Top 16 Successful Indian Business Women You Must Know!

Women empowerment has been a topic of much discussion. While many are yet to get comfortable with the idea of seeing women rise and reach their true potential, a vast majority are women fighting culture and society to rise above the norms. They are rising above the regular bar set by society and are changing the way business world functions today. Women are working both at home and excelling at the workplace. They are one of the greatest examples for maintaining work-life balance. Let's meet top such Indian businesswomen who have changed the world and took Indian into the global maps.

Top Successful Indian Women Entreprenuers

1. Indra Nooyi

Indra Nooyi is a businesswoman who has been instrumental in the growth and expansion of Pepsico. Nooyi served as Pepsico’s CEO and chairman. Today, she serves on the boards of Amazon and the International Cricket Council (ICC).

In 2008, Nooyi was elected as the chairwoman of the US-India Business Council. In 2009, she was named as the ‘TopGun CEOs’ by Brendan Wood International. In 2013, she was awarded by the former President of India Pranab Mukherjee at the Rashtrapati Bhavan. She has been consistently bagging a place in the list of the world’s 100 most powerful women. In 2014, Nooyi ranked #13 on Forbes list of the World’s 100 Most Powerful Women.

In 2015, she ranked #2 on Fortune’s list of the Most Powerful Women. Again in 2017, Nooyi ranked #2 on Forbes list of the 19 Most Powerful Women in Business. In 2018, she was named as one of the ‘Best CEOs in the World’ by CEOWORLD Magazine.

2. Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw

Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw is an Indian billionaire entrepreneur. She is the chairperson and the managing director of Biocon Limited based in Bangalore. She is also the former chairperson of Indian Institute of Management, Bangalore. In 1989, Mazumdar received the Padma Shri from the Government of India for her contribution toward the biotechnology sector.

In 2002, she was recognised as a Technology Pioneer by the World Economic Forum. In the same year, she also received the Ernst and Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award. In 2005, she received the Indian Chamber of Commerce Lifetime Achievement Award and Corporate Leadership Award by the American India Foundation. In the same year, she also received the Padma Bhushan from the government of India.

In 2009, she received the Nikkei Asia Prize for regional growth. In 2014, Kiran was awarded the Othmer Gold Medal for contribution to science and chemistry. She was also on the list of top 50 Women in Business by Financial Times. In 2019, Forbes listed her as the #65 on the list of Most Powerful women in the world.

3. Vandana Luthra

Vandana Luthra is a celebrated Indian entrepreneur. She is the founder of VLCC Health Care Ltd. She is the chairperson of the Beauty and Wellness Sector Skill and Council (B&WSSC).

She was first appointed as the chairperson of this sector in 2014. This is an undertaking of the government of India that provides skills training for the beauty Industry. Luthra was ranked #26 in Forbes Asia list 2016 of 50 Power Businesswoman.

VLCC is one of the best beauty and wellness service industries in the country. It has its operations up and running in 326 locations across 153 cities in 13 countries in South Asia, South East Asia, the GCC region and East Africa. The industry has 4000 employees, including medical professionals, nutrition counsellors, physiotherapists, cosmetologists and beauty professionals.

4. Radhika Aggarwal

Radhika Aggarwal is an Indian entrepreneur and the co-founder of the internet marketplace ShopClues. She is the recipient of the Outlook Business Woman of Worth at Outlook Business Awards in 2016. In the same year, she also received the Woman Entrepreneur of the Year at Entrepreneur India Awards.

Aggarwal completed her MBA from Washington University in St. Louis and holds a post-graduation degree in advertising and public relations.

5. Vani Kola

Vani Kola is one of the most recognised investors in the world. She is an Indian venture capitalist also the founder and managing director of Kalaari Capital. She was also listed as one of the most powerful women in Indian Business Fortune India in 2018 and 2019.

Vani was awarded the Midas touch award for the best investor in 2015. She was also recognised as one of the Most Powerful Women in Indian by Forbes in 2014. In 2016, she was recognised as Linkedin’s Top Voices in 2016.

6. Falguni Nayar

Falguni Sanjay Nayar is an Indian businesswoman and billionaire. She is renowned as the founder and CEO of Nykaa, a prominent beauty and lifestyle retail company. Initially known as FSN E-Commerce Ventures, Nykaa derives its name from the acronym of Falguni Sanjay Nayar's name. Nayar stands as one of the two self-made female Indian billionaires. Nayar commenced her professional journey by joining Kotak Mahindra Group in 1993, departing from her consulting role at A. F. Ferguson & Co. At Kotak Mahindra, she initially led the Mergers and Acquisitions (M&A) team before venturing to establish institutional equities offices in London and New York City. After returning to India in 2001, she was managing director at Kotak Mahindra Capital, the investment banking arm, and director at Kotak Securities, overseeing institutional equities. She resigned from her position in 2012.

