Sitharaman, Nayar in Forbes’ 100 most powerful women list

New Delhi: Union finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman made it Forbes’ 100 most powerful women in the world for the third time in a row. This year, she is ranked at number 37, up from last year when she was placed at 41. She is also two spots ahead of her American counterpart Janet Yellen.

Forbes on Tuesday announced its 18th annual ranking of The World’s 100 Most Powerful Women, the definitive audit of the foremost CEOs and iconic entrepreneurs, heads of state, pioneer philanthropists, and policymakers who are solving for society’s most intractable problems.

In 2020, Sitharaman was ranked at number 41 and in 2019, she held 34th spot. Sitharaman is the first full-time female finance minister of India.

“She is India’s first full-time female finance minister. Before her career in politics, Sitharaman held roles at the UK-based Agricultural Engineers Association and BBC World Service. She has also served as a member of the National Commission for Women,” a release from Forbes stated.

Ranked 88, Falguni Nayar, the founder and CEO of beauty and lifestyle retail company Nykaa,  quit her job to start the company in 2012. The company’s marquee investors include US private equity giant TPG Growth as well as billionaires Harsh Mariwala and Harry Banga.

“Nykaa sells more than 1,350 beauty and personal care brands both online and through its network of stores across the country. Nayar took Nykaa public in November 2021, becoming one of India’s richest self-made female entrepreneurs in the process,” stated the release from Forbes.

Besides Sitharaman and Nayar, Indians to feature on the list include HCL Corporation CEO Roshni Nadar Malhotra at 52); Biocon Executive Chairperson Kiran Mazundar-Shaw at 72.

Other notable faces on the list are Facebook’s whistleblower Frances Haugen (100), Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina Wajed (43).