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Former Kotak Mahindra Bank Deputy Managing Director Shanti Ekambaram has been placed at the top of professionals category of the inaugural 2025 Candere Hurun India Women Leaders List.
The list, which recognises 97 exceptional Indian women leaders across nine categories and five key pillars, Wealth, Value, Philanthropy, Startups, and Culture, reveals that Financial Services is the most represented sector, with 23 women leaders making their mark.
Financial Services saw the most representation from women
Of the 97 women leaders featured, nearly a quarter come from the financial sector, including banking, insurance, private equity, and fintech.
Shanti Ekambaram’s leadership at Kotak Mahindra Bank, a company valued at Rs 3.82 lakh crore, earned her the top rank among women professionals in India. According to the report, she has been at the forefront of driving digital banking innovation and expanding financial inclusion. Her contribution reflects not only personal excellence but the transformative impact women are having in financial leadership roles.
Ekambaram announced her retirement earlier on May 30th, 2025.
Close behind her is Parminder Chopra, Chairperson and MD of Power Finance Corporation, which has seen a valuation of Rs 1.44 lakh crore. Chopra also held additional charge as CMD of REC (Rural Electrification Corporation) Limited.
Other high-ranking women in finance include –
Vibha Padalkar, MD & CEO, HDFC Life Insurance which is valued at Rs 1.37 lakh crore valuation. Padalkar took charge as the CEO in 2018.
Amongst one of those few women is A Manimekhalai, MD & CEO of fifth largest public sector lender Union Bank of India valued at Rs 85,300 crore.
Vishakha Mulye, CEO, Aditya Birla Capital and the same is valued at Rs 46,400 crore.
Together, these five leaders in financial services collectively manage organisations valued at over Rs 7.9 lakh crore, as per Hurun data.
Value Creation
Manimekhalai has led about a 190 per cent increase in Union Bank of India’s share price since her appointment in 2022, the highest among the top ten professionals on the list.
Meanwhile, Vishakha Mulye has delivered a 97 per cent growth in Aditya Birla Capital’s stock performance since assuming charge in 2022.
Women Founders & Investors in Finance
Among the top 10 First-Generation Wealth Creators, Kavitha Subramanian, Co-founder of Upstox, features with a personal wealth of Rs 6,500 crore. Her leadership in digital broking has been instrumental in expanding retail participation in India’s capital markets.
Additionally, the list highlights leading women investors backing fintech and financial innovation-
Among the influential women investors featured in the list, Nruthya Madappa, Partner at 3one4 Capital, stands out for her focus on fintech, digital health, and SaaS. Shweta Jalan, Managing Partner at Advent International, brings deep expertise in private equity with a strategic emphasis on financial services and healthcare sectors, making her one of the most prominent figures in India’s investment landscape. Padmaja Ruparel, Co-founder of IAN Group, has a track record of backing fintech, cleantech, and deep-tech startups.
At the grassroots
The list also acknowledges next-generation and young women leaders in financial services. Ananyashree Birla, founder of Svatantra Microfin, is working for rural microfinance by providing access to credit for women entrepreneurs.
In the category of next-gen leaders, Priya Agarwal Hebbar chairs Hindustan Zinc and has been involved in the group’s strategic investments and governance.
- Published On Jun 4, 2025 at 05:23 PM IST
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