From MamaEarth's Ghazal Alagh to Emcure's Namita Thapar: Young entrepreneurs who are taking up the mantle of corporate world

Indian businesswomen have been grabbing headlines for many years. Businesswomen like Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw, Naina Lal Kidwai, and Indira Nooyi became poster girls for the Indian corporate world long ago. 

But never before had they drawn popularity like in the current times. Thanks to modern reality shows like Shark Tank and women businesswomen's quick rise to fame courtesy their entrepreneurial skills, women like Namita Thapar, Ghazal Alagh, and Vineeta Singh have achieved rockstar-like fame in a short amount of time.

It's not only the trio; businesswomen like Divya Gokulnath, Vani Kola, and Roshni Nadar have become household names.

Many young women aspiring to careers in business are looking up to them. On Women's Day, Zee Biz takes you through the profiles of businesswomen who are shining like a bright star in the business world. 

Namita Thapar, Emcure

Namita is the executive director of the renowned Pune-based pharmaceutical company, Emcure. Passionate about women's health, Namita also runs an entrepreneurial education company called Incredible Ventures Limited.

She gained popularity as a judge on Shark Tank, where she can be seen discussing pitches with contestants. An MBA graduate from the Fuqua School of Business and a Chartered Accountant from ICAI, the 45-year-old Namita has been conferred with the World Women Leadership Congress Super Achiever award.

Someone who is passionate about women's health, Namita has promoted youth entrepreneurship over the years.     

Ghazal Alagh, MamaEarth

Ghazal Alagh, the founder of the beauty products company MamaEarth, is rated as one of the most successful businesswomen in India.

The 33-year-old gained popularity as a Shark Tank India judge in 2021 but proved her business acumen when Mamaearth was valued at $1.2 billion in January 2022 after receiving funds from Sequoia and Belgium's Sofina, among others. Famous actresses Shilpa Shetty Kundra and Samantha Ruth Prabhu are the brand ambassadors of MamaEarth.

The company claims to be the first Indian brand that does not use toxic chemicals in its products. 

Divya Gokulnath, BYJU's 

Divya Gokulnath is a great example of how dreams are realised. She is the co-founder of India's biggest learning app, Byju's.

She started off as a teacher at Byju's in 2008, and when the company shifted to the video platform in 2015, she was among the first teachers to appear in videos.

There was no looking back from there, as within a few years, the 36-year-old became a billionaire and one of the most successful businesspeople in India.

She is married to Byju's co-founder, Byju Raveendran.

Vineeta Singh, Sugar Cosmetics 

An IIT and IIM alumna, Vineeta is the CEO of the cosmetics brand, Sugar Cosmetics, which she co-founded with her husband, Kaushik Mukherjee.

She started the company in 2012 with an aim to manufacture quality products, specifically catering to Indian skin and colour.

She garnered attention after becoming a judge and investor in Shark Tank India. However, much before that, she developed the habit of believing in herself and taking bold decisions.

After her education at IIM, Ahmedabad, she reportedly turned down a Rs 1 crore job offer, but justified it years later by establishing a renowned brand.

Vani Kola, Kalaari Capital 

Vani Kola is the founder and managing director of Kalaari Capital. Her company is an early-stage venture capital firm and has funded some of the fast emerging products in India.

Kalaari Capital has funded the likes of Flipkart Online, Myntra, Zivame, Kashkaro, and Dream 11.

After a master's degree from Arizona State University, Vani spent 22 years in Silicon Valley, where she established a number of companies, which she later sold with high margins.

Forbes recognised her as one of the most powerful women in Indian business in 2014.

Roshni Nadar Malhotra, HCL

Roshni Nadar Malhotra is the first woman to lead a listed IT firm in India. Currently the CEO of HCL Technologies, she is one of the richest women in India. Daughter of HCL founder Shiv Nadar, Roshni is also a trustee of the Shiv Nadar Foundation, a philanthropic organisation.

An MBA from the Kellogg School of Management, she won a number of accolades throughout her career, including Forbes' Most Powerful Woman in 2020.

Richa Kar, Zivame 

Coming from the traditional background of Jharkhand, it was a tough task for Richa Kar to break a taboo and start an online business of lingerie.

But she not only went the unconventional route but also eased problems for a number of Indian women, who find it highly uneasy to purchase lingerie in shops or markets.

The 42-year-old Richa founded Zivame and made the brand famous in less than a decade. She now lives in Northville, Michigan, and is considered a market disruptor.