“I will just create, and if it works, it works, and if it doesn’t, I’ll create something else. I don’t have any limitations on what I think I could do or be.”- Oprah Winfrey. It proves to be true for the women of India we are mentioning today.
International Women’s Day this year will be celebrated on 8th March 2024– we are sharing the light of Indian women who have made a remarkable journey from pioneering industrialists to sports to politics. They are brilliant entrepreneurs and artists. Indian women have broken barriers and achieved greatness in every field imaginable.
Today, we share with you the hard work of these 10 most influencing women changemakers who are leading the way in science, business, and social activism. Their determination and achievements pave the path for a brighter future for all. Let their stories continue to inspire us to create an empowered world.
India’s Top 10 Influential Women
Check the list below India’s most influential women and their success stories.
1. Nirmala Sitaraman
Nirmala SItaraman, 64, is an Indian economist and a senior politician of the Bhartiya Janta Party ( BJP). Ms. Sitharaman is the first full-time female Finance Minister of India since 2019, presented five Union Budgets since 2019, and oversaw India’s rise to the fifth largest economy globally.
She is the second female Defense Minister and Finance Minister after Mrs. Indira Gandhi. She served as the 28th Defense Minister from 2017 to 2019. In 2023, the Forbes List of Most Powerful Women ranked her 32, positioned 36th in 2022.
2. Nita Ambani
Nita Ambani, 60, is among the most influential Indian women and a proud wife of Mr. Mukesh Ambani, who wears many hats as a philanthropist, businesswoman, educationist, and patron of the arts and sports. She is the Founder and Chairperson of Reliance Foundation, where she empowers millions through education, healthcare, and rural development. Nita Ambani is a director at Reliance Industries and founded Dirubhai Ambani International School, Nita Mukesh Ambani Cultural Centre, and Mumbai Indians in the Indian Premier League (IPL).
It is noteworthy that she is the first Indian woman elected to the International Olympic Committee (IOC), founder of Football Sports Development Limited, winner of the Rashtriya Khel Protsahan Award, promoter of Indian sports, and the most influential woman in Asian business.
3. Gita Gopinath
Gita Gopinath, 52, is an Indian American economist currently serving as the First Deputy Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) since 21st January 2022. She made history by breaking this barrier and contributed significantly with her expertise during the global economic crisis triggered by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Ms Gopinath is a renowned scholar with extensive research contributions. Her work focuses on international finance and macroeconomics published in top economic journals.
At Harvard University, she is the John Zwaanstra Professor of International Studies and Economics, a fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, the Econometric Society, and awarded with the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman as well as the “Top Global Thinkers” by Foreign Policy and the “Top 25 Young Economists Under 45” by the International Monetary Fund.
4. Sudha Murty
Mrs. Sudha Murty, born Sudha Kulkarni in 1950, is an Indian educator, author, philanthropist, and former chairperson of Infosys Foundation. The foundation focuses on rural development, education, healthcare, and public hygiene. Murty’s leadership has contributed to over 7000 libraries and 16,000 toilets across India.
Married to Mr. Narayan Murty, co-founder of Infosys, she was awarded the Padma Shri for her social work in 2006. Mrs. Murthy holds a Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering from the Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore. She was the first Women of India engineer hired by TELCO (Tata Engineering and Locomotive Company).
She is also a renowned author who primarily writes in English, Kannada, and Marathi. Her books, often focusing on simple living, human values, and social issues, have gained widespread popularity. She owns two of India’s highest civilian honors, Padma Shri (2006) and Padma Bhushan (2023).
5. Soma Mondal
Smt. Soma Mondal, born in Bhubaneswar, is an Indian former business executive who served as the Chairperson of the Steel Authority of India (SAIL). She is the first woman of India to hold the position and is known as the “Queen of Steel” for her 35 years of contributions to the metal industry.
She earned a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from the National Institute of Technology, Rourkela, in 1984, and began her career as a Graduate Engineer Trainee at NALCO (National Aluminium Company Limited), later appointed as the Director in 2014.
In March 2017, she joined SAIL as the Director (Commercial). In January 2021, Smt. Mondal was appointed as the Chairperson of SAIL, making her the first woman to hold the position. She is a member of the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) National Committee on Steel and the Chairperson of the CII sub-committee on “Safeguard for Tariff and Non-Tariff Barrier”. In April 2023, Mondal resigned as Chairperson of SAIL and joined the Public Enterprise Selection Board (PESB).
In 2022 and 2023, Smt Soma Mondal is ranked 70th in Forbes World’s 100 Most Powerful Women of India. In 2023, she chaired SCOPE and received the ETPrime Women Leadership Award for CEO of the Year.
