Most Influential Women

Yes, there is more participation of women in economic activities in the country, but the real change would be when more women take up leadership roles across corporate India.

- By Jyotsna Sharma

Every morning, we are born again. What we do today is what matters most.” — Buddha

Who comes to mind when you think about an influential woman? Most of us would straight away refer to Indira Gandhi, Sarojini Naidu, or even Mother Teresa. India has come a long way since and women have continued to accelerate the growth of the nation and affect positive change in society. The last few years have seen the number of women in the workforce increase. As per the Economic Survey 2024-25 tabled by Union Minister of Finance and Corporate Affairs Nirmala Sitharaman in Parliament this year, the Female Labour Force Participation Rate (FLFPR) has increased from 23.3 per cent in 2017-18 to 41.7 per cent in 2023-24. This shows enhanced participation of women in economic activities across various categories and regions.

We are now used to seeing women leaders in boardrooms of global companies. Women are not just surviving their professional careers; they are thriving. While this is true, the number of women in the top echelons of corporate India remains small.

As per a 2024 KPMG report, 23 per cent of organisations now have 30-50 per cent women in leadership roles; 12 per cent have more than 50 per cent in leadership roles. A positive aspect is that 51 per cent of organisations have women at CEO/CXO levels. Though small, these numbers indicate progress but there is still a long way to go.

Interestingly, the report found that more women than men aspire to reach the executive/senior director, C-suite level, but their progress is thwarted because of family responsibilities, gender biases and stereotypes at the workplace. Also, more men than women hired at entry level make it to leadership positions.