An Exclusive Interview with Ms. Pallavi Misra, Founder & Managing Director of Adwards Intellitech, an Indian technology firm
In an exclusive conversation, Ms. Pallavi Misra, Founder and Managing Director of Adwards Intellitech, discusses leading innovation in India’s smart prepaid metering and energy management space, while reshaping leadership narratives in a traditionally male-dominated power technology and infrastructure ecosystem.
What inspired you to found Adwards Intelitech and tackle India’s smart metering challenges head-on?
Pallavi Misra: While working with my previous company around 2015–2016, I found that solutions exist in the market to measure energy.
However, most of the people, societies, communities and utilities are either unaware of these solutions or face challenges acquiring them because the solutions are not readily available on a standard Google platform.
AI was not as popular in those days as it is now. This inspired me to build a more efficient and sustainable energy ecosystem. Hence; Adwards was started with the thought of Advancing Towards Intelligent Technologies.
Our goal is not just to supply components but to enable smarter decision making, reduce commercial losses and provide support
What core technologies power Adwards Intelitech’s smart meters, and how do they ensure real-time accuracy and security?
Pallavi Misra: Our focus is not just the metering hardware but the complete intelligent energy ecosystem around it. At AIPL, we closely work with industry certified smart metering and solution providers that are built on globally accepted communication and metering standards.
The solution we integrate and deploy are powered by advanced communication protocols and is designed to support real-time data acquisition, remote monitoring and seamless integration with utility billing and analytical platforms.
Real time accuracy too is ensured through high-precision metrology standards and continuous data validation mechanisms.
What strategies have helped Adwards Intelitech emerge as a leader in India’s rapidly growing smart metering market?
Pallavi Misra: We do not claim leadership yet, we are still growing and steadily building our presence with our commitment to make energy flow transparent, efficient and intelligently managed across India.
What are the biggest regulatory and infrastructural hurdles in scaling smart metering across Indian states?
Pallavi Misra: Although the Government of India’s vision is very clear; to modernize the power sector through large-scale smart meter deployment, improved billing efficiency and reduction of AT&C losses.
However, the challenges across Indian states lie in variations in implementation frameworks, legacy system integration, communication infrastructure readiness and the financial health of each DISCOMs.
Nonetheless, stronger standardization and continued public-private collaboration are steadily addressing these hurdles.
How have government initiatives like Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme accelerated your growth trajectory?
Pallavi Misra: Initiatives like RDSS have created strong momentum in the power sector by emphasizing smart metering and digital transformation.
Even as we continue to expand our footprint; the Government’s clear policy direction has accelerated market readiness and reinforced the long-term growth potential of intelligent energy solutions.
What advice would you give women entrepreneurs entering the cleantech and energy tech space?
Pallavi Misra: Energy, cleantech and infrastructure have long been male-dominated sectors. But leadership in these industries is not about gender; it is about understanding the ecosystem, thinking strategically and executing with clarity. Women are equally capable of excelling in these spaces.
The first step is recognizing that we belong in this space not as exceptions, but as key stakeholders and decision-makers.
The Finance Minister, Ms. Nirmala Sitharaman, has demonstrated her leadership by presenting the Union Budget nine times, setting an example for all of us with her consistent leadership at the highest level.
Women leaders bring long-term vision, risk awareness and collaborative leadership which are essential for sectors like energy and cleantech that shape the future.
Anything else you may want to share.
Pallavi Misra: As a woman, I would honestly say that the boardroom presence of women in India is still very limited. And even where women are present, they are often positioned as symbolic participants rather than real contributors.
There is a significant difference between having a seat at the table and having a voice that shapes decisions. Too often, women are expected to observe rather than influence.
That silent role of being a spectator instead of a stakeholder can be deeply discouraging. True inclusion is not about representation alone. It is about participation, authority and trust.
When women are encouraged to contribute meaningfully, question and strategize, the quality of decision-making improves significantly. Industries, especially in energy and infrastructure, are complex and evolving.
They require diverse thinking, risk-balanced judgment and collaborative leadership. Women bring these strengths naturally. What is needed is not just presence, but empowerment.
As India advances its smart grid and AMI ambitions, Misra’s journey reflects resilience, strategic foresight and inclusive leadership, positioning Adwards Intellitech at the forefront of energy-tech transformation while inspiring greater gender diversity across the nation’s evolving power and infrastructure landscape.
| Are you an
Entrepreneur or Startup? Do you have a Success Story to Share? SugerMint would like to share your success story. We cover entrepreneur Stories, Startup News, Women entrepreneur stories, and Startup stories
|
Read more Success stories of Indian entrepreneurs, Women Entrepreneurs & startups stories at SugerMint. Follow us on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn