Women Leaders Of India Inc.

Fortune India's MPW Award winners are leaders to emulate.

PUTTING ASIDE the Covidinduced gap of over two years, the crème-de-lacrème of women leaders graced Fortune India's Most Powerful Women (MPW) in Business Awards at ITC Grand Central in Mumbai on March 3. It was an occasion to celebrate India's women leaders who have made a mark in business and economic landscape.

Addressing winners, guest of honour, Smriti Irani, Union Minister for Women and Child Development and Minister of Minority Affairs said Indian companies must promote strong women leaders who are not afraid to make noise when it matters. During an interactive session on stage, Irani said, "When you are picking CEOs, I am sure in your list of talents, none of the CEOs is supposed to report how nurturing they are. If organisations are going to pick female leaders as to how compliant they are, how submissive they are, and how nice they are, you possibly will not find their mention at the top echelon of corporate power. Why do we want to find amiable women in boardrooms who don’t make much noise? Why can’t we withstand the woman who is cantankerous with her huge rapturous voice, and was trying to drill some sense.”

Talking about Fortune India’s Top CEOs list, Smriti Irani said, “When we start giving those women positions of power within corporate entities, then in your top 100 CEOs, you’ll need a different men’s section. There are women with that capacity. The question is where are the men hiring them?”