Jenny Abraham

The global acquisition of NFO by research major TNS has created India's third-largest market research firm. "We are the new kid on the block," says Abraham. "And not afraid to do things differently."

Schauna Chauhan
27 I Director I Parle Agro

One of her innovations, Frooti Green Mango (an unripe-mango drink), is a hit. Now, she wants to take the company's brands global. Sister Alisha may be happy running a fitness centre, but for Schauna, beverages is where the fizz is.

Mahima Datla
27 I Vice President, Strategic I Biological E Business Development

She has got her biotech hothouse to focus on vaccines and niche products in areas such as cardiovascular and diabetes therapy. The benefits are beginning to show at the Rs 150-crore company that employs over 1,000.

Tanya Dubash
35 I Director, Marketing I Godrej Consumer Products

The eldest daughter of Adi Godrej, Dubash was inducted as director when she was 28 years old, and promptly jumped into the fray in one of India's most competitive markets.

Suchitra Ella
40 I Founder Director I Bharat Biotech International

She convinced her husband to return to India from the US and start Bharat Biotech (best known for its hepatitis-B vaccine). Today, she runs the firm's marketing, operations, and communications divisions and is involved in helping more women become entrepreneurs.

Manisha Girotra
34 I Chairperson & MD I UBS Securities

UBs' forte is cross-border deals. And Girotra, a topper from the Delhi School of Economics, and her team of 50 are using this to good effect as India Inc. steps out.

Radhika Haribhakti
47 I Executive Director I J.M. Morgan Stanley

The alumnus of the Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad, heads the I-bank's business development and private equity functions. She is also chairperson of Friends of Women's World Banking, a microfinance organisation and a member of Confederation of Indian Industry's National Committee on Women Empowerment.

Pooja Jain
28 I Director I Luxor Writing Instruments

Daughter of Luxor Writing Instruments Chairman D.K. Jain, Pooja heads the Rs 400-crore group's core business, writing instruments. She is also involved in the group's diversifications into real estate and hospitality.

Latika Khaneja
40 I Director I Collage Sports Management

The lady says her power stems from "marketing and pr skills and the ability to close a deal". As her management of cricketing sensation Virender Sehwag shows, that's not far off the mark.

Cheryl Netto
38 I Executive Director I J.M. Morgan Stanley

She has just moved into the corporate finance origination business after nine years spent working on deals such as the Alcan-Indal-Hindalco one and the Cadbury delisting.

Vishaka Mulye
35 I Head, Structured Finance I ICICI Bank and Credit Markets

A chartered accountant, Mulye started her career with ICICI in 1993, and was instrumental in setting up the special assets management group to provide sharper focus on larger non-performing assets and difficult cases.

Meher Pudumjee
38 I Chairperson-designate I Thermax

Having turned around thermax UK, the chemical engineer will take over as chairperson of Thermax from mother Anu Aga in October. Mom says she has a "wise head". That's something.

Apurva Purohit
37 I Chief Operating Officer I Times Television

With three channels lined up for launch, this is the print major's first serious foray into television. And Purohit, who says she took up the job because "it was an exciting opportunity to start a new bouquet", is in charge.

Devita Saraf
22 I Marketing Director I Zenith Computers

The girl who always wanted to join her father's computer firm, did, and now has a team of 200 that helps her sell Zenith's cut-price computers.

Hemu Ramiah
46 I Managing Partner I Landmark

Simple, she runs India's largest, most wired, and best-stocked bookstores. Mumbai and Delhi are very much on her radar, as is Sri Lanka and opportunities in business process outsourcing in the books business.

Pia Singh
32 I Director, DLF Universal I MD, DT Cinemas

The one-time GE capital employee has already developed two malls and multiplexes and has 19 more planned across Kolkata, Mumbai, Delhi, Chandi-garh, and the township her father K.P. Singh helped create, Gurgaon.

Sangita Singh
34 I Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer I Wipro Technologies

The diminutive Singh is the youngest vice president at Wipro, where she has worked for 12 years. She is widely seen as a protégé of Chairman Azim Premji and is one of the rare female faces in the top echelons of the company.

Sangeeta Talwar
48 I Executive Director I Tata Tea

The former CEO of Mattel, who has worked for Nestlé's Indian operations and at the company's headquarters, was recently hired by Tata Tea to create a global footprint for the company and to leverage the Tetley business in India.

Ashu Suyash
37 I Head I Fidelity Fund Management India

A former Citigroup employee, Suyash, a chartered Accountant, heads the Indian arm of the world's largest fund, Fidelity International.

Komal Wazir
32 I Executive Director I Shaw Wallace

The second of the late Manu Chhabria's daughters, Komal Wazir shot into the limelight when she began attending board meetings of Shaw Wallace seven to eight years ago in her father's place. She's now hands-on at the firm.

-compiled by Brian Carvalho, Roshni Jayakar, Arnab Mitra, Venkatesha Babu, Shailesh Dobhal, Abir Pal, Sahad P.V., Nitya Varadarajan, E. Kumar Sharma and Amanpreet Singh