Influential Indian Women in Tech

According to Business Insider, women hold a mere 11% of leadership roles in top global tech firms - these are the women who dare to dream, to innovate, and to lead. That’s where Indian women across the globe come in – they're showing us that diversity is not just a buzzword; it’s a business imperative.

Their achievements aren't just good for women, though - they're good for business, good for science, good for health, good for innovation.  Read on to learn all about some of the most influential Indian women thriving, be it in their roles as influential tech leaders, innovative scientists, or groundbreaking entrepreneurs.  

1. Roshni Nadar Malhotra 

Chairperson at HCL Technologies, Philanthropist, Film Producer, and Environmentalist 

As the Chairwoman of HCL Technologies, Roshni Nadar Malhotra is known today for being the first woman to lead a listed IT company in India. Roshni studied at the Vasant Valley School in Delhi before heading overseas to major in Communication with a focus on Radio, TV, and Film at Northwestern University. She followed this up with an MBA from the Kellogg School of Management. Roshni joined HCL Corp in 2009, was made executive director then CEO within a year, and currently serves as chairperson. Beyond her executive roles, however, Roshni's work as a philanthropist and an environmentalist is even more impressive. 

Her deep dive into the world of business has always been coupled with her passion for media. “I keep my mind and hands and feet in content and media,” she says; her passion has led her to produce TV shows for Animal Planet and National Geographic in her spare time. Her TV series, ‘On The Brink’, based on the most endangered wildlife species in India, won the Best Indian National Film Award in the category of science & technology in 2022.  

Roshni established The Habitats Trust in 2018, a foundation aimed at protecting India’s natural habitats and its indigenous species for creating and conserving sustainable ecosystems. She is also a Trustee of the Shiv Nadar Foundation, invested in nation building institutions and driving transformational leadership, and Chairperson of VidyaGyan, a leadership academy for the economically underprivileged, meritorious, rural students. As a philanthropist with an estimated net worth of $10 billion and awards such as the Lewis Institute Community Changemaker Award by Babson College (2017), Indian Business Leader of the Year by independent think tank Horasis (2019) and the Schaffner Award by Kellogg (2023), it is no surprise that Roshni has been named among Forbes' ‘25 Most Powerful Businesswomen in Asia’ (2020), and ‘100 Most Powerful Women in the World’ (2022, 2023).  

2. Revathi Advaithi 

CEO of Flex, Board Member at Uber, Catalyst.org, and the MIT Presidential CEO Advisory Board 

Revathi Advaithi earned her BE in Mechanical Engineering in Pilani, India before moving to Arizona to pursue her MBA at the Thunderbird School of Global Management. Revathi began her career as Plant Manager at intelligent power management company Eaton where she eventually worked herself up to COO of the Electrical Sector. In 2019, she became CEO of Flextronics, one of world’s largest contract manufacturers, and she also serves as board member at Uber, Catalyst.org, and the MIT Presidential CEO Advisory Board. 

As a staunch advocate for women in STEM and the workplace, Revathi was an active member of World Economic Forum's Alliance of CEO Climate Leaders, a coalition of business leaders across key sectors committed to driving positive climate action and sustainable economic growth. She has spoken at major environmental and social events including Fortune's Global Forum and Most Powerful Women conferences as well as the Silicon Valley Leadership Group Annual Forum and Harvard Business School panels, and made it onto Fortune’s Most Powerful Women list for 5 consecutive years as well as Forbes’ “50 Over 50 2022” for her sustained contribution to industry and society.  

Revathi has not forgotten her roots, of course. As one of 2020’s Most Powerful Women in India according to Business Today as well as one of 2021’s Most Important Indian-born Tech Executives in the World according to Gadgets Now, she advocates that, “India continues to be one of the largest growth economies, and being able to manufacture for India in India is of huge importance to Flex customers.”  

3. Anjali Sud 

CEO of Tubi; Former CEO of Vimeo (NASDAQ:VMEO); Board Member of Dolby Laboratories (NYSE:DLB) and Change.org 

Born to Punjabi Hindu parents in Flint, Michigan, Anjali Sud has a BS in Finance and Management from the University of Pennsylvania as well as an MBA from Harvard Business School. Anjali has held positions in finance, media, and e-commerce at Sagent Advisors, Time Warner, and Amazon, however, it was at IAC subsidiary, Vimeo, where she truly began to shine. After joining Vimeo as Head of Global Marketing in 2014, Anjali swiftly climbed the ranks and had become CEO by July 2017. Throughout her tenure as CEO, Anjali oversaw several critical acquisitions and launches, including Vimeo Business and 360 video support, before leading the IAC to complete a spinoff of Vimeo into an independent publicly-traded company on Nasdaq in 2021. 

