Forbes magazine just released its coveted list of "100 most powerful women in the world." Now this is not just an ordinary list of rich housewives leading their husband's businesses.
This list only celebrates women who have worked their way through the corporate ladder and are world leaders today. They are the smartest and the toughest business leaders, finance honchos, scientists, investors, philanthropists and CEOs around the world.
So in case you are wondering whether an Indian woman made the cut, let us inform you that, yes they did!
Four Indian working mothers were chosen among the world's 100 most powerful women. These four ladies stand shoulder-to-shoulder with the likes of US First lady, Michelle Obama, television queen Oprah Winfrey' and German Chancellor, Angela Merkel, among others.
So who are these ladies? Let's find out.
#1 Arundhati Bhattacharya
Who: Managing Director
Company: State Bank of India
While in 2015, Forbes magazine ranked her #30, this year they bumped this finance wiz to their #25 position. The 60-year-old Bhattacharya, who lives in Mumbai with her family including her son, is the the first woman to head a 208-year-old public sector bank.
She started out as early as 22 years, when she cleared her Probationary Officer examination and joined SBI as a PO in 1977. The only time she thought about quitting the company was when she could not find a proper school for her son in Lucknow.
But after being guided by her superior at the time, she continued to work, and look where she has reached!
Bhattacharya has successfully changed the way we view public sector bank and introduced new policies to make it more youth-friendly. In fact, in her 38-year stint with the bank, she has taken up several roles.
In an interview, she once said, "If you take the plunge, you will somehow manage to swim across.”
#2 Chanda Kochhar
Who: CEO-Managing Director
Company: ICICI Bank
The 54-year-old mother of two has been ranked #40 this year, as opposed to her impressive #35 last year. Kochhar has always been lauded for her efforts to utilise and retain female talent.
In fact, Forbes says, "As boss of the country's largest private-sector lender, Kochhar has to contend with the current bane of India's banking system: bad loans."
"While the bank reported a double-digit increase in consolidated assets to $135 billion in 2015, net earnings didn't rise as much, due to huge provisions for bad debts. In January, it launched its Express Home Loan service offering mortgages online with approval in 8 hours."
"Mobile banking, among Kochhar's pet projects, accounts for one-fifth of all transactions by retail customers, worth an estimated $12 billion in the year ended March 2016."
"In a bid to retain female staff, she launched [email protected], which allows employees to work from home for a year. In addition, executives can take children under the age of 3 on business trips, with a caregiver, at the bank's expense."
Continue reading to see the other two ladies who we all know so well.
#3 Indra Nooyi
Who: CEO
Company: Pepsi Co
This 60-year-old powerhouse leader is considered to be one of the most powerful leaders in the US. She is a mum of two and has been a vocal advocate of working women across the world. She is ranked #14 this year, a rank above her #15 from last year.
As per Forbes, "While the highlight of 2015 may have been Pepsi's 50th anniversary celebration, PepsiCo's CEO, Indra Nooyi, is greeting a new era by pronouncing that Pepsi is no longer a soda company."
"With less than 25% of global sales coming from soda, she told investors that focusing solely on carbonated beverages was "a thing of the past," and that emphasizing healthier products would "future-proof" Pepsi's portfolio. Water and un-carbonated drinks now account for more than 25% of sales. (Other components are Frito-Lay and Quaker Foods.)"
"In May 2016, Nooyi also successfully sidestepped a proxy war with activist investor Nelson Peltz's Trian Fund, which had pressured the company to split, by adding another board member."
#4 Shobhna Bhartia
Who: Chair
Company: HT Media
The 59-year-old media baroness Shobhana Bhartia, retains her rank #93 this year as well.
Forbes lists her as one of the most powerful women because she has been instrumental in turning HT Media into the powerhouse media organisation that it is today.
Forbes says, "She serves as chairperson and editorial director for India's largest listed media company, HT Media, publisher of the English and Hindi language dailies Hindustan Times and HT Mumbai, and the business paper Mint."
"The group also operates four FM radio stations and multiple websites, including job portal Shine.com and cinema portal Desimartini.com. In 2013 Bhartia launched the business weekly MintAsia in Singapore and then bought Webitude, a social and digital media outfit."
"HT Media's tutoring arm, Studymate, has expanded into coaching students for the admissions exam required by India's elite engineering schools, and recently launched Radio Nasha 107.2 in Delhi."
In case you are wondering if these were the only Indian ladies on the list, let us tell you that even Kiran Mazumdar Shaw was on that list. She ranked #77 and made Indian proud again!
Hats off to all these inspirational ladies.
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(Images courtesy: Livemint, Businessworld, Businessinsider, Forbes)
