The Front Leaders

Every year, BW Businessworld put together a list of the Most Influential Women. These women like have excelled in their sectors and have made an impact on society as well. They have given back to society and have also been an inspiration to younger women in their field.

Annpurna Devi: 

Annpurna Devi, an Indian politician, who is the current Minister of State for Education, won a popular mandate mostly because of her immense contribution towards social welfare and working for the betterment of people in need.  A four-time MLA from Jharkhand and Bihar, Devi is currently serving her first term as MP. She is the second Lok Sabha member from the state to have joined the Union cabinet after tribal affairs minister Arjun Munda. Devi believes that the teaching and learning of Indian languages should be integrated into schools and higher educational institutions. Talking about her education, Devi completed her education at Ranchi University, Jharkhand.

Atishi Marlena:  

A strong-headed woman and a focused politician, Atishi Marlena speaks her mind and puts across her views on several social issues. Marlena, an Aam Aadmi Party leader and a member of the party’s Political Affairs Committee (PAC) is not just fighting elections but a political environment ruled by sexist men. Marlena’s politics is focused and driven by the issue of education. She is teaching fellow politicians how to make a positive impact in the lives of people. She played an important role in revamping Delhi’s education system and government-run schools in the national capital. 

H K Joshi:  

A leading business leader, Harjeet Kaur Joshi joined the Shipping Corporation of India in 2019 as Chairman and Managing Director (CMD) and after that, there was no looking back for her. Interestingly, Joshi is the first woman to hold that position in India's largest and most diversified shipping company. As the first female to lead, Joshi has had an impressive career and journey. She joined as Director (Finance) of the Shipping Corporation of India on February 05, 2015. Before that, Joshi was General Manager (F&A) in Oil and Natural Gas Corporation. Specialised in Financial Management, Joshi’s career has stretched over a span of three decades.  

Meenakashi Lekhi:

Standing tall in a male-dominated political sphere, Meenakashi Lekhi is not just a leader who witnesses the decision, however, she is part of the decision-making process which has a direct impact on the lives of people. Lekhi, who is Minister of State for External Affairs and Culture, is actively involved with the external affairs of the country, especially providing every possible assistance to stranded Indians in the ongoing Ukraine crisis.  Apart from her involvement in social work, organisations working towards the protection of the rights of women and children, Lekhi is a stellar orator with a strong attitude, favouring the crucial policies of the government.  

Punita Kumar Sinha:  

Sinha is an inspiration in a true sense. From one of few women in her class at IIT Delhi, the first Indian woman to do a PhD in Finance at the Wharton School to one of the first Indian woman global fund managers, her journey is remarkable. Currently, Sinha is Founding Partner of Pacific Paradigm Advisors, an independent investment advisory focused on Asia and Chairperson of InCred AMC. Talking about her earlier work, Sinha has been an Independent Director for many Indian companies like Infosys, JSW Steel, Blackstone Embassy REIT, Rallis, Jagran, and Lapin. Also, Sinha is regularly included in the media and at worldwide meetings as an expert on Asian capital business sectors etc. 

Pushpa Subramaniam:  

Known for her active presence on the ground, Pushpa Subramanyam is an Andhra Pradesh (now Telangana) cadre, Indian Administrative Service (IAS) of the 1985 batch.  In her earlier work, Subramanyam has been very active in the field and set a landmark impression on cotton farmers of various southern and western Indian states. It is believed that Subramanyam has communicated several policy decisions to the farmers. She took charge as a Secretary in the Ministry of Food Processing in 2018. Since then, her efforts for cold chains or involvement in concepts of mega food parks, food safety and quality standards are commendable. From Pradhan Mantri Kisan Sampada Yojana to agro-processing clusters or operation greens, her contribution in the field is unmatched.  

Renuka Singh Saruta: 

Union Minister of State for Tribal Affairs, the name itself highlights Renuka Singh Saruta's expertise and duties towards the tribal people which is often considered as the neglected population. Saruta started her long political career as the first woman president of Ramanujnagar Mandal, Chhattisgarh of the BJP in 2000. In her earlier days, she also served in the Samaj Kalyan Board from 2001 to 2003. Known as a people's leader, especially in tribal areas, Saruta in the past highlighted the plight of the poor people and raised demand for ration cards, sulabh shauchalaya (public toilet) and schools for them. Currently, Saruta is acting as a bridge between the tribal population and government machinery.   

