Top 5 Business Women in India

Women around the world are redefining leadership and empowerment, and Indian women, in particular, are at the forefront of this transformative wave. Whether in industries, leadership positions, pioneering new business models or turning aspirations into tangible achievements, Indian women are consistently scaling new heights. Every day, they are embracing and embodying the spirit of progress and empowerment, contributing significantly to the evolving narrative of women’s success.

Top 5 Business Women in India

• Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw
• Vani Kola
• Radhika Aggarwal
• Vandana Luthra
• Indra Nooyi

Let’s discuss some women business tycoons who have achieved extraordinary levels of success in their lives:

1. Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw: “The Technology Pioneer”

• Born on: 23rd March 1953 (age 70 years)
• Born in: Bengaluru, India

The founder of Biocon Limited, stands as a leading figure in the biotechnology sector and ranks top among India’s foremost business women.

• Additionally, she successfully booked a spot on the Financial Times’ in the list of top 50 Women in Business.

In 2019, Forbes, marked her as the 65th Most Powerful Woman in the world.

Recognition:

Recipient of Padma Shri (1989), Padma Bhushan (2005)

• In 1989, She proved her efficiency in the biotechnology sector and received “the Padma Shri” award and in year 2005 she was presented with the “Padma Bhushan” from the Government of India for her contribution .

Technology Pioneer

In 2002, the World Economic Forum acknowledged her as a “Technology Pioneer”.

• Awarded EY World Entrepreneur of the Year (2020) and EY Entrepreneur of the Year India Award (2019)
• Honored with the Order of Australia (2020)
• Received ICMR’s Lifetime Achievement Award for Outstanding Achievement in Healthcare (2019)
• Acknowledged with the AWSM Award for Excellence (2017)
• Knighted as a part of the National Order of the French Legion of Honour (2016)
• Awarded the Othmer Gold Medal (2014)
• Recognized with the Global Economy Prize for Business (2014)

Education

• B.Sc. in Zoology (Honors), Bangalore University
• Post-Graduate Diploma in Malting and Brewing, Ballarat Institute of Advanced Education, Melbourne, Australia

Honorary Doctorates from several prestigious universities:

• Deakin University, Victoria, Australia
• Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh, UK
• University of Glasgow, Scotland, UK
• University of Abertay, Dundee, Scotland, UK
• Ballarat University, Australia
• Presidency University, Kolkata, India
• Bennett University, Greater Noida, India

She is one of the most prominent Indian businesswomen today.

2. Vani Kola – Venture Capitalist

Born: 1964 (age: 60 years)

Born in: Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh

Vani Kola, the founder of Kalaari Capital, holds a significant influential position in various businesses, globally. Her remarkable contributions as a venture capitalist have been pivotal in shaping and nurturing the startup ecosystem in India. Kalaari Capital, under her leadership, serves as a backbone for numerous emerging businesses across diverse sectors.

Recognition:

In recognition of her achievements, she has received numerous accolades. Below is a compilation of awards and recognitions bestowed upon Vani Kola:

Forbes acknowledged Vani Kola as one of the Most Powerful Women in Indian Business in 2014.

• The Economic Times honored Vani Kola with the Midas Touch award in the best investor category in 2015.
• In 2016, Vani Kola earned a spot in the LinkedIn Top Voices list.
• Recognizing her leadership and entrepreneurial excellence, Vani Kola received the NDTV Women of Worth award.
• The TiE Delhi-NCR Women Entrepreneurship Summit bestowed the award upon Vani Kola at the event held on July 20, 2018.
• Vani Kola was named among Fortune India’s ‘Most Powerful Women in Business’ in both 2018 and 2019.

Education:

Electrical Engineering

• Vani pursued a bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering at Osmania University, Hyderabad. During her time there, she stood out as one of only six girls in a class comprising 400 students.

