Most Powerful Women in Business 2015

Growing steadily: Jyotsna Suri feels the future lies in mid-segment hotels. (Photo: Vivan Mehra)

Updated : Sep 27, 2015

For Jyotsna Suri, looking at the big picture is important

The chairperson and managing director of Bharat Hotels believes the mid segment is where the future lies and, keeping pace with the way industry is moving, has been quick to launch the Lalit Traveller brand - a mid-market offering.

Going the distance: Shanti Ekambaram, 53, President, Consumer Banking, Kotak Mahindra Bank (Photo: Rachit Goswami)

Updated : Sep 27, 2015

How Shanti Ekambaram is increasing Kotak Mahindra Bank's consumer base

Focusing strongly on the digital platform, Shanti Ekambaram is reaching out to an ever growing number of customers.

Arathi Krishna, 47, Joint Managing Director, Sundram Fasteners (Photo: HK Rajshekar)

Updated : Sep 23, 2015

MPW 2015: Scion Arathi Krishna is behind TVS' stellar growth in past decade

In the last financial year, the company's income rose 16 per cent to Rs 3,238 crore and its stock has given a return of more than 18 per cent over the last 12 months.

Aruna Jayanthi: Leading integration between Capgemini and IGATE in India (Photo: Danesh Jassawala)

Updated : Sep 22, 2015

MPW 2015: Aruna Jayanthi is overseeing a big transformation at Capgemini India

Capgemini India CEO has grown into one of the most powerful leaders in the IT services industry. The company has recently acquired IGATE which will make Capgemini's India arm one of the largest MNC IT employers.

Gender bender: Barring Nishi Vasudeva, none of the heads of the top three oil PSUs is female. (Photo: Mandar Deodhar)

Updated : Sep 22, 2015

Nishi Vasudeva has taken HPCL to record profitability

The company Nishi runs is the fourth-largest in India by revenues - Rs 2.06 lakh crore in 2014/15 - making her unquestionably one of India's most powerful business people.

Growth agenda: Under Deepika Arora, Wyndham will roll out more brands in India soon (Photo: Shekhar Ghosh)

Updated : Sep 21, 2015

MPW 2015: How Deepika Arora has helped Wyndham Hotels grow using franchisee model

In her five years with Wyndham, Deepika Arora, Vice President (International Development) for India, has trebled the number of its hotels to 24, 13 of them in new cities.

The go getter: Sangita Singh has nearly doubled her division's revenue in four years. (Photo: Nilotpal Baruah)

Updated : Sep 21, 2015

Sangita Singh has doubled her division's revenue in four years

The CEO, Healthcare and Life Sciences,Wipro, in 2014 declared that HLS would become a $1-billion division in a couple of years. She asserts she is on track to achieve that goal.

The face of Facebook: 44-year old Kirthiga Reddy, Managing Director, Facebook India, is working with advertisers to boost revenue (Photo: Rachit Goswami)

Updated : Sep 20, 2015

MPW 2015: Kirthiga Reddy is working on making Facebook India a sustainable business proposition

Data from the Registrar of Companies show Facebook Online Services India Pvt Ltd had revenues of Rs 97.6 crore in March 2014. That is much ahead of rival Twitter.

Food on her mind: Geetu Verma is increasing the contribution of the food business to HUL's total revenue. (Photo: Rachit Goswami)

Updated : Sep 20, 2015

MPW 2015: Geetu Verma has given a new lease of life to HUL's food business

Verma's innovator instincts have ensured that the Rs 30,805-crore fast moving consumer goods (FMCG) company has got back its much-needed focus on food.

Cosmopolitan canvas: Anita Dongre has been promoting Indian art on the global stage (Photo: Mandar Deodhar)

Updated : Sep 20, 2015

MPW 2015 - Anita Dongre is changing lives of traditional artisans

Fiscal 2014/15 was about growth and consolidation. She renamed her company, AND Designs India. Today, it comprises over 2,500 employees, with 650 points of sale across 60 cities, including 150 exclusive brand outlets.

