"A Woman’s Journey from Silence to Breaking Barriers through Global Impact."
-- Dr. Ishita Luthra
Dedication
This book is lovingly dedicated to my husband, Mr. Gaurav Luthra—my constant, my calm, and my fiercest supporter. In moments of doubt, you stood firm; in times of chaos, you brought clarity. Your quiet strength and unwavering belief in me gave me the courage to rise and the freedom to grow.
To my parents, thank you for giving me roots strong enough to rise. Your values, discipline, and resilience became the foundation on which I built my dreams. You didn’t just guide me—you inspired me to choose my own path with strength and conviction.
To my family and brother, thank you for being my reminder of where I come from. Your pride and quiet support gave me the confidence to keep moving forward, even when the way was uncertain.
Finally, this book is for all the women who dream in silence, who carry ambition with grace, and who rise despite the odds. And to every man like Gaurav who stands beside them—thank you for making space where it matters most.
– Dr. Ishita Luthra
Phase 1 : Whispers of Wisdom from Amritsar
'Love is never lost. If not reciprocated, it will flow back and soften and purify the heart." - Washington Irving
Born and raised in the sacred city of Amritsar, Punjab, Dr. Ishita Luthra was nurtured in an environment where intellect, integrity, and ambition were deeply rooted in her lineage. With both her parents being practicing lawyers, and a younger brother who would later follow the same path, it was expected that law would become her calling too. However, fate had other plans.
Her mother, a woman of deep intellect and strength, had once aspired to practice law but was denied that chance by life’s circumstances. She carried that experience not as regret, but as a conviction—to ensure her daughter would not walk the same path only to be hindered from fulfilling it. It was this foresight that shaped the early life of Dr. Ishita Luthra.
From an early age, she exhibited brilliance. She studied at Saint Francis Convent School in Amritsar, where her academic performance until class eight placed her among the top of her class. Her teachers often described her as sharp, articulate, and deeply curious about the world. But at the age of twelve, a wave of unexpected health challenges disrupted her academic rhythm. As her body fought silent battles, her grades began to dip—a shift that frightened her more than the illness itself.
She chose Science in the 11th standard, a decision that further distanced her from her natural flair for words and stories. Writing had always been her comfort zone—books, poems, journaling, and reflections had helped her through the most confusing times of her youth. Yet, at this crossroads, she was gently but firmly nudged toward a technical degree. While the idea of journalism and literature lingered like a distant dream, she accepted the decision as a necessary detour rather than defeat.
Looking back, the early years of Dr. Ishita Luthra were a masterclass in emotional growth. They taught her how to persevere, how to respect others’ visions for her while not abandoning her own, and how to carry hope even when it had to be hidden in the back pocket of more “practical” choices. Little did she know then that every turn of her early life would contribute to the remarkable journey she was destined to undertake.
Phase 2 : Crossroads and Compass – The Educational Journey
Love yourself first and everything else falls into line - Lucille Ball
After completing her schooling in Amritsar, Dr. Ishita Luthra stood at a critical juncture—one that would define the trajectory of her future. While her inner world was illuminated by words, stories, and an undeniable passion for literature and journalism, the world outside presented a different narrative: one of pragmatism, technical degrees, and conventional career paths. Despite her aspirations to study the arts and pursue a life of writing, her family—particularly her parents—encouraged her to follow the more secure and structured route of engineering.
Yielding to their wishes, she moved to New Delhi in 2007 to prepare for the AIEEE engineering entrance examinations. The city, bustling with ambition and intense academic competition, was both overwhelming and invigorating. She attended coaching classes while secretly nurturing her creative interests.
During this time, she also applied to a few journalism and literature programs in New Delhi, hoping against hope that perhaps she could shift direction. But her family remained resolute: engineering, they believed, was the doorway to a respectable and financially secure life.
In a move driven more by duty than desire, she appeared for a state-level engineering exam at her parents’ request and successfully secured admission. Though initially offered a seat at Delhi Engineering College, she ultimately returned to Amritsar to complete her Bachelor of Technology in Urban and Regional Planning at Guru Nanak Dev University. This return home, while seemingly a backward step to some, gave her both familiarity and a renewed sense of grounding.
In September 2016, Dr. Ishita Luthra began her Master’s program in Denmark. It was a rigorous, interdisciplinary course that explored how urban environments could be designed for better mobility, inclusivity, and sustainability. She immersed herself in academic life, learning not only new theories but also adapting to a new country, language, and culture. She excelled in group research, policy analysis, and understanding the intersection of transport and urban design. The academic environment in Denmark was unlike anything she had experienced before—more inclusive, more flexible, and more focused on real-world impact.
Her thesis work and class projects gave her the platform to finally merge technical understanding with social change—something she had longed for since her teenage years. She was awarded her MSc degree in June 2019, marking the completion of a journey filled with emotional battles, compromises, and tremendous personal growth.
By the end of her higher education, Dr. Ishita Luthra was no longer just a woman navigating the wishes of others—she had emerged as a visionary with both technical expertise and a renewed belief in her own voice. Her educational path, though non-linear, had shaped her into a thinker who could blend structure with creativity, planning with empathy.
The seeds of resilience planted in Amritsar had now bloomed into a full-fledged commitment to make a tangible difference in the world.
Phase 3 : The Professional Evolution
The greatest pleasure of life is love - Euripides
Freshly armed with her Bachelor of Technology in Urban and Regional Planning, Dr. Ishita Luthra stepped into the professional world with the same grace, tenacity, and quiet courage that had carried her through a path she hadn’t originally chosen. Her first offer came from Wipro, one of India’s most prominent IT firms—even before she had formally completed her undergraduate degree. Although the job did not align perfectly with her aspirations or academic background, it served as her entry point into the professional realm, and she embraced it wholeheartedly.
The early days at Wipro were both exciting and confining. While the structured environment and modest salary were manageable, what unsettled her most was the mechanical routine. She quickly realized that the rigidity of the corporate setup clashed with her dynamic personality and long-term vision. This restlessness was not born out of ingratitude, but from a deep sense that she had more to offer, more to question, and more meaningful problems to solve. After a few months, she made the bold decision to leave Wipro and relocate to Gurgaon, hoping for a more exploratory and fulfilling professional experience.
Her decision, however, was met with resistance at home. Concerned by her departure from a stable job, her parents stepped in—bringing her back to Amritsar with the hope of redirecting her career toward opportunities abroad. Though their actions felt restrictive, they were grounded in love and concern. They wanted her to walk a path where she would not have to struggle or be undervalued.
It was during this transitional period that Dr. Ishita Luthra began preparing for the next defining chapter of her life.
Each of these roles, be it in India, the United States, Canada, or Denmark, added layers to her expertise, from business analysis and stakeholder engagement to strategic project planning and execution. Today, her profile at the Port of Esbjerg is considered high-ranking, and her name is recognized in elite circles. It is said that the second most powerful figure in Denmark, just beneath the King, greets her by name when they cross paths.
Dr. Ishita Luthra’s professional path has been as diverse as it has been profound. What began with compromises in career choices has now flourished into a global portfolio of accomplishments. She is not merely a manager or researcher, she is a builder of networks, a shaper of sustainable futures, and a living testament to how adaptability, perseverance, and vision can break molds and redefine success.