“Behind every successful woman is herself.” This quote captures the spirit of the remarkable journey undertaken by some of the most powerful women in the world. In this article, we dig into the inspiring stories of women who have defied odds, shattered stereotypes, and carved their paths to success. From business moguls to athletes, politicians to activists, each of these women has left a permanent mark on their respective fields. Join us as we explore their triumphs, challenges, and the enduring legacy they leave behind. “Strength is not measured by physical capacity, but by indomitable will.” With these words echoing the resilience of the human spirit, we begin on a journey through the remarkable lives of some of the world’s most powerful women.
Draupadi Murmu: India’s President
Early Life and Political Journey
Draupadi Murmu, born on January 20, 1958, in Odisha, India, grew up in a humble tribal community. Despite facing challenges, she excelled academically and developed a deep compassion for the underprivileged. Between 1979 and 1983, Murmu served as a Junior Assistant at the irrigation department of the Government of Odisha. Following this, from 1994 to 1997, she worked as an educator at the Sri Aurobindo Integral Education and Research Centre in Rairangpur. During her tenure, she taught subjects including Hindi, Odia, mathematics, and geography. Interestingly, Murmu never accepted a full salary during her time at the school. Furthermore, she holds the distinction of being the youngest person to assume the presidency and the first to be born in independent India. Murmu’s journey in politics began at the grassroots level, where she supported social causes and community development. Recognizing her leadership potential, she was appointed as the Governor of Jharkhand in 2019, becoming the first woman to hold the position in the state. In July 2022, Murmu shattered barriers once again by becoming the 15th President of India, the first tribal woman to hold this esteemed office, following in the footsteps of Pratibha Patil, the second woman to do so. Her presidency signifies a success of unbiased and high standard in Indian democracy. Draupadi Murmu’s rise to the presidency of India underscores the transformative power of dedication and service to the nation. Her journey inspires millions and reflects the diversity and strength of India’s democratic ideals.
BV Nagarathna: Pioneering Jurist and President of India
Early Life and Achievements
BV Nagarathna, born on October 30, 1962, in India, had an upbringing deeply rooted in values of justice and integrity. From a young age, she displayed exceptional intellect and a keen interest in the legal profession. Her passion for justice and commitment to upholding the rule of law guided her educational pursuits. In 1984, Nagarathna graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in History from Jesus and Mary College, New Delhi. Later, she pursued her law degree from the Faculty of Law, University of Delhi. Her academic excellence and profound understanding of legal principles laid a solid foundation for her illustrious career in the legal field.
Legal Career and Achievements
Bangalore Venkataramiah Nagarathna, serves as a judge in the Supreme Court of India. Previously, she held the position of a judge in the Karnataka High Court from 2008 to 2021. Her father, E. S. Venkataramiah, was Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of India in 1989. Nagarathna gained attention in 2009 when she was detained by protesting lawyers within the Karnataka High Court premises. Despite this, she delivered significant judgments in commercial and constitutional law. She is positioned to become the first female Chief Justice of India in 2027, reflecting her remarkable judicial career and leadership in the Indian judiciary.
Soma Mondal: Queen of the Steel Industry
Early life and Achievements
With an educational background in electrical engineering from the National Institute of Technology, Rourkela, Mondal boasts over three decades of invaluable experience in the metal industry. Her journey commenced as a Graduate Engineer Trainee at NALCO, where she steadily progressed through the ranks, ultimately achieving the position of director (commercial) in 2014. Subsequently, in March 2017, she joined SAIL as the director (commercial).
Soma Mondal, a new leader and the first woman to chair the state-run Steel Authority of India (SAIL), achieved the impressive rank of 70 on Page 4 of Forbes’ World’s Most Powerful Women list in 2023, dated December 7th. Mondal assumed the role of chairperson at SAIL on January 1, 2021, leading the company until her retirement in April of the following year. Notably, she holds the distinction of being the first female functional director and chairperson of SAIL. Throughout her tenure, Mondal served as both the chairperson and chief executive of the corporation. Post-retirement from SAIL, she transitioned to a role as a member of the Public Enterprise Selection Board.
