SELECTING IMPACT’S ‘50 MOST INFLUENTIAL WOMEN, 2025’
THE INITIAL LIST
The exchange4media Group invited nominations from across the industry, following which the IMPACT editorial team curated a shortlist of standout leaders. The final list combined fresh nominations, relevant names from previous editions and individuals who consistently shaped industry conversations through their work and influence. Detailed profiles of each nominee were then presented to the jury for evaluation.
THE JURY PROCESS
While reviewing the shortlist, the jury also recommended additional names they believed deserved consideration, which were subsequently evaluated and voted upon. The panel then undertook the task of assessing and ranking each nominee based on the pre-defined evaluation criteria.
THE PARAMETERS
• Contribution to her role
• Size of business she heads/leads
• Impact of her work on the profession/industry
• Any other notable achievements
1. Preeti Lobana
Country Manager and Vice President, Google India
Preeti Lobana’s three-decade leadership journey is defined by a consistent focus on business innovation. Prior to her current role, Lobana served as Vice President of gTech at Google India, leading a global team in developing innovative advertising solutions. Her extensive career also includes senior leadership positions at major financial institutions like NatWest Group, American Express, and Standard Chartered Bank. An alumnus of IIM Ahmedabad, she has consistently built high-performing teams and driven business transformation. Her current position as Country Manager and Vice President of Google India marks a natural progression in a career dedicated to driving change and delivering measurable impact across sectors.
In her role, Lobana has prioritised solving deeply rooted local challenges—ensuring that transformational AI technology is built for and reaches the people and communities who need it most. Her vision for infrastructure and ecosystem-building is evidenced by championing Google’s broader, foundational investments in India’s digital infrastructure, alongside collaborations with multiple stakeholders, including homegrown startups, to build AI solutions that understand India’s unique language, agricultural, learning, and healthcare needs. This impact is driven through strategic partnerships with academia and leading organisations like AIIMS and Wadhwani AI.
Under her leadership, Google India has driven a concerted focus on democratising cutting-edge technology for businesses of all sizes, accelerated by the rollout of advanced marketing AI solutions that empower businesses to transform, optimise efficiency, and unlock new revenue streams.
Crucially, Lobana has prioritised digital trust. Under her stewardship, the team launched the Google Safety Engineering Center (GSEC) in Hyderabad and the Google Safety Charter for India’s AI-led Transformation, both pivotal in combating online scams and safeguarding the internet ecosystem.
Today, as one of the few women leading a global tech company in India, Lobana challenges gender stereotypes and mentors the next generation of women leaders. As a member of the NASSCOM Executive Council and the AI committee chair for FICCI, her customer-centric vision and profound impact continue to win high praise from industry peers.
2. Priyanka Salot
Co-Founder, The Sleep Company
Priyanka Salot’s professional journey reflects a shift from corporate brand management to entrepreneurial innovation. Starting her career at Procter & Gamble, she gained early experience in consumer insight and brand-building, before co-founding The Sleep Company, a venture that has redefined the comfort-tech space in India. One of her key milestones has been the introduction of the patented SmartGRID® technology, which disrupted the traditional mattress market and established a new category in sleep solutions. Salot also accelerated The Sleep Company’s transition from a niche D2C disruptor to a mainstream lifestyle and wellness brand. By strengthening offline experience centres, investing in R&D-led product innovation, and scaling national marketing efforts, she positioned the company at the intersection of technology, health, and premium consumer living in India’s rapidly evolving sleep economy. Under her leadership, the company has expanded from a digital-first model to an omnichannel presence, achieving a `700 crore ARR within six years and competing with established industry players.
In FY25, Salot led a phase of significant transformation and innovation. The launch of SensAI, India’s first AI-powered mattress, marked the brand’s entry into intelligent comfort solutions by integrating machine learning with SmartGRID® technology. The company also expanded its retail footprint to over 150 stores across 45+ cities, strengthening its ROPO (Research Online, Purchase Offline) model. Large-scale marketing initiatives, including The Sleep Company’s first IPL partnership with Mumbai Indians, enhanced visibility and consumer engagement. The brand further diversified into ergonomic recliners and office chairs, extending its comfort-tech positioning into new product segments. A $50 million Series D funding round, the largest in its category, provided additional momentum for scaling operations and innovation.
Beyond business growth, Salot has focused on building a high-performing, ownership-driven team and promoting a culture of purpose-led innovation. As one of the few women founders in India’s comfort-tech and D2C manufacturing space, she has been a visible advocate for gender inclusivity and leadership equality. Her efforts have been recognised through industry accolades such as BW Disrupt 40 Under 40 (2023, 2024) and the CNBC Young Trailblazer Award (2023). Salot’s leadership continues to shape both her company’s trajectory and the broader evolution of India’s comfort-tech category.
3. Hephzibah Pathak
CEO, WPP Creative India & Executive Chairperson, Ogilvy India
With nearly three decades at Ogilvy India, alongside her recent role at WPP Creative, Hephzibah Pathak stands as one of Indian advertising’s most respected and influential leaders. Having partnered closely with some of the country’s biggest brands, she has been instrumental in creating transformative, category-defining work that has shaped both culture and commerce. On 01 January, 2024, she took over as Executive Chairperson of Ogilvy India—becoming the first woman in the company’s 95-year history to lead its operations. Known for her deep strategic insight and creative instinct, Pathak continues to steward brand Ogilvy with a focus on purpose-driven growth and innovation, ensuring that the agency remains a creative powerhouse in an ever-evolving marketing landscape.
Under Pathak’s leadership, Ogilvy India reported a 2.15% year-on-year revenue growth in 2024, reaching `443.11 crore, as per Ministry of Corporate Affairs filings. The year also saw the agency roll out a series of impactful, socially resonant campaigns including Cadbury Dairy Milk’s ‘Acceptance’—a narrative of compassion and inclusion; St. Jude’s ‘The Impossible Choice’; and Dove’s campaign highlighting the influence of anti-ageing narratives on young girls. Additionally, Ogilvy delivered notable work for Amazon through its ‘More Than Just a Box’ initiative, for Jio-bp with Pankaj Tripathi, and a reimagined 1993 Cadbury Cricket ad celebrating women’s achievements. Pathak’s vision has driven both creative excellence and business transformation, expanding Ogilvy’s top accounts while keeping its creative culture alive and agile.
