The unstoppables: Fortune India's annual MPW list of 100 trailblazers

THERE IS A gradual shift taking place in corporate boardrooms. Slowly but surely, companies appear to be waking up to the need for genuinely increasing the participation of women in boardrooms, particularly after the regulatory mandate requiring at least one woman director per board. The Securities and Exchange Board of India has also mandated the appointment of one woman independent director for the 1,000 top listed companies by market capitalisation, and the disclosure of board diversity policies and the representation of women in leadership positions by listed companies in their annual reports. According to a Khaitan & Co-Aon-Ladies Who Lead report, women’s board representation has increased from just 6% in 2013 to 21% in 2025. A study of Fortune 500 India companies, on the other hand, pegs women’s representation on boards at 19% for FY25.