Meet Soma Mondal, a groundbreaking leader and the inaugural woman to helm the state-run Steel Authority of India (SAIL), securing the 70th position on Forbes’ prestigious World’s Most Powerful Women list for 2023. Joining the ranks of influential Indian women such as Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, HCL Technologies Chairperson Roshni Nadar Malhotra, and Biocon Chairperson Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw, Mondal’s leadership has left an indelible mark on the global stage.
Soma Mondal’s Leadership at SAIL
Assuming the role of SAIL’s chairperson in January 2021, Mondal orchestrated a remarkable threefold increase in profits, propelling the steel giant to a record-breaking 120 billion rupees within her inaugural year. Her transformative journey within SAIL commenced in 2017 when she took charge as the Director (Commercial), pioneering strategic marketing initiatives that resulted in consecutive best-ever sales volumes from 2017-18 to 2019-20.
Educational Background and Professional Ascent
With a degree in Electrical Engineering from the National Institute of Technology, Rourkela, Mondal brings over three decades of expertise to the metals industry. Her career trajectory reflects a remarkable ascent from a Graduate Engineer Trainee at the state-run National Aluminium Co. to becoming the first woman Functional Director at SAIL and subsequently its Chairperson.
Forbes Acknowledges Mondal’s Impact
Forbes, in recognition of her achievements, lauded Mondal for spearheading an 80,000-million-rupee effort to expand production capacity. Her commitment to organizational enhancement extended to the introduction of reforms in the Marketing Organization Structure, creating focused verticals—Sales, Marketing, and Services. Mondal’s initiatives aimed to foster micro-management and tap into the untapped potential of rural India, evident in the “Gaon Ki Ore” workshops organized nationwide to boost the branding efforts of SAIL’s products.
The Woman Behind the Leadership
Born and raised in an Odia middle-class family in Bhubaneswar, Mondal’s roots underscore the values that have propelled her to success. Beyond her corporate role, she actively contributes as a member of the CII-National Committee on Steel and serves as the Chairperson of the CII sub-committee on ‘Safeguard for Tariff and Non-Tariff Barrier,’ as highlighted on SAIL’s official website.
Soma Mondal’s journey exemplifies not only her remarkable leadership in the corporate realm but also her dedication to fostering positive change within the steel industry and beyond.