A passionate advocate for women in leadership, Pathak has played a defining role in shaping inclusive progress within the organisation. She spearheaded JUNO, a program dedicated to identifying and nurturing the next generation of women leaders at Ogilvy India. Beyond the company, her influence extends across the industry—she has served on several global juries including Cannes Lions and Lynx Awards, and was part of the Advertising Standards Council of India for a decade. Recognised among the Top 2 Most Influential Women in Media, Marketing & Advertising by IMPACT and honoured as Creative Agency Head of the Year at the IAA Leadership Awards, Pathak continues to inspire through her leadership, creativity, and commitment to driving meaningful change.
4. Harman Dhillon
Executive Director, beauty and wellbeing division, HUL & General Manager, beauty and wellbeing, Unilever, South Asia
Harman Dhillon, Executive Director – Beauty & Wellbeing, HUL and GM, Beauty & Wellbeing, Unilever, South Asia, is a seasoned business leader known for her strategic acumen, deep consumer understanding, and expertise in brand crafting and P&L management. With a career spanning global markets across South Asia, North America, and Europe, she has consistently built and scaled iconic beauty and personal care brands, blending purpose with performance. Her leadership philosophy centres on transforming businesses and creating brands that meaningfully engage with consumers and society alike.
In her previous role as Skin Care Head, Dhillon led the premiumisation agenda for HUL’s beauty portfolio, steering the comprehensive transformation of legacy brands like Lakmé and establishing thought leadership in the FMCG beauty segment. Earlier, as Vice President – Hair Care, she played a pivotal role in launching and growing Dove Hair and TRESemmé in India. Her leadership also brought to life some of the category’s most memorable campaigns, including Dove’s ‘Stop the Beauty Test’ and Clinic Plus’ ‘Meri Beti Strong.’ In 2015, she further expanded her global footprint, taking on the role of Global Brand Director for TRESemmé, based in London, where she strengthened the brand’s international positioning.
Dhillon has also played a pivotal role in reshaping the Beauty & Wellbeing portfolio, steering it towards a more premium and future-ready direction. She led the acquisition of fast-growing derma brand Minimalist and accelerated the growth of wellness brand OZiva. Under her leadership, HUL also strengthened its social-first marketing approach and crafted a distinct channel strategy to deepen its foothold in the beauty segment.
Under Dhillon’s stewardship, HUL’s beauty and wellbeing brands have achieved significant growth while setting benchmarks in purposeful marketing and innovation. Her contributions have earned HUL multiple Cannes Lions, Effie, and Emvies awards, reflecting both creative and business excellence. Widely recognised within the industry, Dhillon has been featured in BW Businessworld’s Top 100 Marketers 2023 and the IMPACT 50 Most Influential Women list. Joining HUL in 2006 after a stint with Tata Administrative Services, Dhillon continues to redefine beauty and wellbeing leadership for Unilever in South Asia, driving transformation grounded in purpose, insight, and impact.
5. Kusha Kapila
Influencer & Founder, Underneat
Kusha Kapila has emerged as one of India’s most distinctive voices in digital entertainment—a creator, comedian, and actress whose sharp storytelling and nuanced characters have redefined the space between satire and social reflection. A fashion design graduate from NIFT, New Delhi, Kapila began her career in fashion and media before finding her true expression in content creation. Her sketches, rooted in everyday Indian realities, captured audiences with their wit and authenticity. The breakout persona of ‘Billi Masi’ turned her into a cultural touchstone—a clever satire of social archetypes that spoke as much about privilege and perspective as it did about humour itself.
What sets Kapila apart is her ability to evolve with her audience. From short-format comedy to full-length cinematic roles, she has transitioned effortlessly across platforms, expanding her creative presence without losing the honesty that defines her work. Her performances in films such as Thank You for Coming and appearances on shows like Comicstaan reflect an artiste who is as comfortable on a movie set as she is in front of her own camera. Each performance carries the signature of her storytelling—sharp, observant, and emotionally intelligent. In a content ecosystem often driven by trends, Kapila has sustained relevance by turning introspection and humour into her greatest assets.
Her influence today extends far beyond digital platforms, positioning her as a mainstream cultural force with strong resonance among young urban audiences. Kapila has collaborated with leading fashion, beauty, and lifestyle brands, hosted marquee entertainment properties, and emerged as a sought-after face at global fashion and pop-culture events. By consistently balancing commercial appeal with authenticity, she has built a personal brand that is both aspirational and deeply relatable—redefining what a modern celebrity looks like in India’s creator economy.
Beyond performance, Kapila has also channelled her influence towards purpose-driven ventures. As the co-founder of UnderNeat, a women’s innerwear and shapewear brand, she has brought the same authenticity to entrepreneurship, championing inclusivity and body positivity. Through her social media platforms, she addresses conversations around mental health, self-image, and empowerment with rare candour and relatability. In doing so, Kapila has become more than a digital star—she represents a generation of creators who blur the lines between entertainment and empathy, using their voice to make humour a force for reflection and change.
6. Monika Shergill
VP of Content, Netflix India
Monika Shergill, Vice President of Content at Netflix India, has been at the forefront of shaping the platform’s Indian storytelling landscape. Overseeing the development, creation, and acquisition of all Indian language content, she has built a rich and diverse slate that resonates with audiences both locally and globally. A media veteran with over two decades of experience, Shergill’s journey spans journalism, documentary filmmaking, and leadership roles across India’s top networks—Star, Sony, and Viacom18—where she helped define the country’s television narrative. Her early grounding in socially conscious storytelling continues to influence her creative philosophy, blending authenticity with mass appeal.
