Leading Ladies is an inspirational book that follows the journeys of some of India’s most-admired women achievers who have made a difference to society with their stellar work and other pursuits that touch our lives, in more ways than one. This volume brings alive their unique stories with personal anecdotes that will serve as a beacon for many of us. While a lot has been written about how these women have achieved success, the book aims to highlight the guiding principles of their lives, the personal and professional beliefs that drive them, the life and management practices that have always stood them in good stead, and the non-negotiables that have guided them on their path to success. What makes the woman professional/entrepreneur/achiever/leader tick? What is it that drives them? What are the rules by which they play the game? Is there a level playing field for women? Do women need a level playing field? Is there something males can learn from their female colleagues? Are women leaders also from Venus along with the rest of their clan or do they belong to Mars too? These influencers are well-equipped to provide the right insights. The author borrows from her journalistic experience to elicit a fresh view from some of India’s brightest minds; trendsetters who have not just carved a name for themselves in their chosen path, but have become the torch-bearers for countless others in urban and rural India who want to follow their dreams, reach their goals, and give back to society.

• Introduction by ELA BHATT

• AMRITA PATEL

• ANU AGA

• KALPANA MORPARIA

• KIRAN MAZUMDAR-SHAW

• LILA POONAWALLA

• MALLIKA SARABHAI

• MALLIKA SRINIVASAN

• MEHER PUDUMJEE

• NAINA LAL KIDWAI

• PRIYA PAUL

• P.T. USHA

• SHAHEEN MISTRI

• SHIKHA SHARMA

• SHUBHA MUDGAL

• VINITA BALI

About the Author :

Sudha Menon is the best-selling author of non-fiction book, Leading Ladies, an inspirational book on the lives of some of the country’s most accomplished contemporary women leaders. She is also author of the recently-launched successful non-fiction work, Legacy, a compilation of simple and evocative letters from eminent men and women to their daughters. A versatile journalist with over two decades of experience working with prestigious publications such as The Independent, The Hindu Business Line, and Mint, the business daily from HT Media. Sudha was the complete news junkie before she discovered the joys of a going deeper into her writing. What moves her more than anything else is the enduring spirit of human beings in the face of the most challenging circumstances. It was this facet of people, their refusal to let their circumstances pull them down, that led her to write Leading Ladies. The stories of the 15 women in the book, with their never-say-die attitude struck such a chord in the minds of readers that it was long-listed for the prestigious 2010 Vodafone Crossword Book Award. Sudha is also the founder of Get Writing! , a writing workshop for those with a desire to write but don’t know how to get started. She is passionate about Writing In the Park, an initiative that she has started to get people out of their homes and off their laptops, phones and other gadgets, to spend time in the outdoors, writing in public parks and gardens. When she is not busy with writing her books and biographies, Sudha is an invited speaker to educational institutions and corporate campuses where she talks to women’s networks about women’s leadership and diversity issues. Sudha is also member of the advisory board of Prashanti Cancer Care Mission, an NGO that works in the field of early diagnosis and treatment of the disease and provides free or heavily subsidised treatment to the needy. Sudha says the most interesting parts of her day are the moments that she gets to chat with people, even if they are strangers, and getting to know about their lives. “I draw inspiration from the most ordinary people and their extraordinary courage in the face of life’s knocks.”