Savitri Devi Jindal: Leading Businesswoman and Politician
Early life and Achievements
Savitri Devi Jindal, born on March 20, 1940, is a renowned Indian businesswoman and politician. She holds the position of chairperson within the O.P. Jindal Group and serves as the president of Maharaja Agrasen Medical College, Agroha. As of February 2024, the Jindal family’s net worth is estimated at $29.5 billion, making Savitri Jindal the richest woman in India and the 50th richest person globally. Additionally, she holds the title of the world’s seventh-richest mother and actively contributes to the public work initiated by her late husband. In recognition of her remarkable contributions, Savitri Jindal was honoured with the Acharya Tulsi Kartritva Puraskar in 2008 by the Akhil Bhartiya Terapanth Mahila Mandal.
In 2005, Jindal was elected to the Haryana Vidhan Sabha from the Hisar constituency, succeeding her late husband Om Prakash Jindal. She was re-elected in 2009 and became a cabinet minister in the Haryana Government on October 29, 2013. The Jindal Group, founded in 1952 by O.P. Jindal, encompasses steel, power, mining, and oil and gas sectors. Jindal Steel, one of its divisions, is the third-largest steel producer in India. Each of these divisions is overseen by her four sons, Prithviraj, Sajjan, Ratan, and Naveen Jindal.
Indra Nooyi: Transformative Leadership and Strategic Vision
Early life and Achievements
Indra Nooyi, born on October 28, 1955, in Madras (now Chennai), is a prominent American business executive and former chairman and CEO of PepsiCo. She received her education at Holy Angels Anglo Indian Higher Secondary School and later pursued degrees in physics, chemistry, and mathematics. She graduated from Madras Christian College in 1975 and obtained a Post Graduate Programme Diploma from the Indian Institute of Management Calcutta in 1976. In 1978, Nooyi moved to the United States to attend Yale School of Management, earning a master’s degree in public and private management in 1980. Her career began in India, holding product manager positions at Johnson & Johnson and Beardsell Ltd.
Nooyi’s mother, a homemaker, instilled confidence in her daughters through innovative dinner games and encouraged them to imagine themselves in positions of power from a young age. At ages 8 to 11, Nooyi and her sister wrote speeches about being president or prime minister. Their paternal grandfather, a charismatic judge, reinforced accountability by having Nooyi write “I will not make excuses” 200 times if she fell short on a task.
Consistently ranked among the world’s most powerful women, she held the 13th position on Forbes’ list in 2014. Additionally, she was the second most powerful woman on the Fortune list in 2015 and 2017. At PepsiCo, Nooyi’s strategic redirection, known as “Performance with a Purpose,” successfully reclassified products into “fun for you,” “better for you,” and “good for you” categories. She emphasized long-term growth, societal impact, and environmental responsibility. Notably, in 2015, Nooyi removed aspartame from Diet Pepsi. Nooyi served as the company’s CEO (2006–18) and chairman of the board (2007–19).
Under her leadership, PepsiCo focused on environmental sustainability, reducing waste, conserving water, and adopting renewable energy sources. Nooyi retired in 2019 after 24 years with PepsiCo, leaving a legacy of strategic innovation and social responsibility. Her net worth is estimated at $350 million, ranking 77th on Forbes’ list.
Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw: Entrepreneur and Biotech Innovator
Early life and Achievements
Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw, born on March 23, 1953, in Bangalore, Karnataka, is an Indian billionaire entrepreneur and the executive chairperson and founder of Biocon Limited and Biocon Biologics Limited, both based in Bangalore, India. She received her education from Bishop Cotton Girl’s High School and Mount Carmel College, Bangalore. She graduated from Bangalore University with a bachelor’s degree in zoology in 1973. She then pursued further studies at Ballarat College, Melbourne University in Australia, specializing in malting and brewing, and earned a master brewer’s degree in 1975. Returning to India, Mazumdar-Shaw founded Biocon India in 1978 in her Bengaluru garage with a seed capital of Rs. 10,000. Despite facing challenges due to her youth, gender, and untested business model, she persevered. Eventually, she secured her first financial backing and built Biocon into a pioneering biopharmaceutical company. In 2014, she became the first woman to head the board of governors of the Indian Institute of Management Bangalore (IIMB). Biocon is known for commercializing recombinant human insulin using a novel Pichia pastoris yeast expression system. Today, Biocon’s products are sold in over 120 countries, including the United States and Europe.