Under her leadership, Netflix India has delivered several globally acclaimed titles, reinforcing the platform’s position as a hub for high-quality Indian content. Projects like Black Warrant, Dabba Cartel, Jewel Thief, and The Royals trended across India and international markets, while FY25 saw remarkable viewership milestones, with Indian originals such as Maharaja, Do Patti, IC 814: The Kandahar Hijack, and Mandala Murders S1 achieving nearly 750 million views and 484 million hours watched. Shergill has also spearheaded the expansion of South Indian originals, nurtured diverse creative talent, and redefined female-led narratives. Beyond commissioning successful originals, Shergill has played a defining role in elevating Indian storytelling on the global streaming map. She has championed creator-first collaborations, encouraged experimentation across genres, and backed stories rooted in regional authenticity. Her strategic vision has helped Netflix India balance critical acclaim with mainstream popularity, while also creating opportunities for emerging filmmakers, writers, and diverse voices across the entertainment ecosystem.
Her leadership has earned Netflix India global acclaim and historic recognition. Delhi Crime became India’s first International Emmy winner, followed by Vir Das: Landing winning Best Comedy at the 2023 International Emmys, and The Elephant Whisperers securing India’s first Oscar for Best Documentary Short at the 95th Academy Awards. A consistent presence in industry power lists, Shergill has been featured in Women in Entertainment Power List 2025, The Hollywood Reporter’s 35 Most Powerful Women in International Television 2023, Variety’s 500 Most Influential Business Leaders, and IMPACT’s 50 Most Influential Women.
7. Geetika Mehta
Managing Director, Nivea India
An alumna of Shri Ram College of Commerce, Delhi, and the Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad, Geetika Mehta brings over 22 years of proven business leadership across geographies and categories. Her career reflects a consistent record of delivering P&L success, nurturing small businesses, leading growth in large-scale enterprises, driving market share gains, and executing successful turnarounds. With global experience spanning South Asia, Brazil, South Africa, and Thailand, Mehta has consistently galvanized large teams towards common goals and transformative business results. She holds the distinction of being the first woman Managing Director at both Hershey India and NIVEA India, breaking barriers in traditionally male-dominated sectors.
At NIVEA India, Mehta has spearheaded the brand’s accelerated growth and reinforced its leadership in the competitive skincare market. Leading a team of 400 employees and 3,000 third-party associates, she has driven a simplified and unified strategy that has enhanced executional focus and long-term consistency. Under her leadership, NIVEA India has delivered industry-leading NS growth of 30% (YTD FY25), expanded gross margins, and introduced Eucerin, marking India’s fastest-ever entry into high-performance, dermat-backed skincare. She also led ingredient-led innovations, optimised the route-to-market model, and advanced digital transformation to deepen customer engagement. Her leadership extends beyond business performance—she has nurtured a purpose-led culture emphasizing empathy, inclusion, and collaboration, with 40% of senior roles now held by women.
Mehta’s commitment to diversity and empowerment is reflected through initiatives like Equal Pay Parity, ‘#SisterhoodIsPower,’ and women-led ERGs, alongside mentoring women across the industry. She actively represents NIVEA and the FMCG sector at platforms such as FICCI, CII, and IBHA, and is a frequent voice at leadership forums including Shenomics, BW, and META.
Recognised among IMPACT’s 50 Most Influential Women (2022–2024) and CNBC TV18’s Top 14 Female FMCG Leaders (2024), Mehta also received the IIM Ahmedabad Young Alumni Achiever’s Award (2024) and was Chief Guest at IIM Kozhikode’s 26th Annual Convocation. Her career stands as a testament to courageous leadership, cultural transformation, and inclusive growth in modern Indian business.
8. Kavita Chaturvedi
BU Chief Executive—Biscuits, Confections, Chocolates and Coffee, ITC Ltd.
Kavita Chaturvedi, is BU Chief Executive—Biscuits, Confections, Chocolates and Coffee, ITC Ltd. Formerly, she was Chief Operating Officer of the Snacks, Noodles & Pasta Business at ITC Foods. Chaturvedi is a seasoned leader with nearly two decades of experience in the FMCG sector. She has been instrumental in driving ITC Foods’ rapid growth and shaping it into one of India’s largest and most diversified packaged food companies, with strong leadership across categories including staples, snacks, biscuits, noodles, spices, and luxury chocolates. Renowned for her strategic vision, innovative thinking, and people-centric leadership, Chaturvedi has consistently championed agility, consumer insight, and brand differentiation in competitive markets.
Beyond her core role, Chaturvedi is part of the ITC Foods Management Committee, contributing to the company’s overall strategy and business transformation. Prior to becoming COO, she served as Head of Marketing for the Snacks, Staples, and Meals Business, where she played a key role in strengthening and scaling iconic brands across snacks and packaged foods, driving category expansion and deeper consumer engagement. Her leadership reflects a rare blend of strategic foresight and operational excellence, helping ITC Foods reinforce its market position while continuously innovating to meet evolving consumer needs across categories and markets.
Over the years, Chaturvedi has emerged as one of the key architects behind ITC Foods’ transformation into a diversified and innovation-led FMCG powerhouse. She has consistently championed consumer-centric innovation, premiumisation, and portfolio expansion while navigating rapidly evolving market dynamics. Her leadership has been instrumental in strengthening ITC’s competitiveness across both traditional and emerging food categories, with a strong focus on building future-ready brands. Known for combining sharp business acumen with deep consumer understanding, Chaturvedi has also played an important role in mentoring teams and fostering a culture of collaboration.
Chaturvedi’s influence extends beyond the organisation. She serves as Director at Technico Agri Sciences Limited and as a Mentor to Sprout Life Foods, which owns and markets Yoga Bar. Actively engaged in shaping the broader marketing ecosystem, she is a member of the CII Marketing Committee and serves on MICA’s Academic Advisory Board. Recognised for her impactful leadership, she has been honoured with the IMPACT 50 Most Influential Women in Media, Marketing & Advertising award for three consecutive years.
