Entrepreneurship can be defined as establishing and operating a business with the dual purpose of solving problems and earning profits. Entrepreneurs usually try to find business opportunities in untapped markets and sectors. This unlocks new business opportunities and helps in economic growth and job creation.
Recent trends have seen more and more women entering the field of entrepreneurship and successfully starting and running businesses, which have changed the economic landscape of India. This blog highlights the top 10 women entrepreneurs in India and how they have been successful in creating and running big companies.
Contribution of women in entrepreneurship
The presence of women entrepreneurs in India is increasing. The Economic Survey of 2025 showed that nearly 22% of Micro Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) are owned by women. The survey also showed that women occupy 18.3% of seats on the board of directors of companies in India.
Changing social norms and government support in recent years have helped female entrepreneurs in India to prove their abilities in the field of business, where they have excelled and achieved great milestones. Let us take a look at the top 10 female entrepreneurs in India.
Also Read: Entrepreneurship 101: from idea to execution
Top 10 women entrepreneurs
Here is the list of the top 10 women entrepreneurs in India based on the market capitalisation of their companies as of February 27, 2025.
- Roshni Nadar Malhotra – HCL Technologies Ltd.
Roshni Nadar is one of the most famous woman entrepreneurs in India, she is the HCL Technologies chairperson. She became the chairperson of HCL in July 2020. Under her leadership, HCL Technologies has increased its footprint in cloud computing, cybersecurity, and Artificial intelligence, making it one of India’s leading IT companies.
Roshni Nadar also sits on the board of HDFC AMC as an independent director. She serves as a trustee at the Shiv Nadar Foundation.
| Company Name | HCL Technologies Limited |
| Market Capitalization (27 Feb 2025) | ₹4,40,413 crores |
| Revenue (Q3FY25) | ₹29,890 crores |
| Net Profit (Q3FY25) | ₹4,594 crores |
| P/E ratio | 25.8 |
- Nisaba Godrej – GCPL
Nisaba Godrej, the Executive Chairperson of Godrej Consumer Products Limited (GCPL), has played a pivotal role in shaping GCPL’s strategy and transformation over the past two decades. Her leadership has helped Godrej CP to build a global presence and adopt inclusive and eco-friendly growth strategies.
Chairperson of Teach for India, Nisaba Godrej, holds board positions at Godrej Agrovet, Godrej Industries, M&M, as well as Bharti Airtel.
| Company Name | Godrej Consumer Products Limited |
| Market Capitalization (27 Feb 2025) | ₹1,07,390 crores |
| Revenue (Q3FY25) | ₹3,768 crores |
| Net Profit (Q3FY25) | ₹498 crores |
| P/E ratio | 62.2 |
- Falguni Nayar – Nykaa (FSN E-Commerce Ventures Ltd)
Falguni Nayar is the founder of Nykaa and acts as Managing Director (MD) and Executive chairperson. She is also the CEO or Chief Executive Officer of the company. She has built Nykaa into one of India’s biggest online retailers of beauty, skincare, haircare and wellness products.
Falguni Nayar is a business woman with an experience of over 26 years in this space, and prior to that, for 18 years, she was the managing director for the Kotak Mahindra Capital Company. She has helped revolutionize the online beauty retail industry in India.
| Company Name | Nykaa |
| Market Capitalization (27 Feb 2025) | ₹46,460 crores |
| Revenue (Q3FY25) | ₹2,267 crores |
| Net Profit (Q3FY25) | ₹26 crores |
| P/E ratio | 881 |
- Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw – Biocon Ltd.
Kiran Mazumdar Shaw founded Biocon and serves as its executive chairperson. With more than four decades of experience in biotechnology, she has built Biocon into one of the leading pharmaceutical companies in India. Today, Biocon is present in 120+ countries.
Awarded Padma Shree and Padma Bhushan award, she sits on the boards of Trent, Syngene, and Narayana Hrudayalaya.
| Company Name | Biocon Ltd. |
| Market Capitalization (27 Feb 2025) | ₹37,105 crores |
| Revenue (Q3FY25) | ₹3,821 crores |
| Net Profit (Q3FY25) | ₹81 crores |
| P/E ratio | 45.1 |
- Namita Thapar – Emcure Pharmaceuticals Ltd.
Namita Thapar is a successful businesswoman. She is the Emcure Pharma’s executive director. She is a Chartered Accountant, and under her leadership, Emcure has grown into a multinational corporation. Emcure has a customer base in more than 70 nations, and it employs over 10,000 people.