Master’s Degree in Engineering

• After completing her Bachelor’s Degree, she moved to the United States to pursue a Master’s Degree in Engineering at Arizona State University in 1985.

3. Radhika Aggarwal – “internet entrepreneur”

Radhika Aggarwal, presently serving as the Chief Business Officer at ShopClues, stands out as a prominent “internet entrepreneur”.

She achieved the notable feat of being the first woman acknowledged for entering the unicorn club.

ShopClues was established in 2011 in Silicon Valley.

• With a rich experience spanning 14 years, she excelled herself in diversified industries such as lifestyle, e-commerce, fashion, public relations, and retail.

Recognition:

Aggarwal garnered numerous awards in recognition of her outstanding dedication and success in the e-commerce sector. Some of these accolades include:

• Outlook Businesswoman of Worth at Outlook Business Awards (2016).
• Woman Entrepreneur of the Year at Entrepreneur India Awards (2016).
• Exemplary Woman Entrepreneur of the Year at CMO Asia Awards (2016).
• CEO of the Year Award at CEO India Awards (2016).

Education:

She earned her MBA from Washington University in St. Louis and holds a postgraduate degree in advertising and public relations.

• Additionally, she participated in an executive program at Stanford University.

4. Vandana Luthra – VLCC

Born on: 12th July 1959 (age 64 years)

Born in: New Delhi, India

Vandana Luthra, the visionary founder of VLCC Health Care Ltd, is a renowned Indian entrepreneur.

Currently, the brand functions in 12 countries spanning South Asia, Southeast Asia, the GCC region, and East Africa, establishing a presence in 153 cities. This narrative unveils the individual instrumental in the success of Vandana Luthra Curls and Curves (VLCC), a brand supported by the government. She is a beauty with brains and a role model for numerous women.

Chairperson of B&WSSC

Vandana Luthra serves as the Chairperson of the Beauty & Wellness Sector Skill Council (B&WSSC), an initiative offering training programs under the Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana.

Recognition:

• She received the Padma Shri in 2013.
• In 2010, she was honored with The Enterprise Asia Woman Entrepreneur of the Year award.
• In 2012, she was presented with The Asian Business Leaders Forum Trailblazer Award.
• In the prestigious annual Forbes Asia 2016 list, she secured the 26th position among the 50 most powerful businesswomen in the APAC region.

For five consecutive years from 2011 to 2015, she was featured in Fortune magazine’s annual list of the ’50 Most Powerful Women in Business in India.’

Education:

She graduated from the Polytechnic for Women in New Delhi. Following her graduation, she relocated to Europe to pursue specialization in beauty, food, nutrition, and skincare.

• Subsequently, she undertook various specialized courses and modules in Beauty Care, Fitness, Food & Nutrition, and Skin Care in cities such as London, Munich, and Paris.

5. Indra Nooyi – An Indian-American business executive

Born on: 28th October 1955 (age 68 years)

Born in: Chennai, Tamil Nadu

Indra Nooyi served as the former Chairman and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of PepsiCo from 2006 to 2019. PepsiCo is a Fortune 50 company with operations spanning more than 180 countries.

• Currently, she holds positions on the boards of both Amazon and the International Cricket Council (ICC). Furthermore, she serves on the International Advisory Council of Temasek and acts as an independent director for the International Cricket Council.

Indra Nooyi has maintained a consistent presence among the world’s top 100 most powerful women.

Recognition:

In 2007, she was honoured with the Padma Bhushan award by the Government of India.

• In 2018, Nooyi earned the recognition of being named one of the “Best CEOs In The World” by CEOWORLD magazine.

Education:

She obtained bachelor’s degrees in physics, chemistry, and mathematics from Madras Christian College at the University of Madras in 1975.

• She also earned a MBA degree from the Indian Institute of Management Calcutta (IIM C) in 1976.
• In 1978, Nooyi gained admission to Yale School of Management and relocated to the United States, completing her master’s degree in public and private management in 1980.

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