Ladki hoke ladkon waale kaam karne hai, badi hoke company ki maalkin bana hai kya? ( Being a girl you want to do the job of a man? Will you become the owner of a company once you grow up?)
The above lines might sound familiar to many girls in India as not very long ago women in the Indian society were deprived from the liberty to go out and work. Even today this stigma exists though things for sure are changing.
The male-dominated world now witnesses India’s most empowering women who have made their presence felt, and are doing as good as men in all parameters.
The “New Women” as is the phrase nowadays, have overcome all the obstacles and negative notions around them, proving themselves way beyond what people in general would have thought of.
Yes, we are talking about the best and successful women entrepreneurs in India, an era we are witnessing in India. While we appreciate the hard work that each female must have gone through to make it that high, we focus on the list of Top 10 Women Entrepreneurs in India, that must be taken inspiration from :
1. Kiran Mazumdar Shaw
She started her own venture -Biocon way back in 1978!
She is currently the Chairman and Managing Director (CMD) of Biocon. She completed her graduation from Mount Carmel University, doing her Bachelors in Zoology. She also completed her post-graduation in Melbourne University.
She started her own venture, Biocon in 1978 which spun an evolution into the industrial enzyme manufacturing sector. Her company spearheads a fully integrated bio-pharmaceutical company.
Kiran is also a member of the Board of Governors of the Indian Institute of Technology, Hyderabad. She has also been given due recognition for her achievements from the Government of India, who conferred her with the Padma Shri and Padma Bhushan both.
2. Ekta Kapoor
Who doesn’t know the known face of India soap operas – our very own Ekta Kapoor. She started her own venture, Balaji Telefilms and is the Joint Managing, and also the Creative Director of the company.
She created her niche in the TV industry. She can be very well termed as one of the most iconic female producers of the entertainment world. She has also successfully films like The Dirty Picture, Kyaa Super Kool Hai Hum, Ragini MMS etc. This is the reason Ekta Kapoor is considered in the list of successful women entrepreneurs in India
3. Ritu Kumar
Ritu Kumar is a famous fashion designer and one of the biggest names in the industry. She has her niche in the variety of glittering and classy wardrobe, including the evening wear, traditional Indian wear, casual wear and evening gowns. “Label Ritu Kumar” is her own brand that helps her gain so much in the field!
She was also nominated for an Academy Award (2004) for the Live Action Short Film. She herself is the costume designer in the film.
4. Shahnaz Hussain
She is the Chief Executive Officer of her own franchise, Shahnaz Herbals Inc.
She has a renowned name in herbal cosmetics industry. She has also introduced a number of trend setters in the herbal product section. The franchise has outlets in over 138 countries. Her achievements made Government of India recognize her efforts and she was awarded the prestigious Padma Shri in 2006.
5. Jyoti Naik
She is the president of Shri Mahila Griha Udhyog Lijjat Papad, which is a women’s based cooperative in Mumbai, started by her own self.
She was awarded the Businesswomen of the Year in 2001-02 for corporate excellence by the Economic Times. She was also conferred the Best Village Industry Award on Lijjat Papad from 1998 to 2001.
Also Read: Top #9 Innovative & Successful Startups In India
6. Ravina Raj Kohli
She is the founder of the JobCorp. She has been an international media veteran. She is the first Indian television woman CEO. She is the CEO of Star News until 2004. Before Star, she also worked and earned her experience from Sony Entertainment Television as the Head of Content and Communication.
She completed her Diploma from the London School of Germany, as well as did her Bachelor’s in Psychology, Economics and Literature from Bangalore University.
7. Suchi Mukherjee
She is the founder and CEO of Limeroad, an e-commerce website which is under the category of accessories and lifestyle. The idea struck her during her maternity leave. She completed her Economics Graduation from the London School of Economics. She was selected as one of the top 15 women worldwide for Rising Talents.
8. Richa Kar
She is the CEO of Zivame, her own online Lingerie Store which is fast capturing market. She broke the glass ceiling in a manner that opened everyone’s eyes. She did her engineering from BITS Pilani back in 2002, post which she was working in the IT sector. After completing her post graduation (Masters in Management) from Narsee Monjee Institute of Management Studies in 2007. She worked with one retailer to open a global tech company called Zivame.com.
9. Vandana Luthra
She is the founder of one of India’s biggest FMCG stores,VLCC- Vandana Luthra Curls and Curves. She is one of the most influential women to make it big in entrepreneurship. After completing her graduation from New Delhi, she ventured to countries like the UK, Germany and France.
This influenced her to start her own wellness and beauty giant called the VLCC, back in 1989. Post that, she has never looked back!
10. Aditi Gupta
She is the founder of Menstrupedia, which is a crowd funded initiative . What is it about? It is a forum that brings in forefront, the many taboos suffered by the women in India. She spearheaded the matter and people started connecting and talking about it in open. Her initiatives have a true sense of feminism by empowering women to talk about their issues, particularly related to hygiene and menstruation.
