Recently, Forbes released its list of 100 Most Powerful Women across the world. And, three Indian women made it to the list.
Among the 100 most powerful women in the world, our Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, HCL Corporation CEO and Executive Director Roshni Nadar Malhotra, and Biocon Founder Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw made the list.
While Nirmala Sitharaman was ranked 41st, Roshni Nadar Malhotra ranked 55th and Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw ranked 68th on the list. Here’s a Forbes’ quick summary of these three powerful Indian women, who made us proud.
Forbes #41: Nirmala Sitharaman
Minister of Finance and Corporate Affairs, India
Nirmala Sitharaman was appointed as India’s finance minister in May 2019 and is also the minister for corporate affairs. She is India’s first full-time female finance minister. Before her career in politics, Sitharaman held roles at the U.K.-based Agricultural Engineers Association and BBC World Service. She has also served as a member of the National Commission for Women.
Forbes #55: Roshni Nadar Malhotra
CEO & Executive Director, HCL Enterprise
Malhotra is CEO of HCL Corporation, the holding company for all group entities, and vice-chairperson of the publicly-traded company HCL Technologies. She’s responsible for all strategic decisions for the $8.9 billion technology company.
Founded by her father, Shiv Nadar, in 1976, HCL became a central player in India’s rise as an IT hub. Malhotra took HCL’s chairperson role from her father in July 2020. She is a trustee of the Shiv Nadar Foundation, which is focused on education and has established some of India’s top colleges and schools.
Roshni Nadar was recently featured on Forbes’ 100 Richest Indian Women of 2020 as well.
Forbes #68: Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw
Founder, Chair & Managing Director, Biocon Ltd.
Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw, India’s richest self-made woman, founded India’s largest listed biopharmaceutical firm by revenue, in 1978. The firm has successfully forayed into the lucrative US biosimilars market, catching the attention of investors. The company has sold 3 billion doses of insulin to date and has Asia’s largest insulin factory in Malaysia’s Johor region.
Biocon has received Indian regulatory permission to conduct phase 4 trials for its drug Itolizumab as a potential treatment for Covid-19. Her philanthropic initiative, The Mazumdar Shaw Medical Centre, aims to create a sustainable, affordable cancer care model. Kiran Mazumdar also recently made it on Forbes’ 100 Richest Indian Women of 2020.
Along with the above mentioned, there were many other inspiring women who made it to the list.
Angela Merkel (#1), Christine Lagarde (#2), Kamala Harris (#3), Melinda Gates (#5), Oprah Winfrey (#20), Sheryl Sandberg ( #22), Jacinda Ardern (#32), Mackenzie Scott (#67), Rihana (#69), Beyonce Knowles (#72), Taylor Swift (#82), Reese Witherspoon (#92)