Forbes unveiled its 2024 list of The World's 100 Most Powerful Women, highlighting the achievements of women who have made significant impacts in various fields. Three Indian women secured places on this prestigious list: Nirmala Sitharaman, Roshni Nadar Malhotra, and Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw.
Nirmala Sitharaman, ranked 28th, served as India’s Minister of Finance and Corporate Affairs. She made history in 2019 as the first woman to hold these roles full-time and was reappointed in 2024. Nirmala played a key role in managing India’s USD 4 trillion economy and projected that India would become the third-largest economy in the world by 2027. She was a strong advocate for women’s financial empowerment, encouraging entrepreneurship, improving access to credit, and promoting financial literacy. Before entering politics, Nirmala had an accomplished career at the BBC World Service and was a member of India’s National Commission for Women.
Roshni Nadar Malhotra, ranked 81st, was the Chairperson of HCL Technologies and the CEO of HCL Corporation. She led the USD 12 billion company, founded by her father, Shiv Nadar. Roshni played a key role in the company’s growth and success, particularly in expanding its global reach. Beyond her corporate role, she was deeply involved in social initiatives. She was a trustee of the Shiv Nadar Foundation and founded The Habitats Trust, which worked to protect and conserve natural habitats. With a background in journalism and an MBA from Kellogg, Roshni made a significant mark in both business and philanthropy.
Ranked 82nd, Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw was the founder of Biocon, a leading biopharmaceutical company. Under her leadership, Biocon expanded globally, including the establishment of one of Asia’s largest insulin production facilities. She oversaw Biocon Biologics’ USD 3.3 billion acquisition of Viatris' biosimilars business and played a key role in the IPO of Biocon-backed Bicara Therapeutics. Kiran, who originally aspired to be a doctor, transformed herself into a successful entrepreneur and philanthropist. In 2019, she made a generous donation of USD 7.5 million to cancer research. The top spots on the Forbes list were held by influential women such as Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, Christine Lagarde, President of the European Central Bank, and Giorgia Meloni, the Prime Minister of Italy.
These Indian women demonstrated leadership that extended beyond their professional achievements, shaping the future of their industries, empowering others, and contributing to the betterment of society. Their inclusion in this list recognized their exceptional contributions on both national and global levels.
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