9. Anjana Om Kashyap
Senior Managing Editor - Aaj Tak Special Projects & Head of Aaj Tak HD & Aaj Tak 2, TV Today Network
Anjana Om Kashyap is one of India’s most influential news anchors and senior editors, currently serving as Senior Managing Editor at Aaj Tak, where she also leads special projects and heads Aaj Tak HD and Aaj Tak 2. With an illustrious career spanning over two decades, Kashyap has redefined political reporting on Hindi television news, creating a path for women journalists to step into leadership roles and take on complex, high-stakes political stories. She anchors two of the network’s most prominent shows—Halla Bol at 6 pm and Black and White at 9 pm—both of which are known for their incisive analyses and hard-hitting debates.
A pioneering force within the TV Today Network, Kashyap has been instrumental in conceptualising and building new-age digital platforms that have expanded Aaj Tak’s presence beyond television. She launched News Tak, a digital-first platform designed for audiences seeking short, crisp, and impactful news updates. The platform focused on stories of everyday relevance and resonated strongly with India’s growing mobile-first news consumers. She further spearheaded the creation of Aaj Tak 2 (AT2)—an alternate YouTube channel for Aaj Tak—where innovation, experimentation, and new storytelling formats take centrestage. These initiatives have strengthened Aaj Tak’s digital ecosystem, bringing the brand closer to the next generation of news audiences.
Kashyap’s rise in broadcast journalism was shaped by years of persistence and evolution across some of India’s leading newsrooms. After earning a diploma in journalism from Jamia Millia Islamia, she began her career at Doordarshan, working on the investigative programme Aankhon Dekhi. She later moved to Zee News, where she transitioned from production roles to on-air anchoring, before taking on a mainstream anchor role at News 24 in 2007.
Kashyap’s journey is equally inspiring from a gender inclusion lens. In an era when political coverage in Hindi news was largely male-dominated, she broke barriers through grit, determination, and excellence in field reporting. Her leadership and presence on major election days have become symbolic of women taking charge in political journalism. By paving the way for more women reporters to enter and thrive in hard news coverage, Kashyap has played a vital role in transforming not just her newsroom, but the broader landscape of Indian broadcast journalism.
10. Kamiya Jani
Founder of Curly Tales, Fork Media Group
Kamiya Jani has established herself as one of the most influential and recognisable voices in India’s digital content landscape, transforming the way audiences engage with travel, food, and lifestyle storytelling. A former television journalist, Jani took a bold entrepreneurial leap to build Curly Tales under the Fork Media Group, driven by the idea of creating content that felt immersive, relatable, and rooted in real experiences. What began as a passion project has today evolved into one of India’s leading lifestyle and travel media platforms, reaching millions of viewers across digital and social channels. Through Curly Tales, she successfully identified the growing appetite among young Indians for experience-led storytelling and built a format that blended exploration, culture, hospitality, and human connection into highly engaging content.
Under her leadership, Curly Tales has developed several highly successful intellectual properties, most notably Sunday Brunch and Tere Gully Mein, which have become signature digital franchises in the lifestyle content space. These shows go beyond celebrity interactions, offering audiences candid conversations and intimate glimpses into the personalities, habits, and stories of some of India’s biggest actors, entrepreneurs, chefs, athletes, and creators. Jani’s ability to combine warmth, authenticity, and curiosity has helped her create a unique storytelling voice that resonates across demographics. Her interviews and travel features have often influenced consumer choices, hospitality trends, and destination discovery, making Curly Tales not just a media platform but a cultural tastemaker for urban India.
Beyond entertainment and travel, Jani has also leveraged her platform for meaningful storytelling and socially resonant campaigns. Initiatives such as ‘Letters to the Indian Army’ showcased her ability to create emotionally impactful narratives that foster community engagement and national sentiment. She has consistently championed regional experiences, local businesses, hidden culinary gems, and grassroots storytelling, helping democratise visibility in India’s creator economy. Her contribution to digital media and creator-led entrepreneurship has earned her several accolades, including the Best Travel Creator Award at the National Creators Awards 2024, presented by Narendra Modi. Often recognised among India’s most influential women in media and entrepreneurship, Jani continues to inspire a new generation of creators.
11. Rathi Gangappa
CEO, Starcom (Publicis Groupe)
Rathi Gangappa, Chief Executive Officer of Starcom India, is a distinguished leader who has steered the agency’s strategic transformation with clarity, resilience, and foresight. Since assuming leadership in 2018, she has redefined Starcom’s positioning from a traditional media agency to a future-ready, full-funnel communications powerhouse anchored in digital, data, and commerce. Under her stewardship, the agency has grown from 30 to over 250 professionals, delivering consistent double-digit growth and securing marquee clients including McDonald’s, Glenmark, Dabur Digital, Lego, Mars, and LinkedIn. A strong proponent of inclusive leadership, Gangappa has built a leadership structure with 50% women representation and institutionalised initiatives such as the YODA mentorship programme to strengthen succession pipelines. In 2025, Starcom India was certified as a Great Place to Work with a 93% positive employee rating, a testament to her unwavering focus on culture, collaboration, and performance-driven excellence.
12. Binaifer Dulani
Founding Partner & Creative, Talented
Binaifer Dulani has emerged as one of the defining creative leaders of India’s new-age advertising landscape. As Founding Partner and Creative Leader at Talented, she has built one of the country’s youngest yet most competitive agencies, taking it to global recognition within 1,000 days. Under her leadership, Talented delivered Cannes Lions wins for Nature Shapes Britannia and Avani Gold, reinforcing its position as a challenger shaping both culture and category. Her work has driven double-digit growth, industry-leading retention, and visibility for Indian brands on the world stage. Beyond business impact, Dulani has expanded representation for women through initiatives like Indian Creative Women and multiple Cannes scholarships, building pathways for junior and mid-level talent. Recognised as South Asia Creative Leader of the Year and among IMPACT’S 50 Most Influential Women, she also represents Talented at platforms like AgencyCon, championing talent-first thinking for the industry.
