Women Leaders Breaking Barriers & Inspiring Women of the World

By: Rachita Sharma, Managing Editor | Friday, 21 March 2025

Gender parity in the workplaces has been a topic of discussion globally for several years now. Although women’s representation in the overall workforce has increased over the past few years, yet a lot of ground remain to be covered. Women continue being under-represented in leadership roles.

Globally, women form less than one third of all leadership roles. Although women in EMEA and LATAM constitute more than 40 percent of all entry level positions, yet their numbers dwindle as they move up the seniority ladder. 

The highest numbers of women in leadership come from France (34%) and Sweden (37%). On the contrary, United Arab Emirates (20%), Germany (23%) and the Netherlands (26%) are lagging behind the average.

It is exasperating to see women being underrepresented in leadership positions even after witnessing the stark benefits of having more women leader. 

We are however hopeful that the global corporate world will course correct and welcome more women in leadership roles. Till then it is imperative that we highlight the success stories of women leaders who have successfully overcome the gender barriers at work.

In this special edition of Women Entrepreneurs Review we highlight a few such women from Asia. 

One featured leader is Neharika Arora, Director, Arora Neuro Centre. Neharika is a visionary healthcare leader dedicated to patient-centric care and operational excellence. With expertise in clinical management and strategic planning, she champions innovation in healthcare delivery. 

From the recruitment industry, read about Anja Vasic El Haber, Founder, A2ML Consulting. Before A2ML, she held key roles in talent acquisition and business development, including at Leman Project Management and Reaction PM. 

Clare Holst, Founder of Hyrd Consulting is another noteworthy leader. She specializes in recruitment across technology, FinTech, and management consulting. 

In this edition also read about Joyi Cheah, Managing Director of JCIP International, who leads with expertise in IP law, fostering a talented team, expanding global reach, and navigating complex IP disputes. 

Another leader in the legal landscape is Sumita Ray, Chief Legal, Compliance & Administrative Officer and Corporate Secretary. She is a seasoned executive with vast experience in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries. 

In this edition also read about Karishma Edroos, Director, Excel Group. With a strong background in business, accounting, and finance, Karishma has over a decade of experience in the construction and manufacturing sectors.

Vaishali Azad Batra, HR Head, APAC Ecu Worldwide is another successful leader featured in this edition. She has held leadership roles at Ecu Worldwide, Petronet LNG, and P&O Nedlloyd, specializing in strategic HR, people analytics, and culture building.

 Read more about these leaders and the key to their success.