DAUGHTERS INC

The unfolding succession at several Indian family businesses is shining the spotlight on daughters

- ISHITA AYAN DUTT, SHINE JACOB & SOHINI DAS

Early last month, Ananya Birla, daughter of billionaire industrialist Kumar Mangalam announced on social media Birla, she would prioritise business to a career in music. Describing it as the "hardest" decision, she posted on X that balancing the businesses she was running and building, and music, had become near impossible, and that it was time to focus all her energy on business.

Ananya, 29, waded into the corporate sector early. At 17, she founded Svatantra Microfin, which became the second largest microfinance organisation after acquiring Chaitanya India Fin Credit last year. She is also the founder of design-led home décor brand, Ikai Asai. As she charts her own course, Ananya has responsibilities in the storied Aditya Birla group. She was inducted on the board of Aditya Birla Fashion and Retail in January 2023 and the group flagship Grasim Industries in February 2023, along with brother Aryaman. The scions are also on the board of Aditya Birla Management Corporation, the apex body providing strategic direction to the Aditya Birla Group's businesses.

Ananya's rise shines the spotlight on the growing presence of women in the corporate sector. It is still far from being a rule, but daughters are slowly breaking the glass ceiling in Indian family businesses and claiming their seat at the corporate table. Increasingly, daughters are being inducted at the helm of listed companies the TVS Group, Murugappa, Reliance, Apollo Hospitals, Thermax says Binoy Parikh, executive director, Katalyst Advisors. "While these are certain marquee groups, we have seen a trend in several unlisted companies as well, where the distinction between a male successor and a female successor is being lost."

Of marquee groups