From Florence Nightingale to Annie Besant; Sarojini Naidu to Rani Rashmoni; Indira Gandhi to Sushma Swaraj, women have long been at the heart of economic progress and not just contributors. Today, they are leaders, innovators and changemakers who drive transformation, lead enterprises and shape the future across industries.

Simply put, if we look at live and more recent examples of Priya Agarwal Hebbar, Arundhati Bhattacharya, Debjani Ghosh, Victoria D'Souza, Gul Panag, Dr Preetha Reddy and Vineeta Singh, these new-age trendsetters are making their presence felt with each and every move they take on the desi and international stages.

From technology to investments, renewable energy to automotive to healthcare, their growing presence in leadership, research and entrepreneurship is accelerating progress, fostering inclusivity and creating a sustainable and prosperous future. Their contributions are not only breaking barriers but also setting new benchmarks for innovation, investment and economic growth.

This blog highlights the impact of women across diverse industries, showcasing how they are redefining success and creating opportunities for the next generation.
 

India’s focus sectors

Semiconductor

With semiconductors being one of the emerging growth areas in India, the sector’s workforce composition is also undergoing a sea change. Teamlease pegs the tech workforce in India at 5.4 million, with 1.94 million women workers.

In the semiconductor industry, women constitute 25% of the workforce. Leading companies like Micron and NXP are investing significantly in training, supporting and retaining female employees by expanding the talent pool and creating career advancement opportunities.

Through its ‘Women in Tech’ programme, NXP trained over 100 female engineering students in VLSI design concepts. At Micron, women comprise 28% of its over 4,000 employee pool across groups and functions, with IT having the largest share at 30%. Sharmila Khan, Country Head, People Organisation, Micron, adds that functions like procurement, data science and design engineering also see healthy representation.

Another notable intervention in this sector has been by Foxconn, the contract manufacturer for Apple Inc. in India. The company has invested $230 million to set up a housing complex for its women employees in Sriperumbudur in Tamil Nadu to accommodate up to 18,720 employees.

According to an Accenture report, the median representation of women in the global semiconductor industry is between 20% and 29%. Women comprise nearly a fourth of India’s chip design and engineering workforce.

This trend is expected to continue, with projections indicating that women’s share could rise to ~30% by 2027. Research has shown that increased representation of women in the workforce drives better business outcomes, including improved innovation and decision-making.
 

Automotive EV

Women are making significant inroads into the automotive and EV sectors. According to the OMI Foundation, whether it is jobs or entrepreneurial ventures, there has been a rise in the number of women occupying critical positions across the spectrum — from shop floors to top floors.

They make up for 11-15% of India’s 11 million EV workforce and this strength is projected to rise to 50% by 2030-2033. The demand for women in manufacturing, design and leadership roles in EV firms has significantly increased due to strong EV sales. In CY 2024, India recorded over 1.9 million in EV sales – an increase of 27% over 2023.

As a result, major industry players are increasingly hiring more women in the automotive sector. Ola’s future factory in Tamil Nadu’s Krishnagiri—slated to be the world’s largest electric two-wheeler (E2W) manufacturing plant—is fully powered by women.

By 2025, the company plans to have 20,000 women working in the factory, manufacturing E2W and other vehicle categories, batteries for EVs and more.

Ampere’s Ranipet facility in Tamil Nadu, one of the first OEMs founded by a woman in India, has over 70% women in the workforce. Mahindra Logistics has hired women drivers for its cargo service, EDel, which deploys an E3W fleet in Bengaluru.
 

Renewable energy

In the RE sector, women are making a long-lasting impact by leading initiatives to promote sustainability and environmental stewardship.

One notable name in India’s renewable energy sector is Vandana Gombar, a journalist and commentator specialising in energy and environmental issues and a strong advocate for renewable energy and sustainable development.

Another influential leader is Vaishali Nigam Sinha, Director, Chief Sustainability and CSR Officer of ReNew Power, whose leadership has been instrumental in driving the company’s growth, establishing it as one of India’s largest renewable energy firms.

In partnership with UNDP and IIT Delhi, the company has launched an accelerator programme to support women climate entrepreneurs in tackling key energy challenges. The first cohort of six entrepreneurs focuses on energy efficiency, storage, circularity and desalination. The initiative aims to drive women-led climate solutions for India’s sustainability goals with plans of annual expansion.
 

