Age is often seen as a barrier to ambition, but the first-ever Forbes 50 Over 50 Global list shatters that notion. The American business magazine released a list of women who “work across 32 countries and territories and are shaping everything from cybersecurity to science and even traffic safety”.
These trailblazers have made an indelible impact on their communities, their country and the world. Among them, three Indian women have earned their well-deserved spots: 80-year-old entrepreneur Urmila Asher, billionaire business leader Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw and social advocate Sheela Patel. Let’s know more about them.
Reinventing entrepreneurship at 80
There’s something truly inspiring about a woman who refuses to let life’s hardships define her. Urmila Asher, now 80, embarked on her entrepreneurial journey at 75, turning her love for traditional Gujarati snacks into a thriving business. During the COVID-19 pandemic, she launched ‘Gujju Ben Na Nasta’, a cloud kitchen that started with homemade pickles and quickly expanded to include an array of regional delicacies.
Her story is one of resilience. Married at 18 and a mother by 23, Urmila lost all three of her children by the age of 67. With only her grandson Harsh by her side, she found strength in her passion for cooking. What began as a way to support her family has now flourished into a successful brand, even landing her on MasterChef India in 2023.
A titan in biopharmaceuticals
A true visionary, Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw’s journey from a young entrepreneur to one of India’s most powerful business leaders is nothing short of extraordinary. She founded Biocon in 1978 and has since transformed it into a global biopharmaceutical giant. Today, she stands as one of India’s wealthiest self-made women, with an estimated net worth exceeding Rs 28,000 crore.
But Kiran’s impact extends far beyond business. Her philanthropic efforts are just as impressive. In 2015, she joined The Giving Pledge, committing to donate at least half of her wealth to social causes. She established the Mazumdar-Shaw Medical Foundation in Bangalore, a 1,400-bed facility dedicated to affordable cancer care and continues to champion innovative healthcare solutions. “My legacy is going to be in affordable healthcare,” she told Forbes.
Championing the urban poor
Sheela Patel has spent decades advocating for the urban poor. She founded SPARC (Society for Promotion of Area Resource Centres) in 1984, an organisation dedicated to improving housing and infrastructure for low-income communities in Mumbai. Under her leadership, SPARC has developed 11 housing projects, providing security and stability to thousands of families.
Her work is global in scope. In 2022, Patel introduced the ‘Roof Over Our Heads’ campaign at the UN Climate Change Conference, emphasising the urgent need for sustainable housing solutions for billions living in informal settlements by 2050. Her relentless dedication to social change has positioned her as a leading voice in urban development and poverty alleviation.
Each of them has redefined what it means to leave a legacy, proving that age is not a limitation but an opportunity to make a difference.