The list of #50 women from India to follow on Twitter (click link to see the list) allowed me to find

llowed me to find and highlight

some wonderful women on Twitter. Women who were leading their niche, as recommended by other twitter users. The
incredible response generated by the list (shared more than 3000 times in 4 days) made me realize how important it
is to create such list that enable more connections, greater inspiration and fantastic role models for women and
men.
One such person on our list of 50 women to follow was Sarika (Founder of www.bizdivas.in). She is an award
winning entrepreneur herself and helps mentor and guide other women who wish to launch their business. A woman
with a passion on a topic is all we needed to create another list !
I requested her to create a #WOWfactor list of active Indian women entrepreneurs to follow on twitter. Her filters are
better than mine. After all it is her niche ! We are hoping that others will recommend more women so that the list
become the WOW factor list of #50 women entrepreneurs from India to folllow on twitter.
Here are some women she recommended to us. I would love to hear your recommendations on who else should we
follow and why. Do provide twitter handles and a brief background. They should be living and working in India.
Help us highlight Indian women entrepreneurs on twitter to the global community on twitter.
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Marrianne Williamson once said Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are
powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be
brilliant, gorgeous, talented, and fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be?
In the past few decades women have taken rapid strides in every field one could imagine. Women have held the
highest offices in the country and have served with dignity and success. They have persevered in the roughest and
most demanding of professions and achieved results which have surprised the whole world.
India has many women Entrepreneurs who have proved their mettle and have taken the whole country by storm.
These pioneer women have proved their mettle by rising to the top of their game.
Gone are the days when women, even when accepted in the world of commerce, would be stereotyped into a few
professions. Women have been successful in the entertainment and fashion industries for a long time. But today, the
likes of Kiran Majumdar Shaw (CEO of Biocon, India), Neelam Dhawan (MD, Microsoft, India), Niana Lal Kidwai (head
of HSBC in India) and others of their ilk rub shoulders with men in board rooms and are continuously proving that
women are and can be as successful as men.
When I was asked to compile this list, a whole gamut of names came to my mind not all were on twitter though.
Twitter itself has so many that choosing a few was very difficult so I decided to focus on those who very active on
twitter and were well known even outside twitter. I am hoping that this blog will invite people to comment and add to
this list so that it grows to the 50 women entrepreneurs from India to follow on twitter !
I hope you find inspiration in my curation and help spread the word so our list grows longer each day. Here are some
names to get you started:
Kiran Mazumdar Shaw
Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw is an Indian entrepreneur. She is the Chairman &
Managing Director of Biocon Limited a biotechnology company based in
Bangalore (Bengaluru), India. Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw was born on March
23, 1953 in Bangalore, India.
Mazumdar-Shaw completed her schooling from the citys Bishop Cotton
Girls High School (1968). She wanted to join medical school but
instead took up biology and completed her BSc Zoology Honors course
from Mount Carmel College, Bangalore University (1973). She later did
her post-graduation in Malting and Brewing from Ballarat College,
Melbourne University (1975).
She worked as a trainee brewer in Carlton and United Breweries,
Melbourne and as a trainee maltster at Barrett Brothers and Burston,
Australia. She also worked for some time as a technical consultant at
Jupiter Breweries Limited, Calcutta and as a technical manager
at Standard Maltings Corporation, Baroda between 1975 and 1977.
She started Biocon in 1978 and spearheaded its evolution from an industrial enzyme manufacturing company to a
fully integrated bio-pharmaceutical company with a well-balanced business portfolio of products and a research focus
on diabetes, oncology and auto-immune diseases. She also established two subsidiaries: Syngene (1994) to provide
development support services for discovery research and Clinigene (2000) to cater to clinical development services.
