Roshni Nadar Malhotra, Chairperson of HCL Technologies

“The most valuable learnings come from a diversity of experiences.”

From securing her seventh consecutive feature in Forbes’s ‘The World’s 100 Most Powerful Women’ list in 2023 to chairing the Board of HCL Technologies Ltd., Roshni Nadar Malhotra has consistently harnessed her leadership influence to propel meaningful impact.

Roshni pursued her MBA from the Kellogg School of Management and then assumed the role of Chairperson at the ₹900 crores tech giant, HCL Technologies, succeeding her father Shiv Nadar in July 2020. However, her contributions extend beyond corporate leadership. As a trustee of the Shiv Nadar Foundation, she is dedicated to promoting education. Roshni is also a driving force behind the establishment of schools and colleges, specifically designed for underprivileged and meritorious rural students across India.

Furthermore, she leads two impactful initiatives: TechBees—a program that provides training to grade 12 students, preparing them for billable roles, and an exclusive program for female leaders at Shiv Nadar University. Speaking about her vision for this program, Roshni shared, “This initiative is designed for young female professionals to cultivate future leaders, professionals, and board members in India. Our focus is on individuals with an average age ranging from 45 to 55. We aim to build a workforce of women who envision a longer professional runway and embrace the opportunity to play diverse roles throughout their careers.”

Due to her exemplary contributions, Roshni was recognised with the ‘Most Powerful Women in Business 2023′ accolade by Business Today. Her achievements also include being featured among the ’25 Most Powerful Businesswomen in Asia’ by Forbes in 2020.

Besides donning the hat of a leading leader of an Indian IT major, Roshni is also a doting mom to her two kids—Armaan and Jahaan. A strong advocate for working mothers, she shared in an interview, “I don’t carry mom guilt. Children learn by observing their parents, and the culture at home plays a crucial role in shaping their independence. It’s about instilling values that promote self-reliance.”

Image credit: Shiv Nadar Foundation