Agro and food processing

Women entrepreneurs have emerged as a force to reckon with in the agro and food processing industry. Through innovative farming techniques, sustainable practices and value addition, women are transforming the industry and empowering other women.

The agriculture sector employs 85% of the rural women in India. Women contribute to agriculture through multiple roles as cultivators, entrepreneurs and labourers. About 60–80% of the food produced in India can be attributed to the efforts of rural women.

Women also contribute significantly to the harvesting process. They may be involved in manually harvesting crops, such as rice or wheat or using tools for crops like fruit and vegetables. From farm to table, women are delighting the world with their dedication, determination and entrepreneurial spirit.
 

Textiles

The textile industry has long been a significant employer of women, but today, women are also leading as designers, entrepreneurs and executives.

Did you know? The sector provides direct employment to over 45 million people, including a large number of women, especially in rural areas. According to the Handloom Census 2019-20, 72% of weavers are women. Women make up ~65% of the workforce in this sector.

Several women have emerged as influential figures in the Indian textile industry, such as fashion designers Masaba Gupta, Anamika Khanna, Ritu Kumar and Anita Dongre, who are championing the revival of traditional handloom crafts.

Several women entrepreneurs, such as Suchi Mukherjee of LimeRoad, Richa Kar of Zivame, Shubhra Chadda of Chumbak, Shehlina Soomro of Saritoria and Neha Celly of Nece Gene, are rewriting the rules of the industry through innovation and unique interventions.

Through its Textile Policy 2024, the government is also ensuring a level playing field for women textile workers. The policy offers wage assistance for women employees ranging from ₹3,000 to ₹5,000 per month, depending on their roles. Overall, the policy aims to promote employment, especially among women and increase competitiveness in the industry.

Another women-centric effort is the ‘Shilp Didi’ programme, launched to provide online training to 100 women artisans from 72 districts across 23 states to onboard onto e-commerce portals and social media platforms.
 

Pharma and healthcare

Women have been instrumental in advancing the pharma and healthcare sectors. Their contributions range from groundbreaking medical research to developing healthcare technologies that improve patient outcomes.

Whether building a family business (Sangita Reddy and her sisters at Apollo Hospitals) or creating a leading bio-science business (Kiran Mazumdar Shaw of Biocon), women are at the forefront of the healthcare sector. Women’s representation on the board in healthcare and life sciences sector startups is the second highest among the industries in India.

Due to their passion and determination, women have excelled in caregiving roles in the healthcare sector. Young women have outnumbered men in Indian medical schools, a positive sign of change to come. Government schemes like ‘Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana’ and the ‘Maternity Benefit Act’ aim to increase the number of women in the healthcare workforce.
 

Infrastructure

In the infrastructure sector, women are increasingly taking on leadership roles in urban planning, construction and project management. Their involvement ensures that infrastructure projects are more inclusive and address the needs of diverse populations. Women’s participation in India’s labour force has seen an exponential rise, jumping from ~23% in 2017-18 to ~41% in 2023-24.
 

Foreign Investments and Trade (FII)

Women are making their mark in foreign investments and trade by leading investment firms, influencing policy and driving international trade negotiations. Prominent figures like Naina Lal Kidwai have paved the way for women in India’s financial sector as the first Indian woman to graduate from Harvard Business School and to lead a foreign bank in India, exemplifying the growing influence of women in investment banking.

Kalpana Morparia dedicated nearly 33 years to ICICI, significantly contributing to India’s financial sector. Upasana Taku, Co-Founder and COO, MobiKwik, brings over 17 years of expertise in product development, payments and financial services. Her leadership has not only driven innovation in fintech but also paved the way for more women to thrive in the industry. Renu Sud Karnad is another inspiring example and has been instrumental in India’s largest mortgage financier HDFC’s financial operations, guiding it towards success for 30 years.
 

The way forward

The impact of women in these key sectors is exemplary. They drive innovation, foster investment and propel economic growth, a testament to their resilience, expertise and visionary leadership. As more women enter and lead these industries, these sheroes bring unique perspectives and solutions that address complex challenges.

The journey doesn’t end here. Empowering women through education, mentorship and equal opportunities is crucial to sustaining this momentum.

On this year’s International Women’s Day, it is essential to recognise and celebrate the achievements of women professionals and entrepreneurs, shaping a more inclusive and prosperous future across all sectors.