Mumbai : Forbes India, on March 1, launched the ‘W-Power Trailblazers 2019’ list, featuring a mix of prominent and lesser-known women leaders, all of whom have fought stereotypes, bent gender norms and worked passionately to cement their position in traditionally male-dominated fields.
This is a list arrived at by the Forbes India team and involved many layers of research and brainstorming; these women were chosen by ascertaining their impact and contribution to their fields, and as an extension, to the crusade for equality at large. This year, Forbes India chose to veer away from the stars of the finance world, to be able to shine the spotlight on women from important professions that often slip such mentions. The list, then, features strong women who are activists, architects, sportspersons, technology leaders, lawyers, entrepreneurs and so on.
“These are women who want change, are working towards it, and creating it,” says Brian Carvalho, editor, Forbes India.
On the cover of the issue is Priyanka Chopra Jonas, but not for the glitz and glamour she is usually associated with. While she is a fantastic role model for women everywhere even based on her enviable run at the movies, Chopra Jonas is on the Forbes India W-Power Trailblazers list for a different reason: For her sharp technology investments in Silicon Valley, which are uniquely feminist in nature, working to improve the lives of women everywhere. An exclusive Forbes India profile details how she went from ‘PC to VC’.
Also on the list is Mary Kom, boxer extraordinaire, one of India’s most decorated sportspersons and mother of three—but nowhere close to hanging up her gloves just yet. Then the list pulls many leaders out of the shadows: Among others, there is Komal Mangtani, head of engineering and business intelligence for Uber globally; Seema Rao, a doctor-turned-combat trainer who has trained all of India’s elite armed forces in close-quarter battle; Bhakti Sharma, an open water swimmer and the youngest in the world to swim the freezing Atlantic waters; and Rajlakshmi Borthakur, who developed a wearable ring that can predict epileptic attacks by monitoring blood pressure and pulse.
See the list here – http://www.forbesindia.com/lists/2019-wpower-trailblazers/all
This list is timed just ahead of Women’s Day, which falls on March 8. Join the conversation on social media, using #ForbesIndiaWPower
