Most Powerful Women in Business 2013

VINITA BALI
MD, Britannia Industries
Britannia's managing director this year has been moved to 'Hall of Fame'(Reserved for those who have made it to the list at least seven times). She says her travels overseas helped her understand diversity and adapt to different environments and people.

RENUKA RAMNATH
Multiples Alternate Asset Management
Renuka Ramnath has also been moved to the 'Hall of Fame' this year. She says: "The choice of investors and team members are the cornerstones of private equity. Those decisions were extremely deliberate."

RENU SUD KARNAD
Housing Development Finance Corporation
HDFC's managing director this year moves to 'Hall of Fame'. She says being part of two decisions that changed the way the lender does business are her most memorable moments.

VANITHA NARAYANAN
Managing Director, IBM India
The IBM India chief began as a trainee in the company and is one of a handful of women heading a technolgy company in India.
ON THE GLASS CEILING
I have certainly not felt it. But we cannot declare victory and women should continue to remain focused

PALLAVI SHROFF
Senior Partner, Amarchand & Mangaldas & Suresh A. Shroff & Co
She has represented a roster of corporate giants, and actively backs other women in her profession.
ON THE GLASS CEILING
I have probably been lucky. But not everyone supports a woman who is going up the ladder. A number of organisations do not support females. It is a reality, though it is sad.

SHUBHALAKSHMI PANSE
Managing Director, Allahabad Bank
Raised to be independent, Allahabad Bank's chairman says her parents' message to her was 'You can do it'.
ON THE GLASS CEILING
Being a woman was not an issue - until I became general manager. Women are then looked down upon. Not much is expected of them.

VINITA SINGHANIA
Managing Director, Jk Lakshmi Cement
Singhania found her experience as a housewife helped her when she began to run a cement business.
ON THE GLASS CEILING
Women are moving shoulder to shoulder with men. women sarpanches are making themselves heard even with ghoonghats on

PRIYA NAIR
Vice President, Detergents, HUL
She has made her mark with out-of-the-box business solutions.
I, ME, MYSELF
Energetic, focused, passionate, risk taker with unwavering resolve

ANJALI BANSAL
Managing Director, Spencerstuart India
She also mentors proficient women executives for board roles.
ON THE GLASS CEILING
It does exist but we cannot talk about a gender-related glass ceiling alone. It is also relevant to nationality and ethnicity.

SWARUPA SANYAL
Head Of Strategy And Corporate Initiatives, Genpact
Swarupa Sanyal is implementing a blueprint that seeks to transform India's largest BPO firm into a leaner, bigger and more profitable company.
I, ME, MYSELF
To me it's normal to be a part of the family where a woman is working, so I suspect that is my biggest advantage.

SAVITA MAHAJAN
Deputy Dean, ISB
The deputy dean of ISB says nurturing a project from scratch excites her.
ON THE GLASS CEILING
It is not a myth. Growth opportunities for women are still determined by men. It is changing, but slowly.

NISHI VASUDEVA
Director (Marketing), HPCL
The only full-time woman director of an oil PSU says there is no glass ceiling
On work: Do not expect any positive differentiation as a woman. If the job requires 20 days' travel in a month, be ready.

RITU DALMIA
Co-Founder, Riga Food
Life hasn't always been a cakewalk for this pioneer of Italian food in India.
I, ME, MYSELF
I am a control freak. I think it is important to pay attention to detail.

SUMITHRA GOMATAM
Senior Vice President, Cognizant
Gomatam's trained musical ear has helped hone her business skills.
ON THE GLASS CEILING
It is a myth. How much of yourself you want to give determines how far you can go.

ASHA GUPTA
Managing Director, Tupperware India
The Tupperware India chief has nurtured several women entrepreneurs.
ON THE GLASS CEILING
It is a disappearing ceiling. We have ample examples of women who have broken it.

SHANTI EKAMBARAM
President, Corporate & Investment Banking, Kotak Mahindra Bank
BIGGEST ADVANTAGE OF BEING AN MPW
It helps me reach out and fulfil dreams for a larger good

NINA LATH GUPTA
Managing Director, NFDC
After its glory days in the 1970s and early 1980s, National Film Development Corporation became nearly defunct. Nina Lath Gupta gave it a new lease of life
I, ME, MYSELF
I love my work... each task is different, like each new film

MADHURIMA MUKHERJEE
Partner, Luthra & Luthra Law Offices
She has made her mark as a capital market lawyer, but is not ready to rest on her laurels.
Work is: My life. If I resolve a complex legal issue, after all these years, i still get a heady feeling. Quite like a kid with her first toy.

ANUPAMA AHLUWALIA
Vice President, Marketing, India And South West Asia, The Coca-Cola Company
She has helped Coca-Cola India steal a march over arch rival PepsiCo.
ON THE GLASS CEILING
If you think it is a ceiling, then it is a reality. The question is, why do you see it as a ceiling? It's about your own perception. Otherwise the sky is the limit.