Global footprint: Chitra Ramkrishna-led NSE is the world's 12th largest stock exchange (Photo: Rachit Goswami)

Updated : Sep 18, 2015

MPW 2015: Chitra Ramkrishna has ensured NSE is on the cutting edge

the fact that Ramkrishna, the daughter of a middle-class accountant, heads the NSE as its Managing Director and CEO, makes her one of the most powerful people in Indian business.

Listening carefully: Tanya Dubash (Photo: Nishikant Gamre)

Updated : Sep 18, 2015

MPW 2015: Tanya Dubash is changing Godrej Group into a brand for the young

The re-positioning led by Tanya Dubash, according to A. Mahendran, former Managing Director of Godrej Consumer Products, not only resulted in robust revenue growth for the group but also helped it attract better talent.

Gearing up: Neelam Dhawan will have a challenging time ahead as HP, globally, splits into two (Photo: Vivan Mehra)

Updated : Sep 18, 2015

MPW 2015: Neelam Dhawan is preparing HP India to take on new business opportunities

Neelam Dhawan is as seasoned as it gets. Before HP, she was the MD of Microsoft India. She is best described by a former colleague who says she is "remarkably successful", "one of the finest sales leaders" and one who "likes winning".

Figure this: Apollo has made three acquisitions since Suneeta Reddy took over (Photo: Nilotpal Baruah)

Updated : Sep 17, 2015

MPW 2015: How Suneeta Reddy ensures Apollo Hospitals stays ahead of competition

Apollo Hospitals has not only grown organically, but under Managing Director Sunita Reddy, it has also made three significant acquisitions.

Beyond CSR: Nita Ambani (Photo: Rachit Goswami)

Updated : Sep 16, 2015

MPW 2015: Nita Ambani runs India's largest CSR initiative

Before the UPA government determinedly pursued its goal to make CSR mandatory for corporates in the new Companies Act, 2013, Ambani was conceptualising widening RIL's social influence beyond its own locations. That gave birth to Reliance Foundation.

Action Point: Vinita Gupta, 47, CEO, Lupin, is focused and passionate (Photo: Rachit Goswami)

Updated : Sep 16, 2015

MPW 2015: Lupin CEO Vinita Gupta's decisions have seldom gone wrong

This year alone, Lupin has acquired five companies in South Africa, Russia, the US, Germany and Brazil under CEO Vinita Gupta's leadership. Besides, she has played an important role in globalising Lupin.

Radhika Piramal: Maintaining pole position (Photo: Rachit Goswami)

Updated : Sep 15, 2015

Radhika Piramal is working to make VIP a youthful brand

Though VIP had a market share of 60 per cent but the youth didn't identify with it. Radhika resurrected the country's first strolley brand, Skybag and positioned it as a youth product.

Egging on: Anuradha Desai (Photo: Mandar Deodhar)

Updated : Sep 15, 2015

How Anuradha Desai is expanding her poultry business

Desai took over the Venkateshwara Hatcheries in 1996. Today, the group has one listed company Venky's, which supplies chicken to groups like KFC, Pizza Hut, Domino's, etc.

Ipsita Dasgupta: In love with manufacturing (Photo: Rachit Goswami)

Updated : Sep 15, 2015

MPW 2015: Ipsita Dasgupta is the engine behind GE's growth in South Asia

In 2014/15, Ipsita Dasgupta worked on building the China strategic marketing team and pivoted strategy for two of GE's biggest businesses - oil and gas and renewables.

Reaching out: Priya Nair believes in educating consumers about her products. (Photo: Rachit Goswami)

Updated : Sep 14, 2015

How HUL's Priya Nair makes positive impact to the society

The executive director of Hindustan Unilever's home care unit says offering her consumers the best possible products is her top priority.

Meher Pudumjee, 48, Chairperson, Thermax. (Photo: Yusuf Khan)

Updated : Sep 11, 2015

MPW 2015: Meher Pudumjee is driving Thermax into alternative energy solutions

"I'm very passionate about alternative energy," says Thermax Chairperson Meher Pudumjee, who professes concern about society and the environment with uncommon zeal.