Her pioneering work in the sector has earned her several awards, including the prestigious Padma Shri (1989) and the
Padma Bhushan (2005) from the government of India. She was recently named among TIME magazines 100 most
influential people in the world. She is on the Forbes list of the worlds 100 most powerful women and the Financial
Times top 50 women in business list She is also a member of the board of governors of the prestigious Indian School
of Business and Indian Institute of Technology Hyderabad.
http://twitter.com/kiranshaw
Ekta Kapoor
Ekta Jeetendra Kapoor (b. 7 June 1975) is an Indian TV and film producer. She is the Joint Managing Director and
Creative Director of Balaji Telefilms, her production company. Ekta Kapoor is the daughter of Jeetendra and Shobha
Kapoor and the sister of Tusshar Kapoor who is also a Bollywood actor. She did her schooling at Bombay Scottish
School, Mahim and attended college at Mithibai College.
She has produced numerous soap opera, television series and movies. Her most popular television series include
Hum Paanch, Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi, Kahaani Ghar Ghar Kii, Kasautii Zindagii Kay, Kahiin To Hoga,
Kaahin Kissii Roz, Kkusum, Kaisa Ye Pyar Hai, Kasamh Se andBandini . She is currently producing Pavitra Rishta,
Bade Achhe Lagte Hain, Parichay, Kya Huaa Tera Vaada & Gumrah End Of Innocence.
She branched out into Bollywood movie production in 2001 beginning with Kyo Kii Main Jhuth Nahin Bolta . Kucch
To Hai and Krishna Cottagebased on supernatural themes followed in 2003 and 2004. Kyaa Kool Hai Hum starring
her brother Tusshar Kapoor proved to be her breakout hit and went on to become one of the highest earners of 2005.
She then went on to co-produce Shootout at Lokhandwala with Sanjay Gupta
which became her a profitable venture at the box office. Mission Istanbul and
EMI Liya Hai Toh Chukana Parega in collaboration with Sunil Shetty
followed. The years 2010 and 2011 proved to be important for her with critical
and commercial success such as Love Sex aur Dhokha, Once Upon a Time
in Mumbai, Shor in the City, Ragini MMS and The Dirty Picture. Her
upcoming productions include Kyaa Super Kool Hai Hum, Lootera, Shootout
at Wadala, Once Upon a Time Again, Ek Thi Daayan, Gippie, Milan Talkies &
Ragini MMS 2
http://twitter.com/ektabalaji
Aishwarya Nair
And clearly, our
grandfather is our
inspiration. First, he
set up a successful
textile business (The
Leela Lace) right
from scratch and
then he began the
hospitality venture
when he was 64
years old. Theres
no stopping him,
Aishwarya says. A brand that is dedicated to luxury, the sisters have added a breath of fresh air to the workplace.
With Aishwaryacapitalizing on her talent in the bakery department, she is constantly innovating by organizing pastry
exhibitions and gourmet pet food in the food and beverage division. Pets-a family fetish-are the driving force behind a
lot of work they do. Sahachari foundation, founded by Lakshmi Nair, their mother, is a charitable organization that
works towards promoting art and culture. It is through this foundation that Aishwarya launched her bakery brand,
Docle, a part of whose proceeds, still go to the Bombay Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. While
Amruda boasts of owning two cats, Aishwarya goes on to tell us about her Yorkshire terrier and two turtles. We also
had a rabbit, but he was stolen while our house was being renovated. Can you believe that? adds Aishwarya with
shock. The Sahachari foundation is very close to my heart. And the way the girls are taking my work forward, Im
hoping to hand over the reigns to them after me, says Lakshmi, a devoted lover of the arts. I always had a creative
flair. And my family recognized it at the right time and channelled it towards food and beverage, says Aishwarya,
who picked up her skill for baking at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel, New York City, where she worked soon after her
specialized course in culinary arts management at the Culinary Institute of America, New York. If you think she has
her hands deep in the dough, theres still more. Also responsible for wine acquisition for the group, she hosts
exclusive wine tastings in all the seven operating properties in India. She is also working with two international fine
dining brands, Megu and Le Cirque, both of which launched in The Leela Palace, New Delhi.
https://twitter.com/aishwarya_n
Swati Parimal
Swati A. Piramal is the Vice Chairperson of Piramal Life Sciences Limited and
Director of Piramal Healthcare Limited.
