W-Power 2025 celebrates women who lead by example, build strong foundations and are beacons of hope for future generations
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ignificant strides have been made in India Inc towards inclusivity and gender equity. However, according to a recent report by TeamLease, women hold only 19 percent of C-suite positions in the country. While women occupy 46 percent of entry-level positions, their participation drops significantly at higher leadership levels, it says.
A clutch of resilient women, however, is taking the fight to the highest rungs of corporate leadership, while taking on societal biases and systemic issues, and, in doing so, inspiring future generations. It is such trailblazers that Forbes India’s W-Power celebrates.
Launched in 2017, W-Power is a platform to amplify these diverse voices and accomplishments. This year, an eminent jury has picked 20 names from among entrepreneurs and professionals across sectors as varied as business, finance, sports and entertainment. The four-member jury comprises Arundhati Bhattacharya, president and chairperson, Salesforce-South Asia, Ashu Suyash, co-founder, Colossa Ventures, and former managing director, Crisil, Meena Ganesh, CEO at Portea Medical, and Swati Piramal, vice chairperson at Piramal Group.
“Decision-making becomes richer because of the diversity of perspectives that we bring to the table,” says Savitha Balachandran, CFO at Tata Technologies, one of the listees on W-Power 2025. “A visible, accessible woman leader is so important.” Agreeing with her is another listee Vishakha Mulye, CEO of Aditya Birla Capital: “Women need a role model in their life. The answer to the critical question of whether all this is worth is, of course, it is.”
(This story appears in the 18 April, 2025 issue of Forbes India. To visit our Archives, click here.)