Nine Indian women feature in Forbes' Power Businesswomen list

ICICI Bank CEO and MD Chanda Kochchar, Biocon founder Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw and film producer Ekta Kapoor are among the nine Indian women named in Forbes magazine's inaugural 'Asia Power Businesswomen list'.

The list names 50 "pathbreakers" whose extraordinary business success is driving the region's remarkable economic rise, Forbes said.

"Although the role of women in Asia-Pacific's economy is growing, most of these honorees still have had to overcome significant barriers to get where they are today," it said, adding the business success of the 50 women on its list is a combination of capital, ideas, energy and leadership.

The list also includes Britannia Industries Managing Director Vinita Bali, 56 years, HT Media Chairman and Editorial Director Shobhana Bhartia, 55 years, AZB & Partners Founder and Senior Partner Zia Mody, 55 years, Axis Bank CEO and Managing Director Shikha Sharma, 53 years, and Tractors & Farm Equipment Chairman Mallika Srinivasa, 52 years.

Kapoor, 36, is the youngest on the list who as a "TV and movie producer is lighting a fire under Bollywood," Forbes added.

HCL Corp Executive Director and CEO Roshni Nadar Malhotra, 30, is on a separate list of 15 power women to watch out for.

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The list includes CEOs, founders and executives from China, Japan, Australia, Hong Kong, Macau and Vietnam whose "extraordinary business success is driving some of this region's most exciting growth and prosperity".

"These 50 dynamic women not only represent game-changers within their respective industries, but they also have inspired and empowered scores of talented women to follow suit," the publication said.

Others on the list include HSBC Asia Pacific's  non-executive Deputy Chairman Laura Cha (62 years), Morgan Stanley CEO and Managing Director China, Co-CEO Asia Pacific Wei Sun Christianson, 55 years, Singapore Telecom Group CEO Chua Sock Koong, 42 years, Hyundai Group Chairman Hyun Jeong-Eun, 57 years and Temasek Executive Director and CEO Ho Ching, 58 years.