Women CEOs in India have broken the glass ceiling, inspiring more women to pursue leadership positions. Having gender diversity at the top level of an organisation is crucial for creating an inclusive and diverse work environment. It ensures that women’s perspectives and experiences are taken into account, which is essential for fostering a well-rounded and balanced workplace. Female CEOs play a crucial role as both role models and mentors for women who aspire to become leaders. They effectively utilise the diverse talents and skills of their workforce to bring about positive changes in society.
Let us look at five female CEOs who are trailblazers in their field
Roshni Nadar: Roshni Nadar, a trailblazing leader and visionary, stands as a shining example of excellence and empowerment as one of India’s prominent women CEOs. She has etched her name in the annals of history as the first woman to assume the helm of a publicly traded IT company in India.
Nadar’s formidable efforts in establishing ‘The Habitats’ trust exemplify her profound dedication to environmental stewardship, making her an inspiring force in the quest to ensure a greener and more sustainable future for generations to come.
Her outstanding efforts have earned her numerous accolades, including NDTV’s Young Philanthropist of the Year in 2014, The World’s Most Innovative People Award in 2015, and Vogue India’s Philanthropist of the Year in 2017.
Leena Nair: Leena Nair currently serves as the global CEO of Chanel. Nair began her career at Unilever in 1992 as a management trainee at Hindustan Unilever.
In her career spanning over three decades, Nair held the role of Chief Human Resource Officer at Unilever and was a member of the Unilever Leadership Executive. Nair was responsible for managing human capital across 190 countries and achieving Unilever’s recognition as the top FMCG graduate employer in 54 countries.
She has been honoured with various awards, including being listed on Forbes India’s Top Self-Made Women’s List. She also received the Global Indian of the Year award at The Economic Times’ Prime Women Leadership Awards in 2020. She was also recognised by Queen Elizabeth II in 2017 as an accomplished Indian Business Leader in the UK.
Kiran Mazumdar Shaw: The Padmashri recipient was initiated into studying fermentation science by her father, who worked at United Breweries. Graduating at the top of the class as the only woman in the malting and brewing course, Mazumdar, while in Ireland, crossed paths with Leslie Auchincloss, the founder of Biocon Biochemicals Limited. Auchincloss sought a partner in India to establish a subsidiary for Papain. Mazumdar agreed, with the condition of a comparable brew master’s position if she chose to discontinue six months later.
In 1978, Kiran Mazumdar Shaw founded Biocon India with a seed capital of Rs. 10,000 in the garage of her rented house in Bengaluru. Under Mazumdar Shaw’s leadership, Biocon transformed from a manufacturer of industrial enzymes to an integrated bio-pharmaceutical company. With a balanced product portfolio and research focus on diabetes, oncology, and auto-immune diseases, Biocon became a leader in the industry. Mazumdar Shaw played a pivotal role in this evolution.
With national accolades to her name, such as Padma Bhushan in 2005 and Padmashri in 1989, Mazumdar’s excellence in her field is one of perseverance and inspiration to women.
Swati Ajay Piramal: As an Indian scientist and industrialist, she focuses on public health and innovation. She serves as the Vice Chairperson of Piramal Group, and her expertise in healthcare is a key asset to the group’s operations.
In the mid-1970s, Piramal and her medical school friends established a polio center after encountering a girl affected by the disease. Through street plays, door-to-door education, and providing free treatment to children, they successfully immunised and treated everyone in the area within ten years. With their goal accomplished, the centre was eventually closed.
Piramal received the prestigious Padma Shri from the President of India in 2012. She made history as the first female president of India’s Apex Chamber of Commerce. Additionally, she holds advisory roles at Harvard Business School and Public Health, serving as a member of the Harvard Board of Overseers and a Dean’s Advisor.
The importance of gender diversity at the C-suite level cannot be stressed enough. Representation at these levels is crucial to bringing about a change that is impactful for women in competitive fields.