13. Monaz Todywalla
CEO, PHD India
Monaz Todywalla, CEO of PHD India, has led the agency through a period of significant change and consolidation. Starting her career as a planner at Madison, she took charge of PHD in 2020 and guided it through the challenges of the pandemic with a people-first, creativity-led approach. She has since strengthened the agency’s focus on customer excellence and advanced its data-and-creativity operating model anchored in ‘intelligence.connected’. Over the past year, PHD has delivered campaigns for brands such as Škoda India, Acko, HSBC India, Volkswagen, Royal Enfield and Audi, earning over 160 awards across 2024 and 2025. The agency has also posted notable business gains, including $250M in wins in FY24 and continued momentum in 2025. Todywalla has contributed to improving gender representation within senior leadership at PHD and supported industry-wide participation through mentoring, visibility platforms and programmes such as Omniwomen, alongside recognitions including IMPACT and BW Businessworld’s Most Influential Women lists.
14. Chandni Shah
CEO - Kinnect & 22feet Tribal
Chandni Shah’s leadership journey reflects early conviction, steady reinvention and a commitment to building organisations that scale with integrity. She co-founded Kinnect at 22 and helped shape it into FCB Kinnect, one of India’s most prominent integrated digital-first agencies. She steered the company through its acquisition by IPG and FCB during her pregnancy, ensuring a seamless cultural and operational transition. Under her direction, the agency expanded to 600+ Kinnectors across three geographies, consistently delivering award-winning work at global platforms including Cannes. Over the past year, she has redefined the agency’s integrated positioning with the ‘Born Digital, Raised Integrated’ manifesto, strengthened creative and strategy leadership, and invested in AI-driven capabilities to future-proof the organisation. Her focus on business excellence, talent development and client trust has powered sustained growth, long-term partnerships with brands such as HDFC Bank, Asian Paints and TVS, and impactful campaigns across categories.
14. Ruchira Jaitly
Chief Marketing Officer, Diageo India (United Spirits Ltd.)
Ruchira Jaitly, Chief Marketing Officer, Diageo India (United Spirits Ltd.), has led significant marketing transformation, strengthening both the company’s performance and its cultural relevance. She has shaped platforms such as Johnnie Walker’s ‘Can’t Stand Still’ with Priyanka Chopra Jonas, scaled McDowell’s ‘Yaari Jam’ into India’s largest live IP, and expanded Diageo’s luxury and craft portfolio with launches like Don Julio and the acquisition of Greater Than and Hapusa. Under her leadership, sustainability and inclusivity have become core to brand strategy—from recyclable packs and circular packaging innovation to initiatives such as the Signature Mangrove Regeneration Project. She continues to champion progressive representation through ERG Spirited Women’s Network, Project Embrace, and industry partnerships with the UnStereotype Alliance and ASCI. A 2025 Global Marketing Academy Fellow and part of IMPACT’s 50 Most Influential Women 2024, Jaitly is recognised for advancing purposeful, culturally rooted marketing.
15. Deepika Khattar Bhan
President – Packaged Foods and Capital Foods, Tata Consumer Products
Deepika Khattar Bhan, a business leader known for driving high-impact transformation across brands and categories, has built a reputation for delivering measurable, market-shaping results. Before joining Tata Consumer Products, at Unilever, she has strengthened the South Asia Hair Care portfolio by reshaping Clinic Plus and Sunsilk and reinforcing Dove—brand platforms that continue to perform sustainably. At TCPL, she has led a four-year overhaul of the Foods business, achieving 19% CAGR, advancing premiumisation in salt through launches like Tata Salt Iron Health and Sendha Namak, and accelerating Tata Sampann’s growth across emerging segments. She has also spearheaded the Capital Foods acquisition and delivered a pioneering co-branded Kurkure/Schezwan chutney partnership with Pepsi. Under her watch, Tata Salt’s iconic campaign has delivered strong equity gains, accompanied by major strides in sustainability with 90% of packs becoming recyclable. Now serving on the board of BigBasket, Bhan continues to influence the evolution of the quick-commerce sector with her sharp, impact-first leadership.
15. Gayatri Yadav
Group CMO and EVP Strategic Initiatives, Chairman’s Office, Reliance
Gayatri Yadav, Group Chief Marketing Officer & EVP – Strategic Initiatives, Chairman’s Office at Reliance, is a seasoned marketing leader known for shaping some of India’s most influential consumer and digital brands. With deep domain expertise across consumer markets, digital platforms, and brand-building, she has consistently delivered transformative work that drives growth and elevates brand equity. At Star India, she led several high-impact initiatives, including the launch of Star Sports, Hotstar, and the influential ‘Nayi Soch’ brand plan on Star Plus, aimed at advancing women empowerment. As CMO of General Mills, she launched and scaled the Pillsbury brand in India, establishing it as a strong category player. At Peak XV Partners, she played a pivotal role in the firm’s brand transition while enabling portfolio companies to build world-class brands. Across roles, Yadav blends storytelling, data-driven strategy, and consumer insights to build brands that resonate at scale.
16. Lara Balsara Vajifdar
Executive Director, Madison World
Lara Balsara Vajifdar, Executive Director at Madison World, is a distinguished leader who has shaped the organisation’s growth for over two decades. An alumnus of Harvard Business School’s Senior Executive Leadership Programme, she oversees marketing, new business development, HR and Legal across the group, playing a central role in Madison’s evolution into a diversified communications powerhouse with billings of approximately `40 billion and 1,300 professionals. Over 2024, she led the 100% acquisition of digital agency HiveMinds—strengthening Madison’s digital footprint—and steered key leadership appointments, including the Partner & Group CEO at Madison Media. Vajifdar also serves as an Independent Director on the Board of Nobel Hygiene Pvt Ltd., and is a consistent presence in IMPACT’s Top 50 Most Influential Women in Media. Known for her quiet, effective leadership, she exemplifies reliability, clarity and professional rigour while championing women in the workplace.
