Komal Poddar is a graduate in Hotel Management, a culinary instructor, and a social entrepreneur from West Bengal. Her NGO for Underprivileged Children in Durgapur, Indigirl, supports the education and care of over 50 underprivileged children, and she also runs a bakery called Indifood, which helps fund their care. Komal is a strong example of purpose-driven leadership and endurance, as she juggles being a teacher, chef, and an MBA student.

Komal Poddar - Super Woman 2025 | Youth Empowerment: Empowering Children & Purpose-Driven Leadership

Komal Poddar was born in Bihar and brought up in West Bengal. She is a multidimensional professional who loves cooking, teaching, and social work. A state graduate in hotel management from Durgapur, she began her career in the luxury hospitality industry, where she worked as a pastry chef in leading establishments, including Hyatt, Hilton, JW Marriott, and The Ritz-Carlton, among others. Komal experienced the pandemic's impact on vulnerable children firsthand and translated her compassion into action during the COVID-19 pandemic. She began teaching underprivileged children at no cost, and as some of their families were affected by the virus, she started to cover the full cost of their studies and living expenses. This gave rise to Indigirl, an NGO for Underprivileged Children in Durgapur that focuses on the wholesome development of orphans and needy children. To fund the NGO, she started a home-based bakery called Indifood, she opened a bakery, Indifood, which was based in her home. She also trained older children to work at a basic baking level, enabling them to be involved and learn other principles as they advanced in their education. Komal is a faculty member at IIT Srisakti, Hyderabad, and is doing her MBA in Human Resources at Manipal University, Jaipur, where her business at the bakery is run remotely.

Current Role:

Faculty – Hotel Management Department

IIT Srisakti, Hyderabad

(Also manages Indigirl NGO & Indifood Bakery)

Previous Roles:

• Demi Chef De Partie – JW Marriott, Pune
• Bakery Pastry Chef – Hilton Garden Inn, Pune
• Bakery Chef – Hyatt Gachibowli, Hyderabad
• Commis Chef – The Ritz-Carlton Bangalore, Signature Hotels

Komal embarked on her journey driven by a passion for baking and hospitality. But her health problems made her change her mind after gaining experience in the hotel business. Rather than allowing her energy to go to waste, she used it to assist others. She started with four children during the pandemic and now has 52 children under one single roof in a functioning Indigirl, an NGO for Underprivileged Children in Durgapur. She overcame the financial crunch by initiating Indifood, which has not only provided a means to continue the cause but also a skills training platform for the children. This is a story about resiliency, creativity, and purpose, and how personal failure can be used to create a change.