Archive · 3 Oct 2026
84% of India’s Women Leaders Are Self-Made, Hurun Finds
A new list recognizes 117 women leaders in India.
The report says 98 of them built their careers without inheriting their positions.
That is 84% of the women on the list.
The honourees work in areas such as business, sports, writing, and social impact.
This year’s list covers 12 categories, up from nine last year.
The organisations connected to the women have a combined valuation of ₹39 lakh crore, according to the report.
The youngest honouree is para archer Sheetal Devi, who is 19.
The oldest is Rajni Bector, the 86-year-old founder of Cremica.
Richa Srivastava Madhukar says that people’s different life challenges should also be considered when judging their achievements.
The 2026 Candere Hurun India Women Leaders List features 117 women, 98 of whom are described as self-made.
The 98 self-made leaders account for 84% of those featured, according to the report.
The list covers 12 categories, compared with nine in 2025.
The women are associated with businesses and organisations valued at a combined ₹39 lakh crore, the report says.
Para archer Sheetal Devi, 19, is the youngest honouree; Cremica founder Rajni Bector, 86, is the oldest.
- Who
- The 117 women featured in the 2026 Candere Hurun India Women Leaders List, including 98 described as self-made.
- What
- The report highlights the share of self-made women leaders and the breadth of their leadership journeys.
- When
- The 2026 list; the article does not give a publication date.
- Where
- India.
- Why
- The list aims to recognize women leaders across sectors and their varied paths to leadership.
- Women featured
- 117
- Described as self-made
- 98, or 84%
- Categories in 2026
- 12, up from nine in 2025
- Combined valuation associated with honourees
- ₹39 lakh crore, according to the report
- Youngest honouree
- Sheetal Devi, 19
- Oldest honouree
- Rajni Bector, 86