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

Business Today's 12th annual listing of women achievers. We drew up a long list of over 150 women and then shortlisted 55 contenders. Finally, 25 made the cut after jury deliberations.

Today, women chairpersons in India broadly fall under one of three brackets: those who come from the founding family, first-generation entrepreneurs, and professionals including India heads of multinational companies, such as HSBC India's Naina Lal Kidwai.

\"Currently, Thermax is in expansion mode. I am glad that our chemicals manufacturing plant at Jhagadia, Gujarat, has been commissioned this year,\" says Chairperson Meher Pudumjee.

Preetha Reddy, Managing Director of Apollo Hospitals, says many hospitals in India have followed us and got themselves accredited.

Kalpana Morparia, CEO, JPMorgan India, says an ICICI job put her on the path to a corporate career.

Shobhana Bhartia, Chairperson and Editorial Director, Hindustan Times Group, says she wants to benchmark HT with the best in the world.

For nine years now, BT has paid tribute to the best and brightest of women leaders. This year Zia Mody, the managing partner of AZB & Partners, steps into the elite league of consistent honorees. Full Coverage

HDFC Managing Director Renu Sud Karnad says non-stop growth can make an organisation complacent, eventually leading to stagnation.

Ritu Kumar kicked off boutique culture in India in 1966 when she opened her first store in Delhi.

When Debjani Ghosh took over as Intel South Asia Managing Director, Sales and Marketing, in January, she felt the company lacked the speed a technology company should have.

Neha Kirpal is riding high on the success of India Art Fair, the annual exhibition of modern and contemporary art she began in 2008.

The past year has been remarkable for Leena Nair, Executive Director, HR, Hindustan Unilever. She has been tasked with driving diversity across the 160 countries where Unilever has a presence.

Renuka Ramnath's private-equity firm, Multiples Alternate Asset Management, is riding high.

Tanya Dubash, who oversees marketing initiatives for the Godrej companies, will complete 20 years with the group.

Sangeeta Pendurkar, Managing Director, Kellogg's India, has focused on building high-performance teams

The CEO of IL&FS Investment Managers, the private-equity firm that manages assets worth $3.2 billion, easily navigates choppy capital markets.

Under its CEO Schauna Chauhan Saluja's watch, Parle Agro has managed to keep established brands, going strong, while launching new ones.

Aisha de Sequeira, Managing Director and Head, Investment Banking, Morgan Stanley India says feels tough times are the best to build client relationships.

Arathi Krishna, Joint Managing Director of auto component maker Sundram Fasteners says her coworkers in the factory have stopped seeing me as a woman.