6. Madhabi Puri Buch
Madhabi Puri Buch, 58, is a prominent Indian woman in the financial sector, serving as the Chairperson of the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) since March 1, 2022. She is the first woman of India to lead this crucial regulatory body and is featured in Forbes’ list of “World’s 100 Most Powerful Women”. She is one of the youngest and first private-sector professionals to head SEBI.
Born in 1966, Madhabhi Puri holds a graduate degree in Mathematics from St. Stephen’s College, Delhi, and an MBA from the prestigious Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad (IIM-Ahmedabad).
Before joining SEBI, she worked as Executive Director at ICICI Bank, Managing Director and CEO at ICICI Securities, Consultant for the New Development Bank in Shanghai, and Head of the Greater Pacific Capital’s Singapore branch.
7. Roshni Nadar Malhotra
Roshni Nadar Malhotra, 42, is an Indian Billionaire businesswoman and CEO at HCL Technologies. She is the sole child of HCL group founder Mr. Shiv Nadar and is the first woman to lead an IT company in India. HCL Technologies is a multinational IT services and consulting company of over $12 billion. As a trustee of the Shiv Nadar Foundation, she promotes education and social development initiatives. She is ranked among the “World’s 100 Most Powerful Women” by Forbes and the richest Woman in India according to the IIFL Wealth Hurun India Rich List (2019).
Ms. Roshni grew up in Delhi and graduated from Vasant Valley School in Delhi, Northwestern University with a major in Communication (focusing on Radio/TV/Film), and Kellogg School of Management with an MBA. Before joining HCL, she worked in various companies as a producer, gaining valuable experience in the media and entertainment industry.
8. Kiran Mazumdar Shaw
Kiran Mazumdar Shaw, 70, is also an Indian Billionaire entrepreneur and a globally recognized leader in the biopharmaceutical industry. She is an executive chairperson and founder of Biocon Ltd. And Biocon Biologics Ltd, Bangalore. She is also the chairperson of IIM (Indian Institute of Management, Bangalore).
Ms. Shaw was born in 1953 in Bangalore, India, and has a degree in Zoology from Bangalore University and a Master’s degree in Brewing and Malting from the University of Melbourne, Australia. In 1978, with a mere Rs. 10,000, Mazumdar-Shaw established Biocon, a global leader in biopharmaceuticals that started by providing consulting services for fermentation technology and later ventured into enzyme production.
She holds many prestigious awards, including the Padma Bhushan (2016) and Padma Vibhushan (2020), Forbes’ list of the “World’s 100 Most Powerful Women” multiple times, and the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year Award (2000).
9. Shobana Kamnineni
Shobana Kamineni, 63, is a prominent figure in the Indian healthcare industry, holding the position of Executive Vice-Chairperson of Apollo Hospitals Enterprise Limited (AHEL). She is the daughter of Pratap. C. Reddy (founder of Apollo Hospitals) working for Apollo Pharmacy, Apollo 24/7, and Leadership of AHEL.
She played a crucial role in establishing Biobank, recognized by Time Magazine as one of the top 10 ideas of the decade in Life Sciences. Also, Championed the development of Apollo Munich Health Insurance. Ms. Kameneni founded Billion Hearts Beating, an NGO promoting heart disease prevention in India.
She is honored as the First woman President of the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) in over a century and is actively involved in global public health initiatives. She is listed among “Businesswomen of the Decade” by the Women’s Economic Forum and has honorary doctorates from Bryant University, USA, and BML Munjal University, India.
10. Falguni Nayar
Falguni Nayar, 61, is an Indian billionaire businesswoman and the founder and CEO of Nykaa– India’s leading beauty and lifestyle retail company, also known as FSN E-commerce Ventures. She is a self-made businesswoman woman, defying traditional career paths.
Ms. Nayar is a Mumbaiyan from a Gujarati family with a business background. She completed her MBA in Finance from the Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad (IIM-Ahmedabad). Before Nykaa, she had a successful 20-year career as an investment banker at Kotak Mahindra Capital. At 50, in 2012, she took a bold step by quitting her well-established career to become an entrepreneur. With an initial investment of $2 million, she launched Nykaa, aiming to bridge the gap in the Indian beauty market by offering a curated selection of authentic beauty brands via online and offline stores.
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Conclusion
India has a rich history of remarkable women who have not only influenced the course of the country but have also made a global impact. From political leaders and social activists to entrepreneurs and scientists, India’s women have shown resilience, determination, and strength in various fields. These women continue to break barriers, inspire the younger generation, and shape the future of the nation. The women of India have proven that they are an unstoppable force in every aspect of life. Whether it’s leading social change, pioneering innovations, or excelling in sports, these women are powerful examples of how much impact one individual can make. As we look toward the future, it’s clear that India’s women will continue to lead and inspire with their incredible contributions.
