India’s corporate landscape has witnessed a significant transformation over the years, with women taking up pivotal roles in various industries. Today, we celebrate some of the most influential women in HR who have been instrumental in shaping the human resource strategies of leading organizations in India. Their stories are not just about breaking the glass ceiling but also about setting new benchmarks in leadership, diversity, and inclusion.
1. Aarti Srivastava, CHRO, Capgemini India
Aarti Srivastava was appointed as the Chief Human Resource Officer (CHRO) for Capgemini in India on June 1, 2022. With over two decades of expertise in human resources, she has excelled in areas such as organization design, employee experience, and leadership development. Aarti has previously served as the CHRO for Business Services GBL at Capgemini and held leadership roles in HR at FIS and Deutsche Bank. She holds an MPM degree from Symbiosis Institute of Business Management and certifications in Strategic HR from NSU, Singapore, and Strategic Thinking from London Business School.
2. Amarpreet Kaur Ahuja, Country Head – HR, India, AstraZeneca
Amarpreet Kaur Ahuja heads the HR function for AstraZeneca‘s Commercial organization, Global Innovation Technology Center, R&D group, and Manufacturing site in India. With over 22 years of experience, she specializes in employee engagement, talent management, and strategic HR consulting. Amarpreet has previously worked with organizations like Barclays Bank, Northern Trust Bank, TCS, and Maersk. She is passionate about leadership coaching and driving diversity and inclusion initiatives.
3. Amrita Padda, Chief People Officer, Bharti Airtel
Amrita Padda was appointed as the Chief People Officer of Bharti Airtel on October 1, 2021. Reporting to CEO Gopal Vittal, she oversees Airtel’s people strategy as the company evolves into a digital services provider. With over two decades at Hindustan Unilever, Amrita has a rich background in leading HR transformation projects globally. She has also led HR for Unilever Philippines and their Global Procurement function. Amrita succeeds Samit Deb, who moved on to entrepreneurial ventures.
4. Anjali Chatterjee, CHRO, Air India Express
Anjali Chatterjee, with 30 years of HR experience across various industries, was appointed as the CHRO of Air India Express. Before this, she served as VP-HR at Tata Communications for 15 years. Anjali focuses on aligning people strategy with business goals and has held global HR roles in hospitality, service, manufacturing, and telecom sectors.
5. Anuradha Razdan, Executive Director & CHRO, Hindustan Unilever
Anuradha Razdan, a member of the Management Committee of Hindustan Unilever Limited, is the Executive Director and CHRO for Unilever, South Asia. She has had an illustrious career with HUL and Unilever, working in customer development, employee relations, and leadership development. Anuradha is passionate about inclusive businesses and leadership development and has been recognized as a Distinguished Alumni by XLRI and the CHRO of the Year in 2021.
6. Archana Bhaskar, CHRO, Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories
Archana Bhaskar, the CHRO and Head of Corporate Communications at Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories, has a diverse HR background with experience at Shell and Unilever. She has held various HR leadership roles and is known for her work in talent and development initiatives in global commercial settings. Archana holds degrees from the Indian Institute of Management Bangalore and Lady Shri Ram College.
7. Archana Shiroor, CHRO, Yes Bank
Archana Shiroor was appointed as the CHRO of Yes Bank in April 2023, succeeding Anurag Adlakha. Before joining Yes Bank, she was the Head of HR for Retail Branch Banking, Government, and Institutional Banking at HDFC Bank. With over three decades of HR experience, Archana has held senior HR roles at Barclays, Tata Group, and Development Credit Bank.
8. Chandra Bhattacharjee, CHRO – Grasim Industries, Aditya Birla Group
Chandra Bhattacharjee is the CHRO for Grasim Industries, Aditya Birla Textiles division. With over 32 years of industry experience, Chandra has been with the Aditya Birla Group since 2004. She has led HR functions across various segments, including domestic chemicals and overseas spinning businesses. Chandra holds a PGDPMIR from XLRI Jamshedpur and a coaching certification from CoachU.
9. Jayanthi Anil Kumar, Head of HR, L&T
Jayanthi Anil Kumar, Head of HR Shared Services Centre at Larsen & Toubro, has a unique combination of expertise in human resources, financial management, and operations. With 25 years of experience, she has worked with Standard Chartered Bank, Hutchison Essar, and Aptech Ltd. Jayanthi holds a degree in Commerce & Accountancy and a Management degree in Finance.
10.Lakshmi C, HR Lead, Accenture
Lakshmi C. is the Senior Managing Director and HR Lead at Accenture in India, overseeing the human capital strategy for over 310,000 employees. With a career at Accenture since 2003, she has held various HR leadership roles and has prior experience with iGate (now Capgemini) and Nestle. Lakshmi holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Economics from Presidency University, Kolkata, and an MBA in Human Resources from XLRI, Jamshedpur. She is dedicated to fostering equal and empowering cultures and actively mentors young professionals, especially women from diverse backgrounds.
These women have not only excelled in their respective roles but have also paved the way for future generations of women leaders. Their dedication to fostering inclusive workplaces and their strategic vision continue to inspire and shape the corporate world in India.
