Most Powerful Women - 2018

In 2018, Fortune India unveiled its Most Powerful Women in Business list, celebrating influential leaders reshaping industries. Legal powerhouse Zia Mody claimed the top spot, followed by Biocon's Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw. Suneeta Reddy of Apollo Hospitals secured third place, marking her rise in the rankings, while Alice Vaidyan, Chairman and MD of General Insurance Corporation of India, ranked fourth.

Alice G. Vaidyan-Chairman and managing director

Kaku Nakhate-President and
country head, India

Shobhana Bhartia-Chairperson and
editorial director

Kalpana Morparia-CEO, South and Southeast Asia

Aisha De Sequeira-Co-country head and head of
investment banking, India

Shanti Ekambaram-President, consumer banking

Rekha M. Menon-Chairman and senior
managing director

Aarthi Subramanian-Chief digital officer

Jyoti Deshpande-Head of media and entertainment
business, and president, chairman’s
office

Mira Kulkarni-Chairman
and managing director

Vanitha Narayanan-Chairman, IBM India (until Jan. 2018); currently, MD, Verizon Global Account

Samina Hamied- Executive vice chairperson

Pallavi Shroff-Managing partner and national practice head, dispute resolution

Roopa Kudva-Partner and managing director

Priya Nair-Executive director, Home Care

Harshbeena Zaveri-Vice chairman and managing director

Gauri Khan-Founder and chief executive officer

Chetna Gala Sinha-Chair, Mann Deshi Mahila Sahakari Bank; founder and president

Padmaja Ruparel-Co-founder and president Indian Angel Network; founding partner, IAN Fund

RANK	NAME	TITLE	AFFILIATION	AGE
1	Zia J. Mody	Co-founder	AZB & Partners	62
2	Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw	Chairperson and MD	Biocon	65
3	Suneeta Reddy	Managing director	Apollo Hospitals Enterprise	59
4	Alice G. Vaidyan	Chairman and managing director	General Insurance Corporation of India (GIC Re)	59
5	Mallika Srinivasan	Chairman and CEO	Tractors and Farm Equipment (TAFE)	58
6	Zarin Daruwala	CEO	Standard Chartered Bank, India	53
7	Kaku Nakhate	President and country head, India	Bank of America Merrill Lynch	51
8	Shobhana Bhartia	Chairperson and editorial director	HT Media	61
9	Renuka Ramnath	Founder and CEO	Multiples Alternate Asset Management	56
10	Shikha Sharma	Managing director & CEO	AXIS BANK	59
11	Kalpana Morparia	CEO, South and Southeast Asia	J.P. Morgan	69
12	Aisha De Sequeira	Co-country head and head of investment banking, India	Morgan Stanley	48
13	Meher Pudumjee	Chairperson	Thermax	52
14	Renu Sud Karnad	Managing director	HDFC	66
15	Ashu Suyash	MD and CEO	CRISIL	51
16	Shanti Ekambaram	President, consumer banking	Kotak Mahindra Bank	55
17	Rekha M. Menon	Chairman and senior managing director	Accenture in India	59
18	Aarthi Subramanian	Chief digital officer	Tata Sons	51
19	Vinita Gupta	CEO	Lupin	50
20	Nisaba Godrej	Executive chairperson	Godrej Consumer Products	40
21	Jyoti Deshpande	Head of media and entertainment business, and president, chairman’s office	Reliance Industries	48
22	Mira Kulkarni	Chairman and managing director	Mountain Valley Springs	62
23	Vanitha Narayanan	Chairman, IBM India (until Jan. 2018); currently, MD, Verizon Global Account	IBM Global Markets	59
24	Anita Dongre	Founder	House of Anita Dongre	55
25	Falguni Nayar	Founder and CEO	Nykaa	55
26	Anushka Sharma	Co-founder	Clean Slate Films	30
27	Schauna Chauhan	CEO	Parlé Agro	42
28	Samina Hamied	Executive vice chairperson	Cipla	42
29	Ektaa R. Kapoor	Joint managing director	Balaji Telefilms	43
30	Anupriya Acharya	CEO	Publicis Media India	48
31	Pallavi Shroff	Managing partner and national practice head, dispute resolution	Shardul Amarchand Mangaldas & Co	62
32	Roopa Kudva	Partner and managing director	Omidyar Network India	54
33	Meena Ganesh	Managing director and CEO	Portea Medical	55
34	Vani Kola	Managing director	Kalaari Capital	54
35	R.M. Vishakha	Managing director and CEO	IndiaFirst Life Insurance	54
36	Ameera Shah	Promoter and MD	Metropolis Healthcare	39
37	Ritu Kumar	Founder	Ritu Kumar Design	74
38	Priya Paul	Chairperson	Apeejay Surrendra Park Hotels	52
39	Vishakha Mulye	Executive director	ICICI Bank	49
40	Priya Nair	Executive director, Home Care	Hindustan Unilever	44
41	Harshbeena Zaveri	Vice chairman and managing director	NRB Bearings	58
42	Gauri Khan	Founder and chief executive officer	Gauri Khan Designs	47
43	Chetna Gala Sinha	Chair, Mann Deshi Mahila Sahakari Bank; founder and president	Mann Deshi Foundation	59
44	Padmaja Ruparel	Co-founder and president Indian Angel Network; founding partner, IAN Fund	Indian Angel Network, IAN Fund	56
45	Nivruti Rai	Country head	Intel India	49
46	Apurva Purohit	President	Jagran Prakashan Group	51
47	Ritu Kapur	Co-founder & CEO	Quintillion Media	50
48	Shahnaz Husain	Founder	Shahnaz Husain Group of Companies	74
49	Debarati Sen	Managing director	3M India	50
50	Anita Arjundas	Outgoing MD	Mahindra Lifespace Developers	51