17. Mukta Maheshwari
Chief Marketing Officer; Vice President & Category Head - Fabric Care, P&G India
Mukta Maheshwari is Chief Marketing Officer (CMO) and Vice President & Category Head for Fabric Care at Procter & Gamble (P&G) India, a role she assumed on 01 September, 2023. With over two decades of experience across India, Singapore, and the Philippines, she has built a reputation for shaping category growth and driving meaningful brand impact. In her previous role as Vice President of Fabric Enhancers for the ASEAN region, she led Downy to double-digit growth, strengthening its position in competitive markets. A consistent advocate for purposeful communication, Maheshwari has played a key role in steering Ariel’s ‘#ShareTheLoad’ campaign, which has gained global recognition for advancing conversations on gender equality. Armed with an MBA from IIM Calcutta and an Aerospace Engineering degree from IIT Kanpur, she brings strategic depth to brand-building and category leadership, making her a distinguished marketing leader whose work demonstrates both business impact and cultural resonance.
18. Kanika Kalra
Director of Consumer App and Platform, Google
Kanika Kalra is Director of Consumer App and Platform, Google. In her previous role as Regional Marketing Director – Health, Reckitt South Asia, she led one of the region’s most influential health and hygiene portfolios with a sharp focus on purpose-led impact and category growth. Based in Mumbai, she steered marketing strategy for Reckitt’s health and nutrition brands across India and South Asia, drawing on leadership experience at McKinsey & Company, Snapdeal, Unilever, PepsiCo Foods, and Genpact. Through 2024, she has driven campaigns that strengthened both brand relevance and cultural resonance—leading Dettol’s ‘#DadsCanToo’ initiative that spotlighted shared parenting, steering Dettol Fresh’s ‘Always Ready’ 12-Hour Freshness launch to sharpen the brand’s functional edge, and refreshing Veet’s consumer voice through the ‘Smoothest Way to Sexy’ campaign. Her ability to shape insightful, socially attuned, and growth-focused narratives positions her as a clear winner in the industry.
18. Anuradha Aggarwal
Director - Marketing, Amazon India
Anuradha Aggarwal, Director - Marketing, Amazon India, is a transformational marketing leader whose impact spans digital payments, consumer engagement, and large-scale brand-building. At Amazon Pay, she has steered the platform’s shift toward smarter, intuitive, and inclusive payment experiences, leading high-impact initiatives such as the ‘Pay Karne Ka Smarter Way’ campaign, which accelerated adoption across Tier 2 and 3 India and highlighted innovations like auto-torch scanning, UPI interoperability, and instant refunds. Her focus on vernacular onboarding, contextual nudges, and micro-rewards strengthened engagement across the Amazon ecosystem, making digital payments simpler and more trusted for millions. Earlier, she shaped brand and consumer strategy at Hindustan Unilever, Marico, Vodafone, Mondelez, and Disney-Star, consistently driving growth and customer trust. A respected voice in the industry, Aggarwal has been recognised with the IAA ‘Marketer of the Year’ award. She serves as a long-standing juror for IMPACT’s ‘50 Most Influential Women.’
19. Anurita Chopra
Category Head, Oral Health, Middle East & Africa, Haleon
Anurita Chopra, Category Head, Oral Health, Middle East & Africa, Haleon, is a transformative marketing leader known for building powerful, profitable brands across FMCG and healthcare. With over two decades of experience, she has steered Haleon’s multi-X growth journey, turning Sensodyne into a category leader, shaping India’s oral healthcare agenda, and accelerating the rise of brands like Eno, Centrum, Iodex, Otrivin, and Crocin. Under her leadership, Haleon delivered volume growth nearly twice the FMCG industry average in FY25, with Sensodyne becoming its second-largest global market and Centrum remaining Amazon’s top multivitamin. Her digital-first initiatives enabled 27,000+ digital dental screenings—a Guinness World Record™—and her work continues to democratise health literacy and access. Recognised globally, she has been named Global Marketer of the Year (2023), BW Businessworld’s 100 Most Influential Marketing Leaders (2023), and has been featured in IMPACT’s 50 Most Influential Women list for three consecutive years.
19. Akshali Shah
Executive Director, Parag Milk Foods
Akshali Shah, Executive Director of Parag Milk Foods, steers one of India’s leading private dairy companies and its flagship brands—Gowardhan, GO, Pride of Cows, and Avvatar. In this role, she drives product innovation, category intelligence, and brand strategy, shaping the organisation’s consumer-first agenda. Through 2024, she has led high-impact brand-building initiatives, including the ‘#GarvSeGowardhan’ campaign and the nationwide ‘#HarTastyCheezMeinGOCheeseHai’ TVC, along with a strategic partnership with the popular show, Anupama, to spotlight cheese-making. Her leadership strengthened Gowardhan’s presence through a Kaun Banega Crorepati collaboration and a notable CSR initiative donating 1,800 kg of ghee to Roti Bank. Recognised for her influence in the industry, she was featured on BW Businessworld’s 40 Under 40 (2024) and IMPACT’s 50 Most Influential Women (2023 & 2024).
20. Neha Kant
Founder, Clovia
Neha Kant, Co-founder of Clovia, is a pioneering force in India’s intimate wear industry, known for reshaping category standards through innovation, scale, and consumer-centric thinking. Under her leadership, Clovia has expanded to 2,500+ cities, 80+ exclusive stores, 1,400+ MBOs, and 11,000+ retail doors, serving over five million customers and shipping a product every second. She introduced transformative solutions such as the Clovia Fit Test, an algorithm-led sizing tool that changed how Indian women shop for lingerie, and also led the rapid success of John Players Innerwear. Her initiatives in AI-driven creativity and the Joy at Work programme further strengthened Clovia’s culture and operational excellence. With recognitions including Best Woman Entrepreneur (RBL Bank, 2017) and D2C Icon of India (Images Group, 2022), Kant stands out as a leader advancing both the category and women’s representation in business.
21. Lulu Raghavan
President, Landor APAC
Lulu Raghavan is President, Landor APAC, and the first woman and first Indian-origin leader to helm the region while serving on the Global Exco and Global Leadership Team. She oversees markets across India, China, Japan, Australia and Southeast Asia, driving a $23.5 million business with industry-leading client satisfaction (8.3/10) and the company’s highest employee engagement scores (78%). Under her leadership, APAC operates as One Landor, powered by a unified creative philosophy, ‘Provocatively Effective,’ and strengthened by AI-driven processes, DEI initiatives, and a regional wellness task force. She has championed signature methodologies like ‘Ownable First,’ and led major branding engagements for Huawei, IHH Healthcare, Jollibee, and Tata Motors. A respected industry voice, she has served on global juries including Cannes Lions, spoken at leading festivals such as Jaipur Lit Fest and BizLit, and authored Go Further, Faster—a highly rated guide for young women.
