Women in Leadership | Roshni Nadar Malhotra
Introducing Roshni Nadar Malhotra, a trailblazer and the lone woman at the helm of an IT giant! (Kudos, Women — you’re absolutely killing it.)
In my early days, I, like many girls, perceived the role of an engineer as reserved for men in our society. Oh, how I wish there were more women around me breaking that mold. Witnessing the incredible journey of women like Roshni Nadar Malhotra shows just how crucial having diverse role models is in shaping our professional aspirations. While men have a plethora of role models across various careers, women often find themselves confined to certain domains, with a prevailing notion that stability lies only in fields like education.
I talked to my aunt on December 8th. She finished 10th grade 30 years ago. I asked if having friends who liked studying would’ve made a difference. She said, “Yes!” and shared how her friends didn’t care much about school, and their parents didn’t push them to study hard. Someone said it right — people around does make a difference in your life.
What’s truly inspiring is that Roshni Nadar Malhotra isn’t just a leader in her field; she’s made it to the esteemed Forbes list of ‘Most Powerful Women in 2023,’ securing an impressive 60th rank. (For the record, Forbes recently released their list of the 100 Most Powerful Women on December 3rd.)
Roshni Nadar Malhotra holds the distinguished title of the richest woman in India, as per the IIFL Wealth Hurun India Rich List in 2019.
The first place I worked in HCL was in finance. By age 28 I had already been made CEO of the holding company,” she said.
Let’s explore her journey :
./ Roshni is the only child of HCL’ Technologies founder Shiv Nadar
./ Roshni Nadar grew up in Delhi, studied in Vasant Valley School
./ Roshni holds an undergraduate degree in Communications from Northwestern University and a MBA from the Kellogg School of Management. At Kellogg, she was awarded the Dean’s Distinguished Service Award.
./ It was suggested to Roshni Nadar by her father Shiv Nadar that even if having a media empire was her dream, a thorough understanding of the business intricacies would still be necessary. Therefore, business school was recommended to her, leading to enrollment at Kellogg for an MBA.
./ Roshni Nadar Malhotra is a trained classical musician. Her interests in music, yoga, and travel prepare her for exclusive challenges. If HCL wouldn’t have happened, you would see her excelling in arts for sure.
./ She interned at CNBC and CNN before having a full time job.
./She worked with Sky News UK and CNN America as a news producer before joining HCL Corp in 2009, and within a year was made executive director and then CEO at the age of 27.
./ After becoming CEO , it was a very interesting time between 2009 and 2013, when she actually spent a lot of time between both the group companies, HCL Technologies and HCL Infosystems, working in different departments, with different leaders, even the shop floor at HCL manufacturing facility in Pondicherry because those days HCL used to make computers.
./ Prior to becoming a chief executive officer (CEO) of the HCL Corporation, she had been serving as the trustee of the Chennai-based not-for-profit organization, Shiv Nadar Foundation, which runs under Sri Sivasubramaniya Nadar College of Engineering.
./ Young philanthropist of the Year by NDTV — 2014
./ The World’s Most Innovative People Award by the World Summit on Innovation & Entrepreneurship — 2015
./ Vogue India Philanthropist of the Year — 2017
./ Roshni is a member of the Dean’s Advisory Council at the MIT School of Engineering, USA and also a member of the Kellogg School of Management Executive Board for Asia.
./ Passionate about wildlife and conservation, Roshni established The Habitats Trust in 2018. The Foundation aims to work towards protecting India’s natural habitats and its indigenous species with the core mission of creating and conserving sustainable ecosystems through strategic partnerships and collaborations with all stakeholders, at every level.
./ Since 2019, she has been producing a TV series for the Animal Planet/Discovery based on the most endangered wildlife species in India — ‘On The Brink’.
./ Shiv Nadar stepped off as the Chairman in 2020 , at which point Roshni Nadar was appointed.
./ She is a trustee of the Shiv Nadar Foundation that runs the SSN Institutions, the Shiv Nadar University, the VidyaGyan schools for rural children in Uttar Pradesh, the Shiv Nadar School, and the Kiran Nadar Museum of Art. Roshni Nadar heads the Shiksha Initiative as well that aims to eradicate illiteracy, aided by technology
./ As a chairperson — she also saw acquisition of 7 IBM products collectively valued at INR 13, 740 crores.
./ Her mom ( named — Kiran Nadar Museum) is a national level bridge player, one of the only women in India who plays in the open circuit. In 2018, she was the Asian Games Bronze medallist. Also, a Commonwealth gold medallist.
./ Her Role Model is — primatologist and anthropologist Jane Goodall. She is in her eighties but still such a force says Roshni Nadar.
./ Roshni Nadar’s net worth is estimated to be around Rs 84,330 crore, which makes her one of the richest women in India.
./ Her first training was in family office management. “If you have to inherit what your parents have created, you also have to learn to be accountable. That’s why the treasury exposure — understanding investments, the markets, the options to invest”- she had said.
Prior to joining HCL, Malhotra worked as a news producer and earned her MBA from the Kellogg School of Management.
Lessons :
./ What she has learned over the last 15 years is that it’s not so much the technology; it’s more about managing people and their spectrum of emotions. That to her has been the biggest focus along with building the business. It is about getting the tone of interaction and communication right. ( Snipped from the interview)
./ Stay on the course. In the words of Dory from Finding Nemo, just keep swimming
./ The richest learning comes from a diversity of experiences.
./ Being comfortable with being uncomfortable is something I worked on and still do every day.
./ Also, being one of the youngest in the room teaches you a lot, if you are willing to observe and learn.
She got married to Shikhar Malhotra in 2010 who is the Vice Chairman of HCL Healthcare. The couple has two sons Armaan and Jahaan.
Her father Shiv Nadar founded HCL Enterprise in 1976. He started the billion-dollar global company from a barsati in Delhi. The company started off as a hardware organisation and is credited for manufacturing the first indigenous computers in the country. From thereon, HCL has been riding the tides of technology.
Do let me know what do you know more about Roshni or what you have learned from her? Waiting to hear from you eagerly. Follow for more, and do hit the like button. Thankyou so much!!
