Five Most Influential Indian Women in 2023

In the ever-evolving landscape of Indian society, women have been at the forefront, making their mark and reshaping the narrative of success. The year 2023 brings with it a list of remarkable women who have emerged as the Top 5 Most Influential Indian Women, as recognized by The Times of India. These women hail from diverse backgrounds and have achieved extraordinary feats in their respective fields. From economics and finance to entrepreneurship and leadership, their stories inspire and empower. Let us delve into the lives of these trailblazing women who continue to redefine the boundaries of success, leaving an indelible impact on the world stage.

5-Gita Gopinath

Born in Dec 1917 in Kolkata, Gita Gopinath is an Indian-Ameriacan economist who has served as the first deputy managing director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), since 21 Jan 2022. From 2019 to 2021, she served as chief economist of the IMF. Before joining the IMF, Gopinath had a two decade- long career as an academic including at the economic department of Harvard University where she was a professor of International Studies of Economics.

Gopinath was appointed as Chief Economist of the IMF in Oct 2018 by its MD Christine Lagarde. In December 2021, IMF MD Kristaline Geogieva appointed her the first deputy managing director of the IMF, which is the organisation’s number-two position(Source-Wikipedia).

4-Falguni Nayar

Born and brought up in a Gujarati family from Mumbai Maharashtra, Falguni Nayar is one of the only two self-made female Indian Billionaires. In 1993, Nayar Joined Kodak Mahindra Group as head of the M&A team. She worked with Kodak for 19 years before quitting her job in 2021 as Director of Kodak Securities.

In April 2021, at the age of 50, she founded ‘Nykaa’ with $ 2 million of her own money. Nykaa was worth $2.3 billion as of 2021 bringing Nayar’s fortune to an estimated $1.1 billion. As soon as Nykaa went public, Nayar became the wealthiest self-made Indian female, with her net worth rising to the tune of 6.5 billion, and entered the list of the top 20 Indian by net worth. In 2022, Nayar made her debut in Forbes India Rich list at rank 44. (Source-Wikipedia).

3-Leena Nair

Born in June 1969 in Kolhapur, Maharashtra, Leena Nair is an Indian business executive who is the first female Global CEO of Chanel. In 1992 She joined Unilever as a management trainee. Later in December 2021, she quit her job of 30 years with Unilever after becoming the first female, First Asian and youngest-ever Chief Human Resources manager of  Unilever 2016.

In early 2022, She was appointed as CEO, Of Chanel. In 2021 she was awarded the Role Model of the Year by Great British Businesswoman’s Award. She was on Fortune India’a Most Powerful Women’s List in 2022. Leena Nair was also recognized by Queen Elizabeth II as one of the most accomplished Indian Business leaders in the UK in 2017. (Source-Wikipedia).

2-Nita Ambani.

Born in Nov 1963, in Mumbai, Maharashtra, Nita Ambani is the Chairperson and founder of Reliance Foundation, Dhirubhai Ambani International School and the Director of Reliance Industries. She is a professional Bhratnataym dancer and Philanthropist. She married Reliance Industries chairman and MD Mukesh Ambani in 1985. In 2016, she was listed as one of the ‘fifty high and mighty Indians by India Today and in ‘the most influential women business leaders in Asia’ list by Forbes. She became the first Indian woman to become a member of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) in the same year.

With a family fortune estimated at more than US$83.4 Billion( in Feb 2023), Her family is among the richest in the world. She is also an art collector and the owner of the IPL cricket team Mumbai Indians. Nita Ambani is the co-founder of the Mumbai Academy of the Moving Image. This year she also launched the Nita Mukesh Ambani Cultural Centre (NMACC) in Mumbai, its inauguration was attended by many big names around the world. (Source-Wikipedia).

1-Nirmala Sitharaman

Born in Aug 1959, in Madurai, Tamil Nadu, Nirmala Sitharaman, is the 28th Finance Minister of India. She is also the Minster of Corporate Affairs of the Gov. of India since 2019. She joined BJP(Bhartiya Janata Party) in 2006 and was appointed as a spokesperson of the party in 2010. In 2014, she was inducted into Narendra Modi’s cabinet as a junior minister and in June she was elected as a Rajya Sabha Member from Andhra Pradesh. In May 2016, She again become a member of the Rajya Sabha from Karnataka.

In Sep 2017, She took charge as Minister of Defence, Becoming the first full-time female defence minister after Indira Gandhi ( Who was in this position temporarily in 1975 during a state of Emergency). Then in May 2019, She took charge as Minister of Finance and Corporate Affairs minister. During the COVID-19 pandemic in India, she was made in charge of the COVID-19 Economic Response Task Force. Forbes Magazine ranked her 34th among the 100 most powerful women in the world in 2019. (Source-Wikipedia).

These Indian Women have shattered glass ceilings and made significant contributions in their respective fields. From Gita Gopinath, the esteemed economist, to Falguni Nayar, the self-made billionaire entrepreneur, these women have paved the way for others to follow. Leena Nair's journey to becoming the first female Global CEO of Chanel showcases her trailblazing spirit. Nita Ambani's roles as a philanthropist, businesswoman, and cultural ambassador have made her an influential figure globally. Nirmala Sitharaman's impactful tenure as the Finance Minister of India and her leadership during the COVID-19 pandemic have earned her international recognition. These women inspire future generations with their strength, determination, and ingenuity, reshaping the world and paving the way for greatness.