The business and startup environment in India has grown rapidly in the last few years. This environment has made a big contribution in the progress of the country. The special thing is that now not only men but also women have come forward in the world of business. Now women are leading the way in technology, healthcare, finance and many other fields.
With access to better education, digital resources and funding, they are bringing new ideas and taking the country’s economy forward. Their success stories inspire others and strengthen India’s startup world. Today we will know about those 8 businesswomen of the country who have made a big contribution in changing the image of the country.
1. Falguni Nair
Falguni Nair is an Indian billionaire businesswoman, who is the founder and CEO of beauty and lifestyle retail company ‘Nykaa’. He left his job at the age of 50 and started Nykaa in 2012, which is today a leading unicorn company. Falguni Nair started the online platform after a long career in investment banking. He noticed that there was a lack of reliable beauty platforms in India. Nykaa emphasized on providing correct information and genuine products to the customers. Later the company also expanded into fashion and lifestyle. Her success is an inspiration for thousands of women today.
2. Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw
Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw is known as India’s “Biotech Queen” and a self-made female billionaire. Kiran Mazumdar is the founder and executive chairman of biotechnology company Biocon Limited. He founded this company in 1978, which is today one of the largest biopharmaceutical companies in India. Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw started Biocon at a time when the biotech sector was not very developed. In the beginning he faced lack of money and resources. Still, he surprised the world by making cheaper and better medicines. Today his company’s business is spread across the country and abroad.
3. Roshni Nadar Malhotra
Roshni Nadar Malhotra is India’s leading industrialist and tech leader. She is the chairperson of IT company HCL Technologies. Roshni Nadar took over as chairperson in 2020. Under his leadership, HCL Tech continues to maintain a strong presence in the global IT services and digital transformation sector. Today Roshni Nadar is among the richest women of India and is considered a great example of women leadership in the corporate world.
4. Vandana Luthra
Vandana Luthra is the founder of VLCC, one of India’s largest wellness and beauty brands. Vandana Luthra’s success journey is no less than a film story. When Vandana returned to India after completing her studies in Germany, she started a company by investing only Rs 20,000. This is how Vandana Luthra Curls and Curves i.e. VLCC was started in 1989. Vandana Luthra started VLCC with a focus on health and wellness. She combined beauty, nutrition and lifestyle. VLCC has expanded in India as well as abroad. Although he later sold the company for about Rs 2,500 crore, he still has a stake in VLCC.
5. Ghazal Alagh
Ghazal Alagh is a leading Indian businesswoman and co-founder of Mamaearth, known for chemical-free skincare and baby care products. She co-founded Honasa Consumer with her husband Varun Alagh and is also famous as a shark in the popular show Shark Tank India. Today Mamaearth has become a big beauty brand through digital platform. This company also expanded into other areas of FMCG.
6. Upasana Taku
Upasana Taku co-founded MobiKwik at the dawn of fintech in India. At that time the use of digital payment was very less in the country. Initially MobiKwik focused on wallet based payment service. This platform worked for both shopkeepers and common people. Later the company also started credit and other financial services. His work promoted digital transactions across the country and made online payments easier for people. Upasana Taku leadership shows how fintech can make the everyday lives of common people easier. Even today MobiKwik remains an important part of India’s changing digital payment system.
7. Namita Thapar
Namita Thapar is the executive director of Pune-based pharmaceutical company Emcure Pharmaceuticals. Emcure manufactures many types of medicines, which are used in the treatment of different diseases. Namita Thapar got special recognition as an investor in the reality show Shark Tank India. According to media reports, Namita Thapar’s total wealth is estimated to be around Rs 600 crore. Namita Thapar obtained Chartered Accountant (CA) degree from ICAI and MBA from Fuqua School of Business, Duke University, USA. She is responsible for Emcure Pharma’s India business and also invests in the Indian startup ecosystem.
Networth Source: planify
8. Vineeta Singh
Vineeta Singh is the co-founder and CEO of Sugar Cosmetics. It is a cosmetics brand, known for affordable and good quality beauty products. After appearing as a judge in Short Tank India, he got special recognition across the country. According to Planify, Vinita Singh’s net worth is around Rs 300 crore (about $30 million). He has not made public the individual values of his startup investments. Vinita Singh has done BTech from IIT Madras and MBA from IIM Ahmedabad. Before starting Sugar, she had also launched a beauty subscription service named Fab Bag. Her husband Kaushik Mukherjee also helps her in the operations of Sugar.
