Senior bureaucrat Manisha Verma, IAS, Additional Chief Secretary – Skills, Employment, Entrepreneurship & Innovation, Government of Maharashtra, will attend the IMPACT 50 Most Influential Women 2025 felicitation ceremony as the Guest of Honour, adding gravitas to an evening dedicated to celebrating exceptional women leaders across advertising, media and marketing. A 1993-batch IAS officer of the Maharashtra cadre, Verma has built an illustrious administrative career spanning governance, public policy, skill development and institutional transformation. She currently leads Maharashtra’s efforts in strengthening skills, employment generation, entrepreneurship and innovation ecosystems—areas increasingly critical to India’s growth story.
Over the years, Verma has held several significant leadership positions within government and has been recognised for contributions across administrative reforms and development initiatives. With academic credentials from institutions including the University of Sussex and Delhi University, alongside executive exposure to global policy ecosystems, she brings a multidimensional perspective to governance. Her presence as Guest of Honour underscores the growing intersection between leadership, innovation and inclusive progress—themes that also define women who’re being awarded at this year’s event.
Now in its 13th edition, IMPACT’s 50 Most Influential Women has established itself as one of the industry’s most respected recognitions, honouring women who are driving meaningful change across advertising, media and marketing. The annual list celebrates leaders who have shaped business outcomes, influenced culture, built brands and opened doors for future generations of leaders.
Some of the winners, who have topped the list in the past, are: Sandhya Devanathan, VP, Meta, India and SEA (2024), Anupriya Acharya, CEO, Publicis Groupe, South Asia (2023); Shereen Bhan, Managing Editor, CNBC-TV18 (2022); Kalli Purie, Vice Chairperson, India Today Group (2020);Tanya Dubash, Executive Director and Chief Brand Officer, Godrej Industries (2019); Nadia Chauhan, Joint Managing Director & Chief Marketing Officer, Parle Agro (2018); Ekta Kapoor, Joint Managing Director and Creative Director, Balaji Telefilms (2016); and Kirthiga Reddy, then Managing Director of Facebook India (2015).
The recognition process involves careful deliberation by an esteemed jury comprising senior industry leaders, ensuring that the final list reflects excellence, impact and influence across sectors.
