Forbes has recognized Indians, including Union finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman, as one of the most powerful women in the world. Forbes has recognized three Indian businesswomen and FM Sitharaman as among the world’s most powerful women, alongside celebrities like Taylor Swift and Kamala Harris.
Nirmala Sitharaman, an Indian woman, was ranked 36 on Forbes’ Most Powerful Women list of 2022. She was appointed as India’s finance minister in 2019 and previously served as the 28th defense minister. Sitharaman is the second woman in India to hold both ministries. She was also the 28th defense minister. The Forbes list also named her the most powerful woman in India, alongside HCL Corporation CEO Roshni Nadar Malhotra, Steel Authority of India chairperson Soma Mondal, and Biocon founder Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw. Roshni Nadar, the billionaire daughter of Shiv Nadar, took over as the Chairperson of HCL in July 2020 and is responsible for all strategic decisions within the Indian company.
Additional names on the list
The European Commission’s President, Ursula von der Leyen, is the top-ranked politician, followed by Christine Lagarde, Kamala Harris, and Giorgia Meloni, who are all politicians in the top four positions.
Taylor Swift, Beyoncé, Rihanna, Oprah Winfrey, Melinda French Gates, and MacKenzie Scott have all been ranked in Forbes’ list of the most influential people in the world. The triumvirate, which includes Swift, Beyoncé, and Barbie, has sparked billions of dollars in consumer spending, with Federal Reserve chair Jerome Powell acknowledging their influence in a July press conference. The media, politics, and policy categories were analyzed, with 18 women in the politics and policy category, 37 in business, 19 in finance, 12 in media and entertainment, six in philanthropy, and nine in technology.
Nirmala Sitharaman, rank 32 in Forbes List
Sitharaman, a prominent figure in the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), has held key ministerial positions, serving as the Minister of Finance and Minister of Corporate Affairs since 2019. Previously, she made history as India’s second female Defence Minister from 2017 to 2019. Forbes acknowledged her as the 36th most powerful woman in 2022 and elevated her to the 32nd position this year.
Roshni Nadar Malhotra, on rank 60
At 42 years old, Roshni Nadar Malhotra is the CEO of HCL Technologies and an Indian millionaire and philanthropist. She was notable for being the first Indian woman to run a publicly traded IT business. Frequently included in Forbes’ lists of influential women, she attained the 60th position in 2023.
Soma Mondal, ranked 70th
Soma Mondal, the first woman to chair the Steel Authority of India since January 2021, holds the 70th position on the Forbes list. With over 35 years of industry experience, she has also served as the first woman Functional Director and Chairman at SAIL.
Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw , Ranked 76
Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw, a 70-year-old billionaire entrepreneur, founded Biocon Limited and Biocon Biologics Limited in Bangalore, India. She served as the former chairperson of the Indian Institute of Management, Bangalore, and has received numerous accolades, including the Othmer Gold Medal in 2014 and EY World Entrepreneur Of The Year in 2020.
Hope for continued Dominance
The names of these women in the Forbes Power List 2023 implies that Indian women continue to raise their stature in the global arena. These women inspire many other members of their community, to work hard and grasp power, to shun the notions that only patriarchy can be associated with power. With more gender-neutral policies and programmes, we can hope for more Indian women featuring in the Power List next year.
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