Partners

Jury

Ashu Suyash

Co-Founder, Colossa Ventures and former MD, Cirsil

Arundhati Bhattacharya

President and Chairperson, Salesforce- South Asia

Meena Ganesh

CEO, Portea Medical

Swati Piramal

Vice Chairperson,
Piramal Group

Methodology

Following thorough research across primary and secondary sources, the Forbes India editorial team drew up a long list of 35 women who have shaped their destinies and set new benchmarks. The list represented a mix of entreprens and professionals in various fields, although it may not have been exhe. It was presented to a jury of four eminent and illustrious women: u Suyash, co-founder, Colossa Ventures, and former managing director, Crl, Arundhati Bhattacharya, president and chairperson, Salesforce-South Aa, Meena Ganesh, CEO at Portea Medical, and Swati Piramal, vice chairpersn at Piramal Group. While traditional indicators such as financial success, influence, leadership and innovation, were key considerations, the emphass was on recognising self-made women who have not inherited wealth or posin. The jury assessed the candidates on the following criteria:

Pioneers: Women who have introduced ground-breaking ideas, transformed industries, or ventured into uncharted territories.

Role models: Women leading by example, inspiring and empowering others.

Trailblazers: Women who have carved a space for themselves in traditionally male-dominated spaces and challenged the status quo.

Based on jury votes, we narrowed the list down to 20 names. The selection is not a ranking, but a collection of exceptional names based on the above criteria

India's Top Self-Made Women in 2025

Mona Khandhar

Principal Secretary, Department of Science & Technology, Gujarat

Rohini Iyer

Founder & Director,
Rain Reign Group

Vishakha Mulye

CEO, Aditya Birla Capital

Dr. Pratima Murthy

Director & Senior Professor of Psychiatry, NIMHANS

Renuka Ramnath

Founder, MD & CEO, Multiples Alternate Asset Management

Sonia Dasgupta

MD & CEO, Investment Banking, JM Financial

Leena Nair

Global CEO, Chanel

Smriti Mandhana

Cricketer

Payal Kapadia

Filmmaker

Savitha Balchandran

CFO, Tata Technologies

Kaku Nakhate

India CEO,
Bank of America, N.A. (BANA)

Anamika Khanna

Creative Director & Founder, Anamika Khanna and AK|OK

Manu Bhaker

Shooter

Prerna Singh

CEO, Bhansali Productions

Mira Kulkarni

Founder & MD,
Forest Essentials

Shefali Goradia

Chairperson,
Deloitte South Asia

Gita Gopinath

First Deputy MD, IMF

Sunidhi Chauhan

Singer

Sonal Desai

CIO, Franklin Templeton Fixed Income

PV Sindhu

Badminton Player