As International Women’s Month highlights progress in leadership and equality worldwide, India continues to showcase remarkable women shaping the future of business, technology, policy, and social impact. Across industries, these leaders are not only building organizations and driving innovation but also influencing conversations that matter for the broader Asian economy.
The 10 Top Women’s Voices in India (2026) represent a powerful cross-section of founders, executives, policymakers, and innovators whose work continues to inspire professionals across the region. Through their leadership, they are advancing digital transformation, strengthening startup ecosystems, expanding financial inclusion, and championing education and healthcare initiatives.
Moreover, their voices extend beyond their respective industries. By sharing knowledge, advocating for progress, and mentoring the next generation of leaders, they are helping shape India’s role in the global innovation landscape. From fintech pioneers and enterprise technology leaders to education advocates and health innovators, these women demonstrate how influence and expertise can drive meaningful change.
In this feature, we highlight 10 inspiring leaders whose ideas, leadership journeys, and professional insights make them voices worth following in 2026 and beyond.
Highlights
Shradha Sharma
Founder & CEO, The Bharat Project | Founder & CEO, YourStory Media
Shradha Sharma is widely regarded as one of the defining voices of India’s startup ecosystem. As the Founder and CEO of YourStory Media, she built one of the country’s most influential entrepreneurial storytelling platforms, documenting the journeys of more than 200,000 founders and innovators across India. Through YourStory’s flagship platforms, including YourStory, HerStory, and SocialStory, she has helped bring startup culture into the mainstream while inspiring millions of aspiring entrepreneurs.
Moreover, Shradha has played a direct role in shaping India’s startup landscape at the policy level. She contributed as a co-author of the Startup India policy and serves as a member of the National Startup Advisory Council, where she works alongside government and industry leaders to strengthen the entrepreneurial ecosystem.
In addition, she co-chaired the G20 S20 agenda on inclusive innovation, highlighting India’s growing influence in global startup conversations. Recognized by Fortune’s 40 Under 40 and honored with Forbes’ Power Trailblazers award, Shradha continues to amplify the voices of founders while championing inclusive entrepreneurship through initiatives such as The Bharat Project.
Ghazal Alagh
Co-founder & Chief Innovation Officer, Honasa Consumer Pvt Ltd (Mamaearth)
Ghazal Alagh has become one of the most recognizable entrepreneurs in India’s consumer startup ecosystem. As the co-founder and Chief Innovation Officer of Honasa Consumer, she helped build Mamaearth into one of India’s fastest-growing direct-to-consumer personal care brands while expanding the company’s portfolio across multiple beauty and wellness labels.
Furthermore, her entrepreneurial journey — from corporate trainer and artist to startup founder — reflects a strong commitment to innovation and modern consumer needs. Honasa Consumer has grown into a publicly listed company, and Ghazal’s leadership continues to shape product innovation and brand storytelling within the fast-growing D2C sector.
In addition, her role as a judge on Shark Tank India has strengthened her influence in India’s startup ecosystem, positioning her as a prominent advocate for entrepreneurship and women founders.
Neerja Birla
Founder and Chairperson, Aditya Birla Education Trust
Neerja Birla has established herself as a leading advocate for education reform and mental health awareness in India. As the Founder and Chairperson of the Aditya Birla Education Trust, she has led initiatives that empower educators and support students through institutions such as the Aditya Birla World Academy and the Aditya Birla Education Academy.
Moreover, she founded Mpower, a mental health initiative focused on reducing stigma and expanding access to psychological care. Through dedicated centers and awareness programs, the initiative has contributed to growing conversations around mental well-being in India. As a result, Neerja’s work continues to influence how education systems and institutions integrate emotional well-being with academic development.
Sindhu Gangadharan
Managing Director, SAP Labs India | Head, Customer Innovation Services, SAP
Sindhu Gangadharan is a prominent voice in enterprise technology and global innovation leadership. As the Managing Director of SAP Labs India and Global Head of Customer Innovation Services at SAP, she leads initiatives that help organizations harness advanced technologies to drive business transformation. With more than 26 years at SAP, Sindhu has played a pivotal role in shaping enterprise software innovation, from product development to global technology strategy.
Furthermore, she serves as Chairperson of NASSCOM, where she contributes to strengthening India’s technology ecosystem and promoting digital innovation at a national level. In addition, Sindhu sits on the Board of Directors at Siemens India and leads the Indo-German Chamber of Commerce as President, supporting cross-border collaboration between two major innovation economies. Recognized by Fortune among the Top 50 Most Powerful Women in Business, Sindhu continues to champion inclusive leadership while advancing the global conversation around enterprise technology, AI, and digital transformation.
Upasana Taku
Co-founder, MobiKwik
Upasana Taku is one of the pioneers behind India’s fintech revolution. As the co-founder of MobiKwik, she has helped build one of the country’s leading digital financial platforms, offering payments, credit, and financial services to millions of users.