Currently, Anjali is CEO at Tubi, a free ad-supported TV streaming service owned by Fox where she leads the next wave of entertainment by giving viewers everywhere access to all the world’s stories. "We are witnessing a seismic shift in where and how content will be consumed, and I believe that Tubi can become the destination for the next generation of audiences.”  

Anjali is also on the board of Dolby Laboratories, a designated Young Global Leader of the World Economic Forum, and a Henry Crown Fellow at the Aspen Institute. In December 2019, she received a Muse Award by the New York Women in Film & Television. She was also featured by both Fortune and Crain's New York in their "40 Under 40" lists (2018) and has been ranked among the most powerful women in business by Business Today (2021) as well as India's most powerful business women by Fortune (2022). 

4. Sakshi Chopra 

Managing Director at Peak XV Partners 

Reflecting on her childhood in Mumbai, Sakshi Chopra recalls the hustle and bustle of everyday life. “My sister and I were constantly being thrown into the deep end, so adjusting to a new city, a new home, a new school, and building new friendships became the norm. I was often the outsider who fought hard to fit in.” She says the frequent relocations due to her father's job ingrained in her a sense of hustle and adaptability that have propelled her career in today's fast paced industry, starting out as an Analyst at Standard Chartered Bank in the Philippines before working with Deutsche Bank in Germany for five years. 

Returning to India in 2007, Sakshi identified an opportunity when she joined Sequoia Capital. Sakshi was Managing Director at Sequoia for 13 years during which she became known for her proactive roles in the firm's programs such as Spark, specifically aimed at helping women founders in India and South East Asia.  

Today, Sakshi is Managing Director at Peak XV Partners. What excites her the most about a founder's pitch is the clear articulation of their vision, their willingness to challenge incumbents, and their drive to tackle significant problems. However, to Sakshi, looking for founders who are passionate about rebooting the Indian dream is equally important. “I returned to India because I feel very passionate about the country. I’m incredibly optimistic about India’s prospects. So many things are changing, so quickly, and it really feels like ‘now is our time’,” she says. 

5. Ankita Vashistha 

Founder of Arise Ventures, StrongHer Ventures, & Saha Fund | Investor, Board Member, & Author 

Ankita Vashistha was raised in Bangalore, where she earned her BE in Electronics and Communication before moving to the UK to pursue her MBA. She is the founder and leader of three pioneering funds—StrongHer Ventures, Saha Fund, and Arise Ventures— the 1st Women Entrepreneurship VC Funds that focus on investing in and promoting women's engagement, empowerment, and entrepreneurship through digital technology. 

With over fifteen years of global experience in tech ventures, innovation, private equity, and venture capital, Ankita has worked across the UK, US, and Asia. She specializes in early-stage technology start-ups, helping them innovate and scale across healthcare, fintech, consumer services, and the future of work. 

Ankita is an active member of the entrepreneurial ecosystem. She serves on the NASSCOM Product Council, is a member of the Indian Angel Network, a Charter Member of TiE, and an investor member of the Draper Network. Additionally, she was a founding partner of Wavemaker Labs, one of Singapore's most successful accelerator programs, which has invested in over 250 startups globally. She also co-authored the book "Innovation-at-Scale." 

6. Reshma Saujani 

Founder & CEO of Moms First | Founder of Girls Who Code 

Chicago-born, Gujarati-Indian Reshma Saujani holds a Master of Public Policy from Harvard University and a Juris Doctor from Yale Law School, but it’s her relentless commitment to empowering women that truly stands out. Reshma served on the National Finance Board for Hillary Clinton during the 2008 presidential election and was named Vice-Chair of the New York delegation at the 2008 Democratic National Convention in Denver. In 2010, she became the first Indian-American woman to run for U.S. Congress, a testament to her bold and fearless approach to life. 

In 2012, Reshma founded "Girls Who Code," a nonprofit organization with a mission to close the gender gap in technology and increase the number of women in computer science. Over the years, she’s also penned empowering books, including "Women Who Don't Wait in Line," "Girls Who Code: Learn to Code and Change the World," "Brave, Not Perfect: Fear Less, Fail More, and Live Bolder," and "Pay Up: The Future of Women and Work." 