22. Saloni Shah Javeri
Chief Digital & Marketing Officer, L’oreal
Saloni Shah Javeri, Chief Digital and Marketing Officer at L’Oréal India, stands out for redefining the company’s digital acceleration journey with sharp focus and measurable impact. Since her promotion in mid-2023, she has taken charge of strengthening L’Oréal’s digital capabilities while driving rapid growth for its digital-first brands across online platforms. Her leadership has been marked by a series of beauty-tech and digital-led campaigns that have elevated consumer engagement and deepened brand relevance in a competitive market. By leveraging data, innovative partnerships, and platform-focused strategies, she has helped shape a more agile, insight-driven marketing ecosystem within the organisation. Prior to joining L’Oréal, her experience at GroupM Media India laid a strong foundation in media and digital excellence. Today, her work reflects a winning blend of strategic clarity and digital innovation, making her an exceptional leader driving the future of beauty in India.
22. Saakshi Verma Menon
CMO, Foods, PepsiCo India
Saakshi Verma Menon is Chief Marketing Officer for India Foods at PepsiCo, leading the marketing agenda for powerhouse brands including Lay’s, Kurkure, Quaker and Doritos. In her current role, she drives the strategic vision and brand momentum across PepsiCo’s foods portfolio, steering category growth through sharp consumer understanding and impactful brand-building. Before taking charge as CMO, Menon served as Senior Marketing Director for the Africa, Middle East & South Asia (AMESA) region, where she played a pivotal role in shaping regional marketing strategy. During this tenure, she helped deliver high-impact campaigns for Pepsi, 7Up and Dew across diverse markets, ensuring cohesive storytelling and strong brand equity. Her work across foods and beverages reflects her consistent ability to scale brands across geographies, strengthen cultural relevance, and build marketing systems that deliver long-term value. As a winner, Menon stands out for her strategic clarity, cross-market influence and measurable brand impact.
23. Asha Kharga
Chief Customer Officer, Mahindra Holidays & Resorts India Ltd. (MHRIL)
Asha Kharga is Chief Customer Officer, Mahindra Holidays & Resorts India Ltd. where her leadership has delivered measurable brand, business, and societal impact. Through 2024, she has strengthened Mahindra’s global brand presence by establishing a Brand Centre of Excellence that integrates advanced technology and AI for rapid, consistent crisis management. She has driven major purpose-led initiatives, including transforming Project Nanhi Kali’s curriculum and launching KAABIL, India’s largest women’s economic empowerment programme. Her work has also amplified Mahindra’s cultural footprint through a first-of-its-kind Disney Hotstar docuseries. Beyond the organisation, she chairs Mahindra’s Diversity Council and leads FICCI’s Women-Led Development Committee, bringing together 120+ companies for the Women in the Workplace report and rallying industry partners to skill one million women. Her contributions have been widely recognised, including multiple listings among India’s most influential marketing leaders.
23. Darshana Shah
Chief Marketing Officer, Aditya Birla Capital
Darshana Shah, Chief Marketing Officer at Aditya Birla Capital, stands out as one of India’s most influential marketing leaders, steering transformative brand work across the Group’s eight financial services businesses. With over 27 years of experience, she has shaped some of FY25’s most impactful campaigns, including the Olympic partnership-driven ‘India, Ab Hadh Kar De’, the unified financial awareness platform ‘Paisa Hai Power’, and the retirement-focused ‘Boodhe Hoke Kya Banoge’. Her leadership has elevated brand metrics across the board, strengthening Top of Mind awareness, spontaneous recall, and overall equity, while contributing to Aditya Birla Capital’s rise from #5 to #3 in the category. Beyond marketing outcomes, she has championed digital-first customer experience through a scaled Centre for Excellence, while also advocating for inclusive leadership across industry bodies such as IAMAI, IMA, and GIC. Recognised with multiple honours—including the Aditya Birla Group Exceptional Leadership Award—she continues to shape India’s BFSI marketing landscape.
24. Swati Bhattacharya
Creative Without a Title
Swati Bhattacharya, former Global Creative Head at Godrej Creative Lab, has emerged as one of India’s most influential creative leaders, reshaping how brands participate in culture. In 2025, she led Godrej Creative Lab to a historic milestone, winning India’s first Cannes Lions Silver for an in-house agency with the Naga Sadhu Eye Test film, alongside the SABRE Asia-Pacific Best of Show. Under her leadership, the Lab evolved into a globally awarded creative force, known for campaigns that spark debate, influence policy, and challenge societal norms. Her collaborations—such as the investigative piece with Barkha Dutt on illegal mosquito agarbattis—redefined how journalism and advertising intersect, even prompting government action. Beyond brand impact, her thought leadership on masculinity influenced ASCI’s guidelines, while her mentorship through LIA and See It Be It has shaped a new generation of female creatives. Industry leaders describe her as a ‘5-foot lion’ whose work creates lasting cultural change.
25. Rasika Prashant
Growth marketing consultant & Co-founder, Soulfull
Rasika P, co-founder of the original Soulfull brand, currently, a growth marketing consultant, has played a central role in shaping India’s growing millet-based foods category. After Soulfull’s acquisition by Tata Consumer Products, she helped drive the brand’s transformation through focused product innovation, integrated campaigns, and a consumer-first approach to building accessibility and trust. Under her leadership, Tata Soulfull delivered strong performance, contributing to the parent company’s 66% growth in its ‘growth businesses’ in Q1 FY25 and achieving 35% growth in the last financial year. Her work has also earned industry recognition, including the Excellence in FMCG Leadership and Millet-Based Innovation award, the e4m Primetime Award for Best Use of Kids Channel, and the Kaleido Award for Small Budget Campaign.
