Leadership
Indian Women Shaping Global Influence: Meet the 4 Influential Women on Forbes’ List Of 100 Most Powerful Women Of 2023
Business magazine Forbes recently unveiled its highly anticipated annual list of the World’s Most Powerful Women for 2023, and what’s particularly noteworthy is the prominent presence of four accomplished Indian women. These trailblazers have not only shattered glass ceilings, but have also left an indelible mark on the global stage, representing the diverse and influential voices emerging from India. Forbes employed a comprehensive ranking system, considering four key metrics: money, media presence, impact, and spheres of influence. Let’s delve into the remarkable achievements and contributions of these four influential Indian women.
Nirmala Sitharaman (Ranked – 32nd)
Nirmala Sitharaman, Finance Minister and Minister of Corporate Affairs, is the highest-ranking Indian woman, ranking 32nd. Her standings have improved from last year, when she was ranked 36th.
At 64, Nirmala Sitharaman is a senior figure in the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and has been India’s Minister of Finance and Minister of Corporate Affairs since 2019. Ms. Sitharaman’s remarkable journey includes serving as the 28th Defence Minister from 2017 to 2019, making her India’s second female to hold both the defense and finance portfolios after the legendary Indira Gandhi. Her tenure has been marked by resilience, strategic acumen, and an unwavering commitment to steering India’s economic trajectory.
Roshni Nadar Malhotra (Ranked – 60th)
Roshni Nadar Malhotra, an Indian millionaire and philanthropist, ranked 60th and is the first Indian woman to lead a publicly traded IT company in India. According to the IIFL Wealth Hurun India Rich List (2019), she is the richest woman in India according to the IIFL Wealth Hurun India Rich List (2019), and the only daughter of HCL founder Shiv Nadar.
Roshni Nadar Malhotra, at the age of 42, stands as an Indian billionaire and philanthropist, breaking barriers as the chairperson of HCL Technologies. She made history as the first woman to lead a listed IT company in India.. Consistently ranked among the world’s most powerful women by Forbes, Ms. Malhotra’s leadership not only reshapes the landscape of the IT industry, but also sets an inspiring example for aspiring women leaders globally.
Soma Mondal (Ranked – 70th)
Soma Mondal, Chairman of the Steel Authority of India, is ranked 70th. She received the ‘CEO of the Year’ award at the ET Prime Women Leadership Awards this year.
Born in Bhubaneswar, Soma Mondal, aged 60, graduated in Electrical Engineering in 1984, and over the next 35 years, she amassed extensive experience in the metal industry. Her journey from NALCO to becoming the Director (Commercial) at SAIL in 2017 is a testament to her unwavering dedication and exceptional leadership skills.
Beyond her corporate achievements, Ms. Mondal holds the position of Chairperson of SCOPE and was honored as ‘CEO of the Year’ at the ET Prime Women Leadership Awards in 2023. Her 70th position on the Forbes list reflects not only her individual accomplishments but also the increasing recognition of women in traditionally male-dominated industries.
Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw (Ranked 76th)
Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw, a well-known Indian billionaire entrepreneur, ranked 76th on the list. She founded and runs Biocon Limited and Biocon Biologics Limited in Bangalore. She is a former chairman of the Indian Institute of Management, Bangalore.
At the age of 70, Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw is a prominent Indian billionaire entrepreneur, whose contributions extend beyond the corporate sphere. Ms. Mazumdar-Shaw’s accolades include the Othmer Gold Medal in 2014 for her contributions to science and chemistry. In 2011, she was featured on the Financial Times‘ Top 50 Women in Business list. Forbes recognized her as the 68th most powerful woman globally in 2019, and in 2020, she was honored as the EY World Entrepreneur Of The Year. Her 76th position on the Forbes List of powerful women in 2023 underscores her enduring influence and impact on both business and science.
Women of Indian Origin
Four Indian-origin women reached the Forbes list of America’s 100 richest self-made women, With a total net worth of $4.06 billion, Forbes has named four Indian-origin women to its list: Jayshree Ullal, president and CEO of computer networking firm Arista Networks; Neerja Sethi, co-founder of IT consulting and outsourcing firm Synte; Neha Narkhede, co-founder and former chief technology officer (CTO) of cloud company Confluent; and Indra Nooyi, former chair and CEO of PepsiCo.
Most Inspirational Woman
Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, is the most inspirational woman on the list. She holds this position for the second year in a row. Christine Lagarde, President of the European Central Bank, is ranked second, with Kamala Harris, Vice President of the United States, ranking third. All three of the leading scorers retained their positions.
