Roshini Nadar to Sudha Murthy: A tale depicting the successful stories of Indian Business women

Throughout history, women and business have been kept separate. However, women have been at the forefront of the fight for basic human rights, as well as leading businesses around the world. Despite being seen as a financial burden, education for female family members is crucial in allowing them to achieve their dreams. Fortunately, these women were born into families that prioritized education and are now inspiring millions of women globally.

Although business is typically dominated by men, these women have excelled and taken the lead in billion-dollar companies worldwide. Let's take a closer look at the educational backgrounds of Indian women who are successfully running these businesses.

Sudha Murty

Sudha Murty is a highly respected figure in India, known for her many accomplishments as the chairperson of Infosys, a multinational IT company. She is also an author, philanthropist, and educator. Sudha, who was originally known as Sudha Kulkarni, was born in Haveri, Karnataka in 1951 to a Kannada-speaking family. She received her Bachelor's degree in Electrical and Electronics Engineering from B.V.B. College of Engineering & Technology (now KLE Technological University) and her Master's degree in Computer Science from the Indian Institute of Science. Before joining Infosys, Sudha worked as an engineer in various places, including TATA Engineering and Locomotive Company (TELCO), where she became the first female engineer hired. Sudha has authored over 30 books in English and Kannada and was awarded the Padma Shri, the third-highest civilian award, in 2023. According to Lifestyle Asia, Sudha's net worth is Rs775 crore.

Roshni Nadar

The current CEO of HCL Companies, Roshni Nadar, is renowned for her strategic decision-making and excellent corporate management skills in the Indian IT conglomerate. She completed her schooling in India at Vasant Valley School before attending Northwestern University, where she majored in Communication with a focus on radio/TV/film. After graduating from the Kellogg School of Management with an MBA, Roshni started her career as a producer in the media industry before joining HCL. Additionally, she serves as a trustee for the Shiv Nadar Foundation, which oversees several institutions and institutes. According to a report by The Economic Times, her net worth is Rs 84,330 crore as of 2022, making her one of India's most successful young businesswomen and female entrepreneurs.

Nita Ambani

Nita Mukesh Ambani is a well-known philanthropist and a leader in several successful organizations. She serves as the chairman and creator of the Reliance Foundation, the chairperson and founder of the highly-regarded Dhirubhai Ambani International School, and a director of Reliance Industries. Nita earned her bachelor’s degree in commerce from the prestigious Narsee Monjee College of Commerce and Economics. She is also the wife of India's richest man, Mukesh Ambani, who is the chairman and managing director of Reliance Industries. In addition to her impressive business career, Nita enjoys collecting art and is the proud owner of the Mumbai Indians of the Indian Premier League. She has been passionate about dancing Bharatnatyam from a young age and is a professional Bharatanatyam dancer. According to Statista, Reliance Industries had a net worth of Rs 6.4 trillion as of 2022.

Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw

Meet Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw, an Indian entrepreneur and billionaire who founded and serves as executive chairperson of Biocon Limited and Biocon Biologics Limited, both based in Bangalore, India. She also has experience as the former chairman of the Indian Institute of Management, Bangalore. Kiran attended Bishop Cotton Girl's High School in Bangalore and graduated in 1968. Later, she pursued her undergraduate degree in zoology from Bangalore University in 1973, after completing her studies at Mount Carmel College in Bangalore. Although she initially desired to attend medical school, she was unable to secure a scholarship. Forbes currently estimates her net worth at $2.4 billion as of 2023.

Smita Crishna-Godrej

Smita Crishna-Godrej attended J B Petit School in Mumbai and earned a BA in History and Political Science from St. Xavier’s College Mumbai. As the third-generation heir of the Godrej Family, she holds a one-fifth stake in the family’s assets. She is the daughter of Naval Godrej and is married to the renowned theatre actor Vijay Crishna. According to Forbes, Smita Crishna has an estimated net worth of $2.9 billion.

Reshma Kewalramani

Reshma Kewalramani is a successful businesswoman who began her career as a physician before transitioning into the pharmaceutical industry. Originally from Mumbai, she moved to the United States in 1988 and completed a seven-year program in liberal arts and medical science at Boston University. After completing her fellowship at Massachusetts General Hospital, she earned a degree in General Management from Harvard Business School in 2015. Reshma started her professional journey as a physician and later joined Amgen, where she held leadership positions for 12 years. In 2017, she joined Vertex and worked her way up to become CEO, eventually earning a position on the Board of Directors in 2020. According to Wallmine reports from 2023, Reshma Kewalramani's net worth is estimated at $65.6 million.

Indra Nooyi

The current member of Amazon's Board of Directors is Nooyi, who previously served as the chairman and CEO of PepsiCo. She obtained Bachelor's degrees in physics from the University of Madras in 1975 and a Post Graduate Programme Diploma from the Indian Institute of Management Calcutta in 1976. In 1978, Nooyi pursued further studies and earned a master's degree in public and private management from Yale School of Management. According to Business Today, her net worth is estimated to be $350 million.