Notably, she led the company through significant milestones, including its IPO in December 2024, which was oversubscribed more than 100 times — reflecting strong market confidence. Furthermore, Upasana has received recognition such as Forbes Asia’s 25 Power Businesswomen list and was honored by the President of India for her contributions to fintech entrepreneurship. Through her leadership, she continues to champion financial inclusion and women’s participation in technology-driven businesses.
Karthi Subbaraman
Founder, Pifo | Senior Director, ServiceNow
Karthi Subbaraman brings together enterprise technology leadership and community building for the next generation of product innovators. As Senior Director at ServiceNow, she leads design and product initiatives while contributing to the company’s growing technology presence in India.
Previously, she held leadership roles at global technology companies such as Microsoft and Salesforce, where she led product design and user experience initiatives for major enterprise platforms. Meanwhile, she founded Pifo (Product Innovators Foundation), a nonprofit community that supports product managers and designers through mentorship and learning programs. Consequently, Karthi has become a respected voice in product leadership, design thinking, and technology career development.
Shweta Rajpal Kohli
President & CEO, Startup Policy Forum (SPF)
Shweta Rajpal Kohli brings a rare blend of journalism, policy expertise, and startup ecosystem leadership to India’s innovation landscape. As President and CEO of the Startup Policy Forum, she works closely with high-growth startups and policymakers to shape policies that support India’s rapidly expanding digital economy.
The forum represents more than 65 leading startups — including companies such as Razorpay, Zerodha, OYO, and Swiggy — whose combined valuation exceeds $100 billion. Previously, Shweta led public policy efforts for major global companies including Salesforce and Uber, while also serving as Chief Public Policy Officer at Peak XV (formerly Sequoia Capital India). As a result, she plays a critical role in bridging founders, investors, and government institutions.
Pavitra Shankar
Managing Director, Brigade Enterprises Limited
Pavitra Shankar plays a pivotal role in shaping India’s urban infrastructure landscape. As the Managing Director of Brigade Enterprises Limited, she leads one of South India’s most prominent real estate developers with projects spanning residential, commercial, hospitality, and retail sectors.
Under her leadership, Brigade Group continues to expand its presence across major cities while developing landmark projects such as World Trade Centers in South India and large mixed-use lifestyle communities. Moreover, the company has been recognized repeatedly as a Great Place to Work, reflecting its commitment to both organizational culture and innovation. Consequently, Pavitra’s leadership contributes significantly to the evolution of modern urban development in India.
Maheshwari Terse
Founder, Creating Impact
Maheshwari Terse is emerging as a powerful voice in technology, youth empowerment, and digital thought leadership. As the founder of Creating Impact, she mentors students and professionals in areas such as data science, artificial intelligence, and career development in technology.
Furthermore, Maheshwari has gained global recognition as a LinkedIn Top Voice (2024 and 2025) and was named a Top Icon of India in 2024. She has also been featured on LinkedIn News, interviewed on Doordarshan, and recognized internationally, including a feature on a Times Square billboard in New York. Through her speaking engagements at universities, tech communities, and innovation events, she continues to inspire the next generation of women in STEM.
Dr Rajeena Shahin
Medical Director, Physicians Association for Nutrition India (PAN India) | CEO & Founder, Invest on Health
Dr. Rajeena Shahin is a physician leader working at the intersection of evidence-based nutrition, lifestyle medicine, and public health. As Medical Director of the Physicians Association for Nutrition (PAN) India, she leads national initiatives that integrate nutrition science into medical education and healthcare practice, with the goal of bringing preventive, nutrition-focused care into mainstream healthcare and advancing physician-led healthcare transformation.
She is also the Founder and CEO of Invest on Health, one of India’s early platforms dedicated to therapeutic lifestyle interventions. Through clinical programs, physician education, and system-level initiatives, her work has helped thousands of individuals adopt sustainable health practices for the prevention and management of chronic diseases.
With over two decades of experience spanning clinical care, research, and health systems engagement, Dr. Shahin continues to champion a shift toward prevention-focused, physician-led healthcare models, while highlighting the deep interconnectedness between nutrition, human health, and sustainable food systems.
Her work underscores the critical role of nutrition and food systems in shaping the future of healthcare, positioning physicians as key drivers of preventive and sustainable health transformation.
Voices Shaping the Future of Leadership in India
The 10 Top Women’s Voices in India (2026) represent more than individual success stories — they embody the growing influence of women shaping industries, institutions, and innovation across the country. From fintech and enterprise technology to healthcare, infrastructure, and education, their work reflects the breadth of leadership emerging from India’s evolving economy.
Moreover, their influence extends beyond their organizations. By sharing insights, mentoring professionals, and advocating for progress, these leaders are helping build stronger ecosystems for entrepreneurship, technology development, and social impact. As India continues to play an increasingly important role in the global economy, voices like these will remain central to guiding innovation and leadership.
Looking ahead, the impact of the 10 Top Women’s Voices in India (2026) is likely to grow even further. Through their ideas, initiatives, and leadership journeys, they are not only shaping the present but also inspiring the next generation of professionals, founders, and changemakers across India and beyond.
Highlights
Read the Chinese article here.
