World's most powerful Indian female entrepreneurs

These women are not content to sit back on a name that signifies the bloodline of one of India's leading hospitality ventures, The Leela Group. They may be young, but they mean business. Even though they are to the manor born, quite literally, Amruda and Aishwarya Nair, 29 and 27 respectively, take their name and their Rs.200 crore business seriously.  While Amruda, head, Corporate Asset Management, and the older of the two, is somber and mature, Aishwarya, head, Corporate Food and Beverages, is cheerful. Adding a fresh, youthful perspective to their workplace, these women show an immense amount of respect for what their grandfather, Padma Bhushan Captain. C P Krishnan Nair, Chairman and father, Vivek Nair, Vice-Chairman and Managing Director, have entrusted them with. They walk with an air of, not just inherited privileges, but one of great responsibility.

Mallika Srinivasan is a thought leader and a strategist, recognised for entrepreneurship, commitment to excellence and contribution to Indian agriculture machinery business and academia. She is presently the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of TAFE - Tractors and Farm Equipment Limited, a US $1.6 billion tractor major incorporated in 1960 at Chennai, India. TAFE is today, the third largest tractor manufacturer in the world and the second largest in India, by volumes, with presence in over 82 countries, including developed countries in Europe and the Americas.

Hindi actor Vidya Balan will be the brand ambassador for rural development ministry’s sanitation campaign. Ms. Balan noted that it was a matter of pride for her to contribute to a national cause and vowed to do everything to spread the message across the nation. “Cleanliness is next to Godliness,” she remarked.

Stressing that her decision to take part in the campaign stemmed from her commitment to the cause, she said she could not remember the last time she had accepted any offer without conviction. “I'd have declined if I had not believed in it.”

Indra Krishnamurthy Nooyi (born 28 October 1955) is an Indian-born, naturalized American, business executive and the current Chairperson and Chief Executive Officer of PepsiCo, the second largest food and beverage business in the world by net revenue. According to Forbes, she is consistently ranked among the World's 100 Most Powerful Women. In 2013, she has been ranked 10th in the list of Forbes World's 100 most powerful women.

Indu Jain belongs to the Sahu Jain family and is the current chairperson of India's largest media group, Bennett, Coleman & Co. Ltd., which owns the Times of India and other large newspapers. The Times Foundation, which she founded and carefully guides, has garnered international acclaim for its, often pioneering, activities in the field of development. A humanist to the core, under her direction, The Times Foundation runs Community Services, Research Foundation and Times Relief Fund for disaster reliefs like floods, cyclones, earthquakes and epidemics. Indu's championing of women's causes is also well known. She actively supports women's rights and the encouragement of entrepreneurship.

Swati Piramal is one of India's leading scientists and industrialists, and is involved in healthcare, focusing on public health and innovation. Her contributions in innovations in new medicines and public health services have touched thousands of lives. She is the Vice Chairperson of Piramal Enterprises Ltd (formerly known as Piramal Healthcare), a leading drug discovery company which aims to bring affordable medicines to reduce the burden of disease globally.

Rajshree Pathy, is an eminent entrepreneur from Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, India. She is the Chairperson and Managing Director of the Rajshree Group of Companies and Founder of India Design Forum. The Rajshree group has varied interests - Food and Agro business, Energy, Travel, Health and Hospitality and Arts. She also promotes performing arts and contemporary art movement in Coimbatore through the Contemplate Art Gallery and COCCA.

Radhika Roy is the guiding force behind NDTV and has been responsible for leading NDTV’s tremendous growth since inception. Radhika Roy founded NDTV in 1988 along with Prannoy Roy. With her editorial and production expertise, Radhika advises her team to set benchmarks in programming formats.

Vandana Luthra is founder and proprietor of VLCC (Vandana Luthra’s Curls & Curves) has helped many people in transforming their life. She believes in three ideologies transforming future, transforming self and spreading happiness. She established VLCC in the year of 1989, which has now become a brand name across the world. VLCC is a series of gymnasiums and parlors offering body toning, fitness solutions and beauty tips to the people all over the world.

Ekta is a example of a woman for young creative heads and entrepreneurs. She single handedly has earned her stature in the industry, be it television or cinema. And keeping all criticisms about her work aside, she has given television a stature that no one else before her could.

Jyoti Naik is the President of Shri Mahila Griha Udyog Lijjat Papad, an Indian women's cooperative based in Mumbai. She has been repeatedly praised for her pioneering spirit by different organizations, including The Economic Times.

Ravina Raj Kohli, earlier President of the STAR News, and currently (2006) the Chief Executive officer of Channel Nine, is one of the prominent media personality of India. She was appointed as the President of Star news Channel, after its break from NDTV. Thereafter, Australian media tycoon, Kerry Packer chose her to head Channel Nine in India.

Shahnaz Husain, CEO of Shahnaz Herbals Inc, is a prominent Indian female entrepreneur best known for her herbal cosmetics, particularly skin care products. In 2006 she was awarded the Padma Shri, a civilian award by the Government of India in 2006, and in 1996 Success Magazine's "World's Greatest Woman Entrepreneur" award.It was during her husband’s posting in Iran that she realized her keen interest in beauty and cosmetology. She pursued it with great passion in many leading institutes like Helena Rubinstein, Arnould Taylor, Swarzkopf, Christine Valmy, Lancôme and Lean of Copenhagen and supported her education by writing for the Iran Tribune.

Chanda Kochhar (born 17 November 1966) is the managing director (MD) of ICICI Bank and its chief executive officer (CEO). ICICI Bank is India's largest private bank and overall second largest bank in the country. She also heads the Corporate Centre of ICICI Bank.

Sulajja Firodia Motwani (born August 26, 1970) is an Indian entrepreneur and philanthropist. She is currently the Joint Managing Director of Kinetic Motor Company Limited. The Company has witnessed tremendous expansion during her term. From being a mere moped manufacturer it has set its foothold in the industry as a manufacturer offering a complete range of two wheelers right from mopeds, scooters to motorcycles.

Priya Paul (born 1967), is a prominent woman entrepreneur of India, and currently the Chairperson of Apeejay Surrendra Park Hotels The Park Hotels chain of boutique hotels. She joined the company, after finishing her studies at the Wellesley College (US) working under her father, as Marketing Manager at The Park New Delhi, at the age of 22.
After the death of Surrendra Paul, she succeeded him in 1990 as the Chairperson of the Hospitality Division of the Apeejay Surendra Group.