Woman power in Corporate India In conversation with Kiran Mazumdar Shaw, Chairperson & MD, Biocon ltd

In this article, an analysis of data on women directors on the boards of Indian companies is followed by an interview with a first generation woman entrepreneur, Kiran Mazumdar Shaw, head of the bio-pharma company, Biocon Ltd. Empirical evidence suggests that though women directors on Indian corporate boards show an increase both in numbers and in percentage terms, they are very much behind men. Women are also less well represented on Indian corporate boards as compared to other countries. Family ties, public sector employment and private sector banks are major sources of directorships for women. There are very few first generation women entrepreneurs in India. Though initial thresholds are higher for women to achieve success, the problems they face afterwards are similar to problems faced by successful men. India has a long way to go before women can catch up with men in the corporate world.