25. Ranjani Krishnaswamy
CMO - Analog Watches, Titan Company Limited
Ranjani Krishnaswamy, CMO – Analog Watches at Titan Company Limited, stands out as a marketing leader whose achievements reflect both scale and impact. With over 25 years of experience across FMCG, lifestyle, and media, she has shaped brands across India, Southeast Asia, Japan, North America, Europe, and the Middle East. At Titan, her leadership has powered high-performing campaigns and innovations—from Titan Edge mechanical watches and pioneering smartwatches like JUXT to category-shaping initiatives such as the Karatmeter. In FY25, Titan reported a 52.5% rise in consolidated net profit and 24% growth in the watches segment, underscoring her strategic influence. Her work also extends to social storytelling through campaigns like ‘#MOMentsTogether’ and ‘Find Your Joy,’ and her commitment to community upliftment is reflected in initiatives like Titan Karigar’s Park. Recognised with the Marketing Leader of the Year award at ETPWLA 2023, Ranjani’s contributions continue to elevate both the organisation and the industry.
26. Anisha Iyer
CEO, OMD India
Anisha Iyer, CEO of OMD India, stands out as one of the industry’s most influential leaders, steering the agency to exceptional growth amid market turbulence. Under her leadership, OMD India has delivered a 50% revenue surge, 25% higher client value extraction, and over 80% client-retention, while securing major wins including a `450-crore Tata Motors mandate and several new business acquisitions. She has strengthened OMD’s creative and commercial edge, expanding future-facing capabilities across Commerce, AI and CTV, and driving award-winning work that earned 30+ recognitions, including three Media and Digital AOTY titles. A strong champion of diversity, she leads an organisation where 50% of leadership comprises women, while also mentoring young talent within and outside the industry. Recognised repeatedly in IMPACT’s 50 Most Influential Women and BW Marketing’s Most Influential Women lists, Iyer’s leadership blends measurable business impact with meaningful cultural influence.
27. Laxmi Shetty
Head - Advertisement Revenue, Broadcast & Digital, Zee Entertainment Enterprises Limited
Laxmi Shetty, Head – Advertisement Revenue for Broadcast & Digital at Zee Entertainment Enterprises Ltd., stands out as a transformative leader whose achievements have reshaped the company’s monetisation architecture. With over 20 years at Zee and 35 years in media, she has pioneered industry-first models such as 2D pricing for DAVP, Inventory Maximisation frameworks, and tech-led analytics using SAP. Over 2024, she has driven Z’s evolution into a multi-platform innovator—expanding ZEE5’s ad formats to global standards, architecting integrated broadcast–digital solutions, and launching initiatives like Z RISE and the character-led Dilfluencers campaign, both of which strengthened brand engagement and revenue pipelines. Her work has delivered measurable impact, including 7% incremental revenue via pricing optimisation and 39% growth through solution selling. Recognised internally for innovation and leadership, and acknowledged by CEO Punit Goenka and at the 2024 IIFA press conference, Shetty’s contributions continue to elevate both Zee and the wider industry.
28. Tamanna Inamdar
Managing Editor, NDTV Profit
Tamanna Inamdar is Managing Editor at NDTV Profit and one of India’s most trusted voices in business and economic journalism. With over two decades in broadcast news, she has built a reputation for incisive analysis and clear-eyed reporting across the country’s leading networks, including Zee News, Star News, Times Now, CNBC Awaaz, Bloomberg Quint, and ET Now. At NDTV Profit, she anchors and leads flagship programmes such as The Big Question, where her sharp, lucid breakdown of policy, markets, and governance sets the tone for national debate. Known for conducting substantial conversations with influential policymakers and industry leaders, Inamdar has consistently elevated the quality of public discourse on business and economics. A commerce graduate from Mumbai University and trained in Broadcast Media at the Asian College of Journalism, she brings both rigour and depth to her editorial leadership, making her a distinguished figure in and a deserving winner from India’s financial news landscape.
29. Swati Bhargava
Co-Founder, CashKaro & EarnKaro
Swati Bhargava, Co-founder of CashKaro, EarnKaro, and BankKaro, is a leading force in India’s performance-driven digital commerce ecosystem. She has built CashKaro into the country’s largest cashback platform, serving over 25 million users and driving `7,000 crore in annual GMV, while also launching EarnKaro to empower millions of digital earners. Through 2024, she led high-impact initiatives including the ‘#AadatBadlo’ campaign and a major revamp of BankKaro, contributing to FY25 growth with GMV projected to rise by 50% and revenue by 20%. Backed by $30M+ in global funding and recognised among the UN’s 75 Inspiring Women in India and LinkedIn’s Top 10 Influential Voices, Bhargava stands out for her transformative impact on affiliate marketing and fintech. Bhargava is a business leader with experience across finance, digital commerce and consumer technology. She began her career at Goldman Sachs in London before moving into the start-up ecosystem. When she co-founded CashKaro and EarnKaro, she helped build a cashback and social commerce platform focused on savings and creator-led commerce.
29. Reeti Nageshri
Head of Business Operations, Mahindra Electric SUVs
Reeti Nageshri, Head of Business Operations, Mahindra Electric SUVs, has emerged as a defining force in India’s evolving eSUV landscape. With over 12 years across technology transformation, product planning, and marketing, she has been central to shaping Mahindra’s electric origin portfolio. Her leadership was pivotal in the simultaneous launch of the BE 6 and XEV 9e—Mahindra’s first-ever dual BEV rollout—anchored in the powerful ‘Unlimit India’ narrative. She drove high-impact initiatives including the 360-degree launch campaign, ‘Wonder on Wheels’ HNI test-drive programme, and the Warner Brothers Batman Edition partnership, resulting in 30,179 day-one bookings and contributing to Mahindra achieving #1 EV revenue market share in Q1 FY26 across both E-SUV (44.3%) and E-PV (40.9%) categories. Recognised with the BW Auto World 40 Under 40 (2024), and the Jagdish Khattar Rising Star Award (2025), Nageshri stands out as a leader redefining India’s EV momentum.