She also served as the former chairperson of the Indian Institute of Management, Bangalore. In 2014, Mazumdar-Shaw received the prestigious Othmer Gold Medal for her outstanding contributions to the progress of science and chemistry. She was also recognized in the Financial Times’ 2011 top 50 women in business list. Forbes listed her as the 68th most powerful woman in the world in 2019, and she was honoured as the EY World Entrepreneur of The Year in 2020. Mazumdar-Shaw emphasizes the importance of improving India’s infrastructure, highlighting issues such as efficient governance, job creation, and food, water, and health insecurity. As of 2024, Mazumdar-Shaw’s net worth is estimated at 270 crores USD according to Forbes.
Mary Kom: Championing in Sports
Early life and Achievements
Mary Kom, born as Chungneijang Mary Kom Hmangte, entered the world on November 24, 1982, in the village of Kangathei in Churachandpur, Manipur, India. Kom grew up in modest surroundings, where she assisted her parents with farm-related tasks while balancing her academic pursuits and athletic endeavors. Her father, once a passionate wrestler, instilled in her a love for sports from an early age. Raised in a Christian Baptist family, Kom’s upbringing was grounded in faith and values.
She commenced her education at Loktak Christian Model High School in Moirang until the sixth standard before continuing her studies at St. Xavier Catholic School, Moirang, until class 8. Despite her efforts, she faced challenges in passing the matriculation exam and subsequently shifted to Adimjati High School, Imphal, for classes 9 and 10. However, she chose not to reappear for the exam and instead completed her education through the National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS), Imphal, eventually graduating from Churachandpur College. She actively engaged in various sports during her school years, including volleyball, football, and athletics. Inspired by the accomplishments of Dingko Singh, a celebrated boxer, Kom transitioned from athletics to boxing in 2000, driven by a newfound passion for the sport. At the age of 15, she made the courageous decision to leave her hometown to pursue further training at the Imphal Sports Academy, marking the beginning of her remarkable boxing career.
She stands out as the only female athlete to secure victory in the World Amateur Boxing Championship six times, an exceptional feat that underscores her outstanding skill and determination. Notably, she is also the sole female boxer to won a medal in all seven world championships, a testimony to her enduring excellence in the sport. Widely known by her nickname “Magnificent Mary,” she achieved the distinction of being the only Indian female boxer to qualify for the 2012 Summer Olympics, where she competed in the flyweight (51 kg) category and secured a bronze medal. Her accomplishments extend further as she has been ranked as the world’s No. 1 female light-flyweight by the International Boxing Association (amateur) (AIBA). Mary Kom’s triumphs also include becoming the first Indian female boxer to win a gold medal at the Asian Games in 2014, held in Incheon, South Korea. Additionally, she won gold at the 2018 Commonwealth Games, marking another significant milestone in her illustrious career. Beyond her athletic achievements, Mary Kom’s contributions have been acknowledged beyond the sporting arena. She was nominated as a member of the Rajya Sabha, the upper house of the Indian parliament, by the President of India in April 2016. Moreover, her dedication to boxing led to her appointment, along with Akhil Kumar, as national observers for boxing by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, Government of India, in March 2017. Mary Kom’s journey is a testimony to her firm determination, resilience, and matchless dedication to her craft, inspiring generations of athletes and admirers alike.
In simple terms, the stories of these incredible women show us how they faced challenges and succeeded. They come from different places and do different things, but they all share traits like determination and bravery. They’ve broken barriers and inspired many people worldwide. These women teach us that if we work hard and believe in ourselves, we can achieve anything we set our minds to.
As Oprah Winfrey famously said, “Think like a queen. A queen is not afraid to fail. Failure is another stepping stone to greatness.” These women represent this sentiment, embracing challenges as opportunities for growth and never backing down in the face of adversity. Their achievements serve as a inspiration of hope and empowerment, paving the way for future generations of women to dream big and reach for the stars.