Laxmi Sharma is a Nepali entrepreneur. She is credited as the first woman to drive an auto-rickshaw and went on to establish the first button factory in Nepal. She was married at an early age and after getting a divorce she worked as a housemaid for sixteen years. Later, she started to drive a rickshaw. Though she was harassed for being a woman driver, she went on to open Laxmi Wood Craft Udhyog, a company that made buttons. The buttons were exported to Germany, Switzerland, Zambia, Denmark, and the USA.
Laxmi is also the founding member of KAT Nepal. Being an animal lover and looked upon as an inspirational figure in Nepal, she was asked by Jan Salter to bring her vision and insight to KAT Nepal. She has played a vital role in KAT Nepal’s success over the years.