Dr. Piramal received one of Indias highest civilian honours, the Padmashri award, by
the President of India, Ms. Pratibha Patil on 4th April, 2012 She has been nominated
as one of the 25 Most Powerful Business Women in India eight times and is now a
member of the Hall of Fame of the Most Powerful Women. She was the first woman in
90 years to head the Apex Chamber of Commerce ASSOCHAM in 2009 10. She
has contributed towards innovations in Public Health Services and other projects. She
has been a part of public policy related to health care which led to major policy
changes that help reduce the spread of life-threatening diseases.
Dr. Swati Piramal also serves on Indian government public policy expert committees
for trade, planning, environment, arts, womens entrepreneurship, national integration
and regional development.Holding the board positions in several healthcare,financial, manufacturing and service
companies she also serves on the boards of Indian and international academic institutions. Dr. Piramal is a member
of many Indian and foreign business councils, and has received numerous Indian and international awards.
Dr. Swati Piramal has been elected as a member of the most prestigious and the oldest boards in the world The
Harvard Board Of Overseers. She is one of the five new Overseers elected to the board for a six-year term. The
Harvard Board Of Overseers is more than 350 years old. President John F. Kennedy served on the board in 1957.
https://twitter.com/swatipiramal/
Rajshree Pathy
Rajshree Pathy, is an eminent entrepreneur from Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu,
India. She is the Chairperson and Managing Director of the Rajshree
Group of Companies and Founder of India Design Forum.[1] The Rajshree
group has varied interests Food and Agro business, Energy, Real
Estate, Travel, Health and Hospitality and Arts. She also promotes
performing arts and contemporary art movement in Coimbatore through the
Contemplate Art Gallery and COCCA. Rajshree Pathy is the daughter of
famous industrialist Shri G.Varadaraj, of PSG Families engaged in
Charities and Educational Institutions for more than a century. Her father
was also a former Rajya Sabha MP. She is married to S.Pathy, Chairman
& Managing director of Lakshmi Mills. Rajshree Sugars and Chemicals
Ltd. is a company with interests across integrated fields such as Sugar,
Distillery, Power Co-Generation and Biotechnology. The range of products
includes White Crystal Sugar, Alcohol, Organic Manure, Bio-products and Power. A specialty Demerara Sugar is
marketed under the brand name RSCL Sugar Brown. RSCL with its Corporate office in Coimbatore, has three modern
sugar-manufacturing units located in Tamil Nadu one at Varadaraj Nagar, Theni District, the second at
Mundiampakkam, Villupuram District and the third at Gingee, Villupuram District. RSCL also has a Sugar factory
located at Zaheerabad, Medak District in Andhra Pradesh.
https://twitter.com/RajshreePathy
Radhika Roy
Radhika Roy is an Indian media baron and co Chairperson and Managing Director,
NDTV. Radhika Roy has over ten years of experience in print journalism, with leading
publications such as Indian Express and India Today. In the mid-80s, she co-
founded NDTV. Radhika has won the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year award
for Information, Communication and Entertainment in the year 2003.
Radhika Roy married Prannoy Roy in 1972 and they have a daughter Tara
RoyRadhika is the sister of a Rajya Sabha member and CPI (M) politician, Brinda
Karat. A media titan in her native India, Radhika Roy is a former speech pathologist
who pursued her dream of becoming a journalist and transformed a garage-startup
production company into an internationally renowned news operation comprising three channels and over 1,000
employees. Widely recognized for her uncompromising devotion to journalistic and business ethics, Roycofounder,
co-owner, and managing director of New Delhi Television (NDTV)has consistently demonstrated that empires can
be built without sacrificing principles. Together with her husband, Prannoy, she has galvanized Indian television, with
such accomplishments as breaking the governments hold on television news by founding the countrys first privately
owned news channel. After persistent lobbying for airtime on the states public television broadcaster, Doordarshan,
NDTV busted through with The World This Week, a weekly international news program produced by Radhika Roy. A
combination of hard work, a strong product, and fortuitous timing helped the Roys build brand awareness, as the
program covered such seminal international events as the fall of the Berlin Wall and the conflict in Chinas Tiananmen
Square. NDTVs success attracted the attention of the Tata Group, one of Indias oldest and largest business
conglomerates, which signed on to sponsor a daily news bulletin called News Tonight, making Roy the producer of
Indias first privately produced nightly news show. In 2003, Roy launched NDTV24x7 (English language) and NDTV
India (Hindi channel) to retain editorial control over the news they were producing. She espouses a bold business
philosophy based on being unafraid to take chances, and has backed that up by repeatedly tackling the
establishment: Weve taken risks, gone against the norm, and broken new ground.
