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Smruti Sriram OBE, CEO of Bags of Ethics (Supreme Creations), Wins Veuve Clicquot Bold Woman Award 2026
A celebration of purpose-led leadership in sustainable manufacturing, social impact, and women driving meaningful change across global industries
A defining moment for our organisation: our CEO, Smruti Sriram OBE, has been named the winner of the 2026 Veuve Clicquot Bold Woman Award—a prestigious recognition celebrating visionary leadership, innovation, and impact at global scale.
Announced in London on 20 May 2026, the award recognises Sriram’s outstanding contribution to transforming sustainable manufacturing and redefining what responsible, scalable production looks like in the modern global economy.
Smruti Sriram OBE – Bold Woman Award Winner 2026
Sriram was recognised for her leadership at Bags of Ethics, where she has built a globally integrated, values-led manufacturing model spanning London, India, and Europe.
Under her leadership, the business has helped eliminate an estimated 30 billion single-use items, while championing transparency, ethical production, and circular thinking through its “Bags of Ethics” framework. The organisation has become a benchmark for vertically integrated, sustainable supply chains operating at a global scale.
The business was originally founded in 1999 by Dr R. Sri Ram, Smruti’s father, with a mission to promote reusable behaviour through well-designed, practical alternatives to single-use products. Today, that foundation has evolved into a fully integrated global operation—from design through to manufacturing and distribution.
A key part of the organisation’s impact is its people:
Sriram was recognised for her leadership at Bags of Ethics, where she has built a globally integrated, values-led manufacturing model spanning London, India, and Europe.
Under her leadership, the business has helped eliminate an estimated 30 billion single-use items, while championing transparency, ethical production, and circular thinking through its “Bags of Ethics” framework. The organisation has become a benchmark for vertically integrated, sustainable supply chains operating at a global scale.
The business was originally founded in 1999 by Dr R. Sri Ram, Smruti’s father, with a mission to promote reusable behaviour through well-designed, practical alternatives to single-use products. Today, that foundation has evolved into a fully integrated global operation—from design through to manufacturing and distribution.
A key part of the organisation’s impact is its people: over 80% of the workforce in Pondicherry, India, is female, reinforcing a long-standing commitment to women’s empowerment and inclusive economic opportunity, reinforcing a long-standing commitment to women’s empowerment and inclusive economic opportunity.
Photo credits @gettyimages
Photo credits @gettyimages
Leadership Rooted in Values, Family, and Purpose
At the heart of Sriram’s leadership philosophy is a simple but enduring principle:
“Attitude and gratitude. These are the foundational principles that I have been taught by my family.”
For her, attitude is operational rather than abstract—it shapes decision-making, culture, and execution across global teams. As she explains, “One’s attitude — especially a positive attitude — can take you very far,” framing optimism as a practical driver of performance and resilience.
Her leadership is deeply shaped by family legacy. She often reflects on her grandmother’s positivity and her father’s resilience following early personal loss—an experience that instilled a long-term mindset of building “brick-by-brick — through sheer might, vision, and resilience.”
Today, this ethos is embedded across the organisation, where teams are encouraged to “innovate, create, and make it happen” across design, manufacturing, and sustainability initiatives.
A defining principle of her approach is partnership equality:
“We insist on our clients treating us not as suppliers but as equal partners.”
Purpose, Impact, and Global Collaboration
Beyond commercial success, Sriram has embedded a strong social impact model across the organisation, spanning environmental conservation, ethical manufacturing, education, and women’s empowerment.
Her work includes collaborations with organisations such as the British Fashion Council and the Royal Forestry Society, helping raise millions for charitable initiatives while connecting consumers to purpose-led campaigns.
Through The Wings of Hope, a charity founded by her parents, more than 40,000 students across the UK, India, and Africa have benefited from youth education and leadership programmes—an initiative closely aligned with her belief in youth-driven social change.
During the pandemic, her organisation also supported fundraising efforts exceeding £1 million, reinforcing the belief that business can be a powerful force for public good.
Despite global recognition, Sriram remains grounded in continuous learning:
“I still feel like a fresher out of university,”
emphasising curiosity, humility, and ongoing evolution in leadership.
Photo credits @gettyimages
Photo credits @gettyimages
A Shared Spirit of Bold Leadership
The Veuve Clicquot Bold Woman Awards continue to honour the legacy of Madame Clicquot by celebrating women who demonstrate resilience, innovation, and transformational impact across industries.
The 2026 edition marks the 54th year of the awards, recognising leaders who are not only building successful businesses but also reshaping industries through purpose-led innovation.
The Veuve Clicquot Future Award 2026 was awarded to Alisha Fredriksson for her pioneering work in maritime decarbonisation.
This year’s shortlist also included: Paula MacKenzie, Kanya King CBE, Josephine Philips and Marisa Poster.
The Bold Woman Award judging panel brought together leading voices across business and innovation, including Kristina Blahnik, Bridget Lea, Matt Penneycard, and Pip Jamieson.
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