She actively champions women’s health and entrepreneurship through her support of initiatives that foster healthcare awareness and business mentorship.
| Company Name | Emcure Pharmaceutical Ltd. |
| Market Capitalization (27 Feb 2025) | ₹18,471 crores |
| Revenue (Q3FY25) | ₹1,963 crores |
| Net Profit (Q3FY25) | ₹156 crores |
| P/E ratio | 30.4 |
- Sminu Jindal – Jindal SAW
Sminu Jindal leads Jindal SAW, a company that specializes in providing industrial infrastructure solutions. The company’s product range includes HSAW pipes, LSAW pipes, seamless pipes, DI pipes, and pellets.
She is a strong advocate for accessibility and inclusion. She has introduced policies to support differently-abled individuals in workplaces while expanding the company’s operations globally.
| Company Name | Jindal SAW Ltd. |
| Market Capitalization (27 Feb 2025) | ₹15,505 crores |
| Revenue (Q3FY25) | ₹5.271 crores |
| Net Profit (Q3FY25) | ₹479 crores |
| P/E ratio | 8.90 |
- Dipali Goenka – Welspun Living Ltd
Dipali Goenka, the CEO and MD of Welspun Living Ltd., has spearheaded the company’s transformation into a global home textiles leader. By prioritising digital transformation and sustainability, she has bolstered the company’s international competitiveness and established an environmentally responsible supply chain.
She has more than 22 years of textile industry experience.
| Company Name | Welspun Living Ltd. |
| Market Capitalization (27 Feb 2025) | ₹10,875 crores |
| Revenue (Q3FY25) | ₹2,490 crores |
| Net Profit (Q3FY25) | ₹123 crores |
| P/E ratio | 17 |
- Ameera Shah – Metropolis Healthcare
Ameera Shah, the Executive Chairperson and Whole-time Director of Metropolis Healthcare Limited, has made Metropolis Healthcare one of the biggest diagnostic chains in India and Africa. Metropolis is one of the most respected scientific brands in diagnostics and operates in over 700 Indian towns.
Ernst & Young’s ‘Entrepreneur of the Year’ Award in Healthcare category was awarded to her in 2021.
| Company Name | Metropolis Healthcare Ltd. |
| Market Capitalization (27 Feb 2025) | ₹8,506 crores |
| Revenue (Q3FY25) | ₹323 crores |
| Net Profit (Q3FY25) | ₹31 crores |
| P/E ratio | 55.9 |
Also read: Top pharmaceutical stocks post budget
- Ghazal Alagh – Mamaearth (Honasa Consumer Ltd.)
Ghazal Alagh is the co-founder and whole-time director of Honasa Consumer Ltd, which is a toxin-free and eco-friendly personal care products company. Her appearance on reality shows has helped her become one of the most famous female entrepreneurs in India.
Honasa Consumer operates various brands, such as The Derma Co, Mamaearth, and Aqualogica. Ghazal Alagh was named the Women Entrepreneur of the Year in 2021 by Entrepreneur India, and she also received the Business World 40 under 40 award.
| Company Name | Honasa Consumer Ltd. |
| Market Capitalization (27 Feb 2025) | ₹7,208 crores |
| Revenue (Q3FY25) | ₹471 crores |
| Net Profit (Q3FY25) | ₹22 crores |
| P/E ratio | 106 |
- Upasana Taku – One Mobikwik Systems Ltd.
Upasana Taku, Co-Founder of MobiKwik, also serves as the company’s Chairperson and Executive Director. She established MobiKwik in 2009 with the goal of revolutionizing India’s digital payments landscape.
Upasana Taku, a Stanford graduate, has over 17 years of experience in the fintech industry, including previous roles at PayPal and HSBC.
| Company Name | One Mobikwik Systems Ltd. |
| Market Capitalization (27 Feb 2025) | ₹2,295 crores |
| Revenue (Q3FY25) | ₹269 crores |
| Net Profit (Q3FY25) | ₹ -55 crores |
| P/E ratio | N/A |
Bottomline
In the past few decades, India’s economy has seen significant contributions from women entrepreneurs. These successful women entrepreneurs in India have revolutionized their respective industries and have become a motivation for aspiring young business women in India. They have proved that women can perform better than men in any field, including the field of business and entrepreneurship.
An interesting read: Risks and Rewards of Entrepreneurship
