Ringing the Bell: 4 Women Who Led Landmark Listings

Although women-led public companies remain relatively rare, they have nonetheless played pivotal roles in bringing companies to the public market. Meet four trailblazing women who have taken their companies public.

- SAMAR KHOURI

Noor Sweid

Company: Depa

Headquarters: U.A.E.

Year: 2008

Among the many firsts to her name, Sweid was the first woman in MENA to lead an IPO, taking interior contracting firm Depa public on the London Stock Exchange and NASDAQ Dubai in 2008. She was only 28 years old at the time, and the IPO valued the company at $1.1 billion. It was the first company from the region to list on both stock exchanges, with $420 million in cash on its balance sheet. In 2018, Depa delisted from the London Stock Exchange. In 2022, Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund acquired a controlling stake in Depa for $41 million and currently owns 54.81% of the company.

Falguni Nayar

Company: FSN E-Commerce Ventures

Headquarters: India