https://twitter.com/radhikaroyndtv
Farah Khan
Farah Khan born 9 January 1965) is an Indian film director and choreographer. She is best known for her
choreographic work in numerous Bollywood films. Khan has choreographed dance routines for more than a hundred
songs in over 80 Hindi films. Khan has since become a noted Hindi film director as well. In addition Khan has worked
on international projects such as Marigold: An Adventure in India, Monsoon
Wedding and the Chinese film Perhaps Love.
Khan was studying sociology at St. Xaviers College, Mumbai when Michael
Jacksons Thriller was telecast. She was so inspired, that although she hadnt
danced before that, it soon became her vocation. She learned to dance
basically on her own, and set up a dance group. When the top choreographer
of the time, Saroj Khan walked out of the film Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikandar, Farah
got her break, and this was her first film to choreograph. This was followed by
many more songs which became national hits. She met actor Shahrukh Khan
on the set of Kabhi Haan Kabhi Naa and the two have since become good
friends and started working together.
Khans father Kamran was a successful stunt filmmaker. Her mother Menaka
is of Zoroastrian origin and is the sister of screenwriter Honey Irani and former
child actor Daisy Irani. Farahs brother is comedian, actor and film director
Sajid Khan. When their parents marriage broke up, Farah and Sajid were
shuttled between different homes. In May 2012 Farah Khan admitted to having had a tummy tuck. Film personalities
Farhan Akhtar and Zoya Akhtar are Farahs cousins.
Farah married Shirish Kunder, the editor of her film Main Hoon Na, on 9 December 2004. They have since worked
together on each others films, such as Jaan-E-Mann, Om Shanti Om, and Tees Maar Khan. Farah gave birth to
triplets on 11 February 2008; one son, Czar, and two daughters, Diva and Anya.
https://twitter.com/TheFarahKhan
Vandana Luthra
Not too many entrepreneurs can be said to be embodiments of their enterprise.
But Vandana Luthra of New Delhi is certainly one. She is slim and svelte. She
is, of course, beautiful in the classical Indian mold, and she carries herself with
the grace that only comes with enormous self confidence.
Its the sort of self confidence that is engendered, quite possibly, from the
knowledge that one is entirely self made. And that Ms. Luthra certainly is.
Shes the founder and mentor of the VLCC, Indias leading slimming, beauty
and fitness brand, and one with seven outlets in Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Sharjah,
and an eighth center scheduled to open in Al Ain in May. There are VLCC
slimming, beauty and fitness centers in Muscat and Bahrain, and by next year
there will be a total of some 28 across the Middle East.
The largest number of VLCC centers, of course, is in Ms. Luthras native India
150 of them in 75 cities. She facilitates professional development through her
vocational training school, the VLCC Institute of Beauty, Health & Management, which currently has 43 campuses in
35 cities.
The entrepreneur as an educator that would be a fair way to characterize me, Ms. Luthra said. Fitness and well-
being are a matter of education, and for that you need skilled trainers.
Her own training after graduating from Delhi University was in nutrition and cosmetology in Germany. Then Ms. Luthra
took a series of specialized courses and modules in beauty care, fitness, food and nutrition and skin care in London,
Munich and Paris.
And then she returned to her middle-class home in New Delhi, Indias capital, and started a neighborhood beauty
parlor. It was an instant success, and it emboldened her with the canny assistance of her swarthy but handsome
husband Mukesh to start VLCC.