Business Today’s MPW event celebrates female trailblazers

 Business Today, India’s leading business news platform, celebrated the 21st edition of its prestigious Most Powerful Women in Business (MPW) list on November 8 in Mumbai. The event was a grand gathering of visionary women leaders, entrepreneurs, and executives from a diverse array of industries, coming together to discuss challenges, achievements, and new opportunities for women in Indian business.

Union Minister of Commerce and Industry, Piyush Goyal, graced the occasion as Chief Guest, joined by Kalli Purie, Vice-Chairperson and Executive Editor-in-Chief of the India Today Group. Together, they unveiled the MPW Special Issue, featuring the inspiring stories of the remarkable women who made it to this year’s list.

In his address, Goyal highlighted India’s longstanding respect for female leadership and applauded the NDA government's initiatives to foster women’s empowerment. He also reassured attendees about India's resilience to potential trade challenges, following Donald Trump’s re-election as U.S. President, emphasizing that “India is regarded as a trusted partner by the democratic world.” Goyal further suggested that India is willing to lower tariffs on products with minimal domestic competition, such as certain heavy motorcycles like Harley Davidson.

This year, Business Today recognized 60 outstanding women across multiple industries, including 12 new faces, underscoring the diversity and dynamic growth of female leadership in India. Alongside these rising stars, four returning honorees reaffirmed their enduring influence in their fields. Additionally, two trailblazers were inducted into the MPW Hall of Fame for having made the list a record seven times.

Themed “Balance. Work. Life. Safety,” this year’s event explored the nuanced balance that women maintain between professional and personal spheres and advocated for greater gender equity and inclusivity in the workplace.

Among the distinguished honorees were Schauna Chauhan, CEO of Parle Agro; Ananya Birla, Founder & Chairperson of Svatantra Microfinance; Prabha Narasimhan, MD & CEO of Colgate-Palmolive (India); Prativa Mohapatra, VP & Managing Director of Adobe India; Ameera Shah, Executive Chairperson of Metropolis Healthcare; and Padmaja Ruparel, Co-founder of Indian Angel Network. For the complete list of this year’s MPW honorees, visit btmostpowerfulwomen.com/2024.

The event included thought-provoking panel discussions where leading voices shared their insights and personal journeys. Prabha Narasimhan from Colgate-Palmolive (India) emphasized the value of resilience, stating, “Grit, gumption, and guts are common to both men and women. What makes it interesting for women is that we often undersell ourselves.”

Padmaja Ruparel of Indian Angel Network discussed societal barriers for women and the importance of risk-taking: “In most societies, including India, women face preconceived notions. Women are also not always nurtured to take risks in the workplace.”

Prativa Mohapatra of Adobe India, Pavitra Shankar of Brigade Group, and Radhika Gupta of Edelweiss AMC also offered their perspectives on multitasking, resilience, and the evolution of work-life balance. Gupta noted, “Women are natural multitaskers... what we traditionally refer to as ‘feminine skill sets’ are exactly what workplaces need.”

The panel also delved into topics like the need to close the gender gap in corporate leadership and empower women as investors. Shefali Goradia of Deloitte South Asia emphasized the need for equal representation at leadership tables, while Amisha Vora of Prabhudas Lilladher Group encouraged women to shift from cautious savers to confident investors.

In her remarks, Nirupa Shankar of Brigade Group reflected on the changing concept of work-life balance, highlighting a move toward “work-life integration,” while Devita Saraf of Vu Group underscored the importance of setting boundaries for mental well-being.

Since its inception in 2003, Business Today’s Most Powerful Women in Business list has honored women who have made remarkable contributions to their industries. This year’s event not only celebrated these accomplishments but also reinforced the importance of addressing gender disparities and creating an environment where women leaders can thrive.