Sadhvi Niranjan Jyoti: 

Born in a rural labour family in Uttar Pradesh, Sadhvi Niranjan Jyoti understands the struggle of every Indian, especially the middle-class family in rural India. Jyoti, who is the Minister of State for Rural Development, has tirelessly worked towards the welfare of the society with special attention to the rural sector. Her passion for mass politics and religious expertise makes for a potent combination and a breath of fresh air. Jyoti is also working for the upliftment of the poor children, vulnerable people along with the protection of the environment and cows, and advocating and promoting social and cultural values.   

Vibha Padalkar:  

Vibha Padalkar, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, HDFC Life is one of the main decision-makers in the company which shapes the outcome. Under her leadership, HDFC Life has reached heights and she injected the diversity agenda in the company. Recently, the standalone net profit of the company for the quarter ended December rose 3.2 per cent to Rs 273.65 crore from Rs 264.99 crore in the corresponding quarter last year. Over the years, Padalkar has been the recipient of various accolades, however, what remains constant is her passion and dedication towards her duties.  

Pratima Bhoumik:  

Pratima Bhowmik, popularly known as 'Pratima di' scripted history when she became the only politician from Tripura to be sworn in as a central minister. Prior to this, Bhowmik was the general secretary of the Tripura unit of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Coming from a humble background, she practices farming. Bhowmik once donated Rs 1,00,000 from her first month's salary for Assam flood relief. Talking about education, Bhoumik holds a Graduate degree in Bio-Science from Women's College, Tripura University. Bhowmik has been with the BJP since 1991. 

Anupriya Patel: 

Anupriya Patel is the Minister of State for Commerce and Industry in the Modi 2.0 government. In the first government, she was the Minister of State for Health and Family welfare. Her party Apna Dal (Sonelal), of which she’s the president, is a key ally of the BJP in Uttar Pradesh. She represents the Mirzapur constituency in the Lok Sabha and has a significant influence over the Patel community in eastern UP. The BJP is banking on her party’s influence in the region for the 2022 polls. Patel has been a vocal proponent of empowering women and their participation in the public sphere. 

Anuradha Thakur: 

Anuradha Thakur is an officer of the Indian Administrative Services (IAS) and is currently the Additional Secretary in the Ministry of Corporate Affairs. She has vast experience in corporate management and was the advisor in the World Bank for three years. Since 2017, due to her proficient understanding of the Indian economy, she has been on central deputation. She was the Joint Secretary in the Department of Investment and Public Asset Management for nearly three years. Her scholarly work has focused on the importance of city regions and metropolitan governance in India and how attention needs to shift to these if the economic potential of urban areas is to be realised. 

Darshana Jardosh: 

Darshana Jardosh represents the Surat constituency in the Lok Sabha and is currently serving her third term. In the most recent Cabinet expansion in July 2021, Jardosh took oath as the Union State Minister for Railways and Textiles. Surat has been her political bastion. She first became the Corporator there in 2000 and since 2009 has been representing the city in the Lok Sabha. In fact, in 2014, she won with a historic margin of 5,33,190 votes which was then the highest lead by any woman MP in Indian electoral history after Indira Gandhi. In 2019, she increased her margin and won by 5,48,230 votes. As the textile minister, she has been vocal about internationalising the Indian technical textile industry. As the railway minister, the important Char Dham Project will be under her review. 

Shobha Karandlaje: 

Shobha Karandlaje is among the seven women MPs who took over as Union ministers in the Modi government’s most recent Cabinet expansion in July 2021. She is the Minister of State for Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare and took charge when the farmers’ protest was at its peak in the country. Her political growth began after being elected as an MLC in Karnataka in 2004. In 2008, when the BJP formed its first government in Karnataka, she was made a minister. She also became the first woman to handle the energy portfolio and was given credit for handling the complex power sector. She has strong roots in the Sangh Parivar and has a public image of being an efficient administrator and a firebrand politician. 

Usha Sharma: 

On January 31, 2022, Usha Sharma was appointed as the Chief Secretary of Rajasthan and became the second woman ever to hold the top bureaucratic post in the state. She was on the Central Deputation in New Delhi since 2012. Sharma’s influence and understanding of Rajasthan’s polity can be estimated by the fact that she has been transferred to her parent cadre in Rajasthan by the Centre on the request of the state government led by Ashok Gehlot. The appointment gains significance because it comes a year before the 2023 Rajasthan Assembly elections. Sharma, in the past, has worked in Rajasthan in areas spreading across urban development, textiles, tourism, agriculture and energy.