KIRTHIGA REDDY
She was Facebook's first employee in India and set up its India operations. An MBA from Stanford University, she is also Vice Chairman of the Internet and Mobile Association of India
ON THE GLASS CEILING:
In my view, the glass ceiling is a myth. However, it is generally much harder for women to get to the same role/responsibility as men  I firmly believe that women can aspire to any role they want to. Each individual has the power to make more of an impact than he or she thinks possible. As a society, we need more women to aspire to top roles and make the path easier for others to come

ARCHANA HINGORANI
With economic and political conditions deteriorating rapidly, Archana Hingorani, CEO and Executive Director, IL&FS Investment Managers Ltd, has helped steer the fund to focus its investments on new emerging opportunities, as well as appropriate follow-ons in existing investee companies.
ON THE GLASS CEILING:
Glass ceiling does not exist in India Inc. As one gets into senior management positions it's not about the glass ceiling that one has to worry about but the lack of mentorship. You need people to guide you and take you to the next level

ARUNA JAYANTHI
Under CEO Aruna Jayanthi, Capgemini India saw a significant revenue increase of more than 16 per cent in 2012 and added nearly 8,000 people at a time when many companies slowed hiring because of the poor macro-economic climate.
WORK IS:
Results and success

CHITRA RAMKRISHNA
In April this year, Chitra Ramkrishna, 50, who has been with the National Stock Exchange (NSE) since its inception in 1994, became its first woman Managing Director and CEO, indeed the first such at any Indian exchange.
ON THE GLASS CEILING:
Women have known about glass ceilings in the Executive suite and throughout all levels of the workforce. The barriers exist at all levels of an organisation and affect people, both men and women at different levels in various industries. So, women have as much opportunity to immerse themselves in work, work with commitment, bring in their unique strengths  and move up the corporate ladder. We have seen enough examples of that in India Inc. and I think we should celebrate those successes instead of flogging the glass ceiling issue

KAKU NAKHATE
In a dismal economic climate where everyone is being cautious, Kaku Nakhate, President and Country Head India, Bank of America Merrill Lynch, talks about expanding. Unwilling to follow the herd, all the more over the past year, Nakhate, 47, is now looking at just the biggest deals.

NEHA KIRPAL
When Neha Kirpal, 33, started the India Art Fair - today the world's second-largest art fair in terms of footfalls - in 2008, it had only 34 galleries, 10,000 visitors from just two countries and was held in a 3,000 sq. metre venue. The 2013 edition had 105 galleries, 90,000 visitors from 24 countries and was held at a vast 21,000 sq. metre venue.
I, Me, MYSELF:
A self- starter with a belief that most things are possible

ZARIN DARUWALA
President, Wholesale Banking, ICICI Bank
There are top industrialists consulting her all the time, on every financial matter from investing to restructuring. Away from her job, she loves to read, especially on flights.
BIGGEST ADVANTAGE OF BEING AN MPW
Even people outside the finance world recognise me

TANYA DUBASH
In 2006 the Godrej Group, under the leadership of Executive Director and Chief Brand Officer Tanya Dubash, kicked off an ambitious brand valuation exercise.

LEENA NAIR
Senior VP, Leadership and Organisation Development, Unilever
She has the distinction of being the first woman at HUL to deal with employee relations in a factory.
ON THE GLASS CEILING:
It's not a ceiling. It's like a game of snakes and ladders. It's up to the women to navigate and find a way through the barriers in their career and move ahead. The snakes can vary - it could be work-life balance being affected or organisations inherently unfriendly to women. It is not just about dealing with men who perceive women as a threat.

ROOPA KUDVA
MD and CEO, CRISIL
The challenge for Kudva remains that of "the difficult economic scenario and managing international expansion" during it. In her spare time, she likes reading biographies and autobiographies.
BIGGEST ADVANTAGE OF BEING AN MPW
It enables me to make a difference -- whether it is bringing transparency to markets, helping small enterprises improve their access to funding, or running financial literacy initiatives in North-East India through our Pragati programme

VISHAKHA MULYE
MD and CEO, ICICI Venture Funds Management Company
She finds raising capital in the post-Lehman world "tough yet truly satisfying" and insists that private equity investment "is a long-term game".
ON THE GLASS CEILING:
Unfortunately yes, glass ceiling is a reality in India. That's the feeling one gets while interacting with women across sectors and segments. But with more women coming into the workforce, gradually things should change for the better   

VEDIKA BHANDARKAR
Vice Chairman and Head of Investment Banking, Credit Suisse
In the last 18 months, Bhandarkar, 45, has been involved in some 16 deals, the most important being the one where she helped Thomas Cook sell its India business.
I, ME, MYSELF:
I am a person with integrity who holds high ethical standards. I'm also someone with high expectations who strive in every aspect in life  

AISHA DE SEQUEIRA
Co-Country Head and Head of Investment Banking, Morgan Stanley
While last year she was busy advising domestic clients such as the Vedanta Group on restructuring, this year she has been deeply involved in M&A advisory. She feels that despite the current volatility, India is strategic and has become important for global corporations.
BIGGEST ADVANTAGE OF BEING AN MPW
It provides you with a platform to influence change

VINITA GUPTA
"A good year" is how Vinita Gupta, Group President and CEO at Lupin Pharmaceuticals, describes her company's performance at a time when unsettling news was the key takeaway for pharma companies.