Forbes’ 2023 List Reveals Four Influential Indian Women Who Reign Among the Most Powerful

Four Indian women have been featured on Forbes’ annual list of the World’s Most Powerful Women for 2023. These women have not only broken through barriers but have also made a mark on the global stage, representing the diverse and influential voices coming out of India. Forbes used four metrics – money, media, impact, and spheres of influence – to determine the rankings.

Nirmala Sitharaman, ranked 32nd, is a prominent figure in India’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and has been serving as the Minister of Finance and Minister of Corporate Affairs since 2019. Prior to that, she was the 28th Defence Minister from 2017 to 2019, making her India’s second female defence minister and finance minister after Indira Gandhi. Sitharaman was ranked 36th on Forbes’ 2022 list and climbed to the 32nd spot this year.

Roshni Nadar Malhotra, ranked 60th, is a 42-year-old Indian billionaire and philanthropist. She holds the position of chairperson at HCL Technologies, becoming the first woman to lead a listed IT company in India. As the only child of HCL founder Shiv Nadar, she is also recognized as the wealthiest woman in India. Forbes has consistently ranked her among the world’s most powerful women, with positions of 54th in 2019, 55th in 2020, and 60th in 2023.

Soma Mondal, ranked 70th, is the current Chairperson of the Steel Authority of India, making history as the first woman in this role since January 2021. With over 35 years of experience in the metal industry, Mondal’s career milestones include being the first woman Functional Director and Chairman at SAIL. In addition to her corporate achievements, she holds the position of Chairperson of SCOPE and was honored as ‘CEO of the Year’ at the ETPrime Women Leadership Awards in 2023.

Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw, ranked 76th, is a well-known Indian billionaire entrepreneur. She founded and led Biocon Limited and Biocon Biologics Limited in Bangalore, India. Mazumdar-Shaw has received numerous accolades for her contributions to science and chemistry, including the Othmer Gold Medal in 2014. She has been recognized by Forbes as the 68th most powerful woman globally in 2019 and was honored as the EY World Entrepreneur Of The Year in 2020.

These four Indian women serve as powerful symbols of resilience, leadership, and excellence on the global stage. Their achievements are being celebrated worldwide, showcasing the significant contributions of Indian women in various fields.