Business Today honours 56 ‘Most Powerful Women in Business’

Taj Lands in Mumbai held the 20th edition of Business Today's 'Most Powerful Women in Business' event . The presence of notable figures like Prabha Narasimhan, MD & CEO, Colgate-Palmolive India, Arundhati Bhattacharya, Chairperson & CEO, Salesforce India, Falguni Nayar, Founder & CEO, Nykaa, Nandini Piramal, Chairperson, Piramal Pharma Ltd, Vibha Padalkar, MD & CEO, HDFC Life Insurance, and Zoya Akhtar, Director & Co-Founder, Tiger Baby among the honorees highlights the diversity of talent across sectors such as pharma, entertainment, start-ups, finance, and manufacturing. These women achievers were honoured by Guest of Honour Securities & Exchange Board of India (SEBI) Chairperson Madhabi Puri Buch.
The event marks a significant and celebratory occasion that brought an eclectic mix of 56 trailblazing women from fields as varied as pharma, entertainment, start-ups, finance, and manufacturing being felicitated. The event not only recognizes the achievements of these women but also provides a platform for discussions on challenges and opportunities in the world of work.
The insights shared during panel discussions, including the one titled 'Leading From The Front' with Madhabi Puri Buch, Chairperson of SEBI. The session highlighted a critical perspective on gender diversity and equality in Indian organizations. Her emphasis on avoiding tokenism and the need for meaningful representation and investment in women throughout the organizational structure is significant.
Kalli Purie, Vice-Chairperson, India Today Group, delivering the vote of thanks, said: “The rise of women power is not just in urban centres and in gatherings such as this, but it has percolated down to rural areas. To me, this churn is the most exciting and interesting that these women are independent, fierce and ambitious. I am really excited at the juncture of history we are in at the moment. What better place to discuss this than at the 20th edition of Business Today’s Most Powerful Women in Business list which honours 56 leaders from across so many fields.”
The power-packed panel ‘A View From The Corner Office’ comprising Ameera Shah, MD, Metropolis Healthcare, Upasana Taku, Co-Founder & COO, MobiKwik, Vinati Saraf Mutreja, MD & CEO, Vinati Organics Ltd, Prabha Narasimhan, MD & CEO, Colgate Palmolive India, and Devita Saraf, Chairperson & CEO, Vu Group, added a new dimension to the event. They discussed the challenges and opportunities for women in the world of work.
Several other interesting discussions with Ashima Goyal, Member, RBI’s Monetary Policy Committee, Padmaja Chunduru, MD & CEO, National Securities Depository Ltd, Rekha M. Menon, Former Chairperson & Senior Managing Director, Accenture in India, Arundhati Bhattacharya, Chairperson & CEO, Salesforce India, Zia Mody, Co–Founder & Managing Partner, AZB & Partners and Kalpana Morparia, Former Chairman, J. P. Morgan, South and Southeast Asia, and several other eminent forces to reckon with from the field of business, were also held.
Moreover, Nandini Piramal, Chairperson, Piramal Pharma, spoke on ‘Journey Through Leadership & Innovation’, and Zoya Akhtar, filmmaker & co-founder, Tiger Baby, also presented her thoughts on ‘Creativity Through The Female Lens’ also drew much applause.
Business Today has been championing this commendable initiative since 2003, and the magazine's role in highlighting the achievements of women in business is noteworthy. The call for meaningful representation and the emphasis on disclosure of the percentage of manpower cost allocated to women by Indian organizations, as suggested by Madhabi Puri Buch, adds a practical dimension to the discussions around gender diversity.
The event's celebration of achievements, along with insightful discussions, serves as a platform to inspire and empower women in various fields, acknowledging their contributions to the business landscape in India.