In April 2012, at age 50, she initiated Nykaa with a $2 million investment from her funds. Nykaa's valuation soared to $2.3 billion by 2021, elevating Nayar's estimated Net worth to $1.1 billion. With Nykaa's listing at a $13 billion valuation on November 10, 2021, Nayar emerged as the wealthiest self-made female Indian, witnessing her net worth escalate to $6.5 billion and securing a position among the top 20 Indians by net worth. In 2022, she debuted on the Forbes India Rich List, ranking 44th.

7. Roshni Nadar

Roshni Nadar Malhotra is an Indian billionaire businesswoman and philanthropist currently serving as the chairperson of HCL Technologies. She holds the distinction of being the first woman to helm a listed IT company in India. Her achievements have garnered international recognition, placing her at the 54th spot on the Forbes World's 100 Most Powerful Women list in 2019. In 2020, Roshni retained her influence, securing the 55th position on the Forbes World's 100 Most Powerful Women list. Alongside her role as the chairperson of HCL Technologies, she also fulfils the position of CEO at HCL Corporation.

Before joining HCL, Roshni gained experience as a producer in various organisations. Subsequently, she became chairperson at HCL Technologies following her father's resignation. She also holds the chairmanship of VidyaGyan Leadership Academy, a school aimed at nurturing leadership skills among economically disadvantaged students. Additionally, she established 'The Habitats' trust, which is dedicated to preserving India's natural ecosystems and indigenous species.

8. Vineeta Singh

Vineeta Singh is an Indian entrepreneur serving as the CEO and co-founder of Sugar Cosmetics. Alongside her entrepreneurial pursuits, she has taken on the role of a judge/investor, commonly referred to as a shark, on the business reality TV show Shark Tank India since its debut on SonyLIV in 2021. In 2007, Singh ventured into entrepreneurship by founding her first startup, Quetzal, which aimed to provide background verification checks to recruiters but didn't gain traction. Undeterred, she launched her second startup, Fab-Bag, in 2012, a subscription platform Offering monthly deliveries of beauty products. In 2015, Singh co-founded Sugar Cosmetics with her husband, catering to the Indian Market with cosmetics and personal care products. Notably, Bollywood star Ranveer Singh joined as an investor and "brand evangelist" in September 2022.

Singh's entrepreneurial acumen has earned her widespread recognition, featuring on the covers of esteemed business magazines like Forbes India, Business Today, and Businessworld. In 2021, Forbes India acknowledged Singh's accomplishments by including her in its Forbes India W-Power list of women achievers. In 2023, Singh embarked on a new venture, partnering with Bollywood actress Kareena Kapoor Khan to launch Quench Botanics, a Korean skincare brand in India.

9. Devita Saraf

Devita Saraf, an Indian businesswoman, is Vu Televisions's founder, chairman, and CEO. Embarking on her entrepreneurial journey at a young age, Devita founded Vu Technologies at 24 after completing a bachelor's degree in Business Administration. Vu's niche lies in offering innovative luxury products. Vu introduced its 4K HD Iconium Series televisions in October 2015. She also founded and chaired the Young Bombay Forum, a part of the Bombay Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Additionally, she is a member of Mensa, an international society for individuals with high IQs.

Devita's contributions extend to media, where she served as a columnist for The Wall Street Journal. In 2017, she garnered attention for placing a full-page advertisement in the Times of India to congratulate Donald Trump on his presidency.

10. Namita Thapar

Namita Thapar is a prominent figure in India's business sphere and currently holds the CEO position at Emcure Pharmaceuticals. Recognised as one of the sharks on the renowned TV show Shark Tank, Thapar's profile has been popular since her involvement in the program. Initially joining Emcure as CFO after a successful tenure at Guidant Corporation in the USA, she gradually took greater responsibilities, eventually overseeing Emcure's most prominent business unit, the India Business.

Passionate about advancing women's health and fostering youth entrepreneurship in India, Thapar initiated a unique YouTube talk show titled "Uncondition Yourself with Namita" during the COVID-19 pandemic. The show aims to provide authentic information and dismantle stigmas surrounding women's health. Additionally, she leads Incredible Ventures Ltd, an educational venture imparting entrepreneurship skills to adolescents aged 11 to 18.

