news |title=Padma Shri conferred on chairperson of Verna-based arms manufacturing plant |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/goa/padma-shri-conferred-on-chairperson-of-verna-based-arms-manufacturing-plant/articleshow/107210354.cms |access-date=25 June 2025}}</ref><ref name="gnttv">{{Cite web |title=IZMO Limited Success Story – Rs 10,000 to Rs 4000 Crore |url=https://www.gnttv.com/business/story/izmo-limited-success-story-shashi-soni-started-his-first-business-with-rs-10000-1026015-2024-06-11 |access-date=25 June 2025}}</ref>

== Philanthropy ==
Soni founded Deep Janseva Samiti in 1996, a charitable trust focused on livelihood generation, women's education, slum rehabilitation, and welfare for the disabled. She also initiated the “Smart Shiksha” program for youth education in [[Karnataka]].<ref name="news18">{{Cite web |title=Meet Shashi Soni, Padma Shri Awardee for Her Contribution to Trade and Industry |url=https://www.news18.com/business/meet-shashi-soni-one-of-the-padma-shri-awardees-for-her-contribution-to-trade-and-industry-8756177.html |access-date=25 June 2025}}</ref><ref name="dnabiz">{{Cite news |title=Meet Shashi Soni who built Rs 4000 crore company from scratch, won Padma Shri |url=https://www.dnaindia.com/business/report-meet-shashi-soni-who-started-business-with-rs-10000-built-company-worth-rs-4000-crore-won-padma-shri-3076023 |access-date=25 June 2025}}</ref>

== Awards and honours ==
* Woman of the year award (1990) - for her contribution to the Indian industry.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Choudhury |first=Srishty |title=Meet woman, who started business with Rs 10000, built company worth Rs 4000 crore, won Padma Shri, she is... |url=https://www.dnaindia.com/business/report-meet-shashi-soni-who-started-business-with-rs-10000-built-company-worth-rs-4000-crore-won-padma-shri-3076023 |access-date=2025-06-25 |website=DNA India |language=en}}</ref>
* Mahila Gaurav Puraskar (1990) – in recognition of her early entrepreneurial achievements.<ref name="izmo-bio" />
* Padma Shri (2024) – awarded by the Government of India for distinguished service in trade and industry.<ref name="padma2024" />

== Legacy ==
Soni's business ventures have contributed significantly to India's growth in defence exports, industrial manufacturing, and technology services. She is among the few women industrialists in India to have led multiple sectors including defence, IT, and industrial gases.<ref name="andhrajyothy">{{Cite web |title=The Story of Eminent Industrialist Shashi Soni |date=28 January 2024 |url=https://www.andhrajyothy.com/2024/navya/the-story-of-eminent-industrialist-1202620.html |access-date=25 June 2025}}</ref><ref name="tv9">{{Cite web |title=Who is Padma Shri Shashi Soni? Founder of ₹4000 Crore IZMO Ltd. |date=26 January 2024 |url=https://www.tv9hindi.com/business/who-is-padamshree-izmo-limited-founder-shashi-soni-awarded-with-this-award-2385041.html |access-date=25 June 2025}}</ref>

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
* [https://www.shashisoni.com/ Official website]
* [https://www.izmo.com/ IZMO Ltd.]

{{Padma Shri Award Recipients in Trade & Industry|state=collapsed}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Soni, Shashi}}
[[Category:1941 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Padma Shri in trade and industry]]
[[Category:Businesspeople from Maharashtra]]
[[Category:Indian philanthropists]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian businesswomen]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian businesspeople]]
[[Category:21st-century Indian businesswomen]]
[[Category:21st-century Indian businesspeople]]

Shashi Soni - Revision history

MarlonBernhardt: started initial entry v1