FM Nirmala Sitharaman Is India’s Most Powerful Woman; HCL CEO, Biocon founder In Top 100 List

Continuing the last year’s trend, India’s Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, HCL Corporation CEO and Executive Director Roshni Nadar Malhotra, and Biocon founder Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw are placed amongst the world’s 100 most powerful women by Forbes this year too.

It’s Not Only About Money

This year, there are 12 billionaires on this year’s World’s 100 Most Powerful Women list, worth a collective $150.4 billion. 

Interestingly, money doesn’t always directly equate to power, or else there would be far more billionaires on the list.

Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw is the founder of India’s largest listed bio-pharmaceutical firm Biocon. 

She is also India’s richest self-made woman and has been ranked 68th and has slipped in the rankings down three spots.

While Sitharaman features at 41st position which is a seven-place slide from last year in the Forbes list.

On the other hand, Nadar Malhotra is down one spot at 55th place.

So far, Sitharaman is the first woman to hold the finance ministry.

Prior to this, she has handled defense portfolios full-time in India.

Although, the portfolios were handled by Indira Gandhi too in her time as prime minister. 

Nadar Malhotra is the daughter of HCL founder Shiv Nadar, and

Nadar Malhotra took over the HCL Technologies chairperson’s role from his father HCL founder Shiv Nadar in July 2020.

Currently, she is handling the responsibility for all strategic decisions for the $8.9 billion IT major.

Apart from them, Renuka Hagtiani, the chairwoman of Landmark Group’s feature at 98th positions as other Indian women who have been ranked by Forbes.

Angela Merkel Topped The List

The world’s 100 most powerful women by Forbes list is aced by German Chancellor Angela Merkel for the tenth year in a row.

Apart from these, New Zealand’s Prime Minister (PM) Jacinda Ardern and United States (US)’s Vice President (VP)-elect Kamala Harris have also been featured in the list.

Taiwan’s President Tsai Ing-wen who has been ranked as the 37th most powerful woman in the world is also featured on the list.

Collectively, the list features 10 heads of state, 38 CEOs and five entertainers of different ages, nationalities and professions.

One thing which is common in all these wealthy women is they are all actively using their powers to create a change through their businesses, nonprofits and philanthropic work.