Finance veteran Shanti Ekambaram has been ranked as the most notable woman professional in India according to the ‘2025 Candere Hurun India Women Leaders’ report released on Wednesday.
Along with Ekambaram, who is the deputy managing director of Kotak Mahindra Bank, the report has also recognised 96 other women leaders making an impact across key sectors of Indian economy.
The list features an interesting mix of leaders in nine categories – professionals, first-generation wealth creators, next-generation leaders, investors, philanthropists, young women leaders, artists, most-followed influencer founders and most-followed celebrity investors.
Most notable women leaders on the list
Here are the most notable leaders under each category, according to the report.
While Ekambaram (62) is at the top in women professionals category, Radha Vembu (52), co-founder of Zoho Corporation, was the top-ranked first-generation woman wealth creator. Roshni Nadar Malhotra (43), chairperson of HCL Technologies, was declared as the most notable next-generation woman leader.
While Shweta Jalan (48), managing partner at Advent International, was at the top among investors, Rohini Nilekani (65), chairperson of Rohini Nilekani Philanthropies, was ranked highest in terms of philanthropy with a donation of Rs 154 crores. On the other hand, Devanshi Kejriwal (28), co-founder of Skillmatics, was the youngest leader on the list while artist Arpita Singh (87) was the oldest.
With 5.5 million Instagram followers, Mrunal Panchal topped the list of leading women influencer founders, while the most-followed celebrity investor category was led by Shraddha Kapoor, who boasts an impressive 94.1 million Instagram followers.
Anas Rahman Junaid, founder and chief researcher of Hurun India, said, “Indian women are no longer waiting to lead—they are driving India’s economic, social, and cultural renaissance. With 15 million women-led enterprises and transformative contributions across Wealth, Value, Start-ups, Culture, and Philanthropy, the 2025 Candere Hurun India Women Leaders List shines a spotlight on the extraordinary force women represent in India’s inclusive growth story. When women lead, businesses thrive, societies flourish, and a new era of wealth creation and value generation emerges.”
Sanjay Raghuraman, managing director of Candere, added, “Here, we celebrate the spirit of today’s woman – self-made, driven, and defining success on her own terms. Our association with the 2025 Candere Hurun India Women Leaders List is a tribute to women who are reshaping India’s economic and cultural narrative with purpose and perseverance. “