In 2020, Reshma founded Moms First (formerly Marshall Plan for Moms), a movement to center mothers in our economic recovery and value our labor by advocating for policies that support moms. She made headlines in 2021 when she called on the Biden administration to support the passage of her “Marshall Plan for Moms,” advocating for a series of financial relief executive actions that would benefit mothers and women in the workforce, a move that once again showcases her commitment to equity and advancement for women. 

For all her work on bridging the gender gap, Reshma has been named one of Fortune's Most Powerful Women Entrepreneurs (2015) and as well as a Holistic Wealth Trailblazer by the Institute on Holistic Wealth in 2022. She's received a host of awards for her work with Girls Who Code, including the Tribeca Disruptive Innovation Award, the Champion of Change Award from the White House, and the Women's eNews 21 Leaders for the 21st Century Award. 

7. Preethi Kasireddy 

Founder of TruStory, DappCamp, and Akhanda 

Preethi Kasireddy was born in Connecticut, lived in Chicago, moved to India for four years, then moved back to the US, settling in New Jersey before pursuing her BS in Industrial & Systems Engineering with a minor in Business at the University of Southern California. She began her career at Andreessen Horowitz where she worked on deals such as Buzzfeed, Stackoverflow, Envoy, and SmartCar. There, she encountered entrepreneurs who utilized software to innovate and shape the future, and this was when she realized the transformative power of software engineering. Preethi then decided to teach herself how to code with the ambition to start her own company.  

As a software engineer at digital currency wallet and platform Coinbase, Preethi gained valuable experience in blockchain technology and cryptocurrency, and the potential they hold for innovation. She worked independently on various crypto projects during the 2017 hype cycle, which led her to found her own company, True Story, a startup aimed to use cryptocurrency to incentivize honest debates and validate online claims.  

Since then, she has launched DappCamp, an online course for Web2 developers making the shift to Web3, and founded Akhanda, a preventive healthcare solution dedicated to addressing the metabolic crisis prevalent among South Asians. 

8. Neelam Dhawan 

Board Member, Mentor, and Advisor | X-HCL, X-IBM, X-Microsoft, X-HP 

Neelam Dhawan received her Bachelor's degree in Economics and her MBA in Delhi, India, before beginning her career in IT. With over 35 years of experience in the industry, she has worked with prominent companies such as HCL, IBM, Microsoft, and HP. She spent 11 years as the Managing Director and leader of national organizations at HP India, during which she demonstrated her intellect and problem-solving abilities by developing the "Omen" series of gaming laptops, addressing the global decline in PC shipments.  

Currently, Neelam serves on several Boards at ICICI Bank, IIIT Delhi, Yatra Online Inc, Hindustan Unilever Limited, Capita Plc., and Tech Mahindra. She has also served on the Global Supervisory Board of Royal Philips since 2012, applying her IT expertise to the healthcare industry. Over the years, she has been recognized by Fortune, Forbes, and Business Today as one of the Most Powerful Women in Business. 

9. Vinita Gupta 

Founder of Quick Eagle Networks, Writer & Journalist, National Bridge Champion 

Vinita Gupta earned a BE in Electrical and Electronics Engineering from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), which allowed her to immerse herself in Silicon Valley's burgeoning tech scene some four decades ago. Vinita began her career as an engineer first at GTE Lenkurt then Bell Northern Research, now under Nortel Networks.  

In 1985, Vinita founded Digital Link Corporation, now Quick Eagle Networks, and became the first Indian-American woman to take her company public in the United States in 1994. Moreover, Digital Link was listed among the top 500 women-owned businesses in the United States by Working Woman Magazine for 2 consecutive years. Vinita still serves as Chairman, President, & CEO today.  

Vinita has also served as chairman of Palo Alto Medical Foundation Research Institute, and on the board of Indian School of Business in Hyderabad, and Cancer Prevention Institute of California. Vinita holds US Patents for a solid-state relay and a square root circuit issued in 1984 and 1986 respectively. A decade into her retirement, Vinita has become a Bridge champion, picked up oil painting, and started her own blog on the Huffington Post where she shares her perspective and experiences to inspire creativity and success. 

Related: Middle Eastern Women Making Waves in Silicon Valley

These stories give us a glimpse into the impactful contributions of Indian women in the tech industry, highlighting the significance of diversity and the powerful role women play in driving innovation and progress. Their journeys are a testament to the importance of inclusivity and the potential it unlocks for a brighter, more innovative future for all.

For more inspiring stories of Indian women breaking the glass ceiling across the world, look forward for our other feature, "Indian Women Making Their Mark on Silicon Valley."