11. Isha Ambani

Isha Ambani is an Indian businesswoman. After completing her education, Isha worked as a business analyst with the management consulting firm McKinsey & Company in the United States. Later, she joined Reliance Jio Infocomm and played a significant role in the company's launch and development. She currently serves on the boards of Reliance Retail and Reliance Jio. Isha Ambani is actively involved in various philanthropic initiatives. She serves as a member of the board of directors of the Reliance Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Reliance Industries.

The foundation is involved in several social welfare programs, including education, healthcare, rural development, and disaster response. While Isha Ambani keeps a relatively low public profile compared to other family members, she has been recognised for her contributions to business and society. She has been featured on various lists of influential people, including Forbes' list of the Most Powerful Women in Asia.

12. Radhika Gupta

Radhika Gupta, the Managing Director and CEO of Edelweiss Mutual Fund, is known as "the girl with the broken neck,” as the complications at birth left her with a broken neck. Her career took shape amid adversity; at 22, she faced rejection, leading to a bout of depression. However, securing a position at McKinsey marked a turning point, propelling her towards entrepreneurship alongside her husband and friend in 2009 with Forefront Capital Management, later acquired by Edelweiss Financial Services Limited in 2014.

Under Gupta's leadership, Edelweiss witnessed significant milestones, including launching India's first corporate bond ETF, the Bharat Bond ETF, in 2019. Her strategic insight and customer-centric approach propelled Edelweiss Mutual Fund's ascent to 13th by September 2023 from its 30th rank in March 2017. Gupta's impact extends beyond corporate realms; she shares her entrepreneurial passion as a Shark Tank India Season 03 judge, advocating for emerging businesses.

13. Nita Ambani

Nita Ambani is a prominent Indian philanthropist and business leader. She is the chairperson and founder of the Reliance Foundation and the Dhirubhai Ambani International School and serves as a director of Reliance Industries. Beyond her business endeavours, Ambani is an avid art collector. She also owns the Mumbai Indians cricket team. Recognised for her influence and contributions, Ambani was featured in India Today's list of 'fifty high and mighty Indians' in 2016 and Forbes' 'most influential women business leaders in Asia.'

She was the first Indian woman to join the International Olympic Committee (IOC) in 2016. Ambani's commitment to the arts and culture is evident through her roles as co-chair of the Mumbai Academy of the Moving Image and establishing the Nita Mukesh Ambani Cultural Centre in Mumbai in 2023.

14. Upasana Taku

Upasana Taku co-founded Mobikwik, one of India's leading digital payment platforms. Before co-founding Mobikwik, Upasana Taku worked in the United States. She gained valuable experience working in companies like PayPal and HSBC. In 2009, Upasana Taku co-founded Mobikwik along with Bipin Preet Singh.

The company started as a mobile recharge platform but expanded its services, including bill payments, online shopping, and digital wallets. Under Upasana's leadership, Mobikwik became one of India's pioneers of digital payments.

15. Ghazal Alagh

Ghazal Alagh, a former corporate trainer turned artist and entrepreneur, co-founded Mamaearth to simplify early parenting. Ghazal oversees product development and community engagement. Collaborating closely with mothers, she curates a product Range addressing moms' daily challenges.

Alongside her entrepreneurial journey and motherhood, Ghazal is acclaimed as one of India's top 10 female artists, having pursued studies in information technology and modern art, design, and applied arts at the New York Academy of Arts.

16. Ekta Kapoor

Ekta Kapoor is a prominent figure in Indian television and cinema, serving as a television and film producer and director. She is joint managing director and creative head at Balaji Telefilms Limited, a company she co-founded in 1994. Under the Balaji Telefilms umbrella, Kapoor launched Balaji Motion Pictures in 2001, focusing on film production and distribution.

In addition, she introduced ALT Balaji, a digital platform, in April 2017. Expanding beyond Hindi TV serials, Kapoor ventured into regional languages and Bollywood film production in 2001 with "Kyo Kii... Main Jhuth Nahin Bolta." She continued to produce films, albeit with varying degrees of success and established the Institute of Creative Excellence in 2012. Kapoor's influence extends to the digital world, introducing several TV series online through her digital app, ALTBalaji.

Conclusion

These entrepreneurs are living proof that women can do anything they want to. The women have achieved great feats not only in India but also internationally. Their fame and recognition have been recorded in the history of business for the world to see today. Generations of women to come will be impacted by their work and success.