Top 10 Alumni Women Leaders from Indian Institute of Technology Madras - 2026

Alumni women leaders of the Indian Institute of Technology Madras have played the role of constant innovators, transformers, and bringers of societal impact in various industries. Their paths to success tell the story of the right mix of technical strength, strategic thinking, and entrepreneurial skills, which eventually led to a change in the way of seeing the leadership in technology, industry, government, and academia. These technical and research-heavy professionals are the ones using their sharp insights to deal with the world's complicated problems and help work out the answers that are fit for large-scale application in the areas of business, society, and technology.

Women leaders are not only professional achievers but also practitioners of the values of fostering inclusive ecosystems, mentoring the next generation of innovators, and advocating for gender balance in STEM. They have also been the first ones to create programs that connect academia and industry, thus facilitating the stages of research commercialization, technology adoption, and innovation-led entrepreneurship. Their grip on thought leadership is so strong that they not only influence it but also directly participate in the making of the discourse around such topics as emerging technologies, sustainability, and global competitiveness.

The effect of these leaders is magnified because of their skill in integrating different disciplines—engineering, management, and societal awareness—into one whole to solve the most critical issues, such as digital transformation, energy sustainability, and even healthcare innovation and smart infrastructure. They have plunged into and, at times, altered the areas so that they not only break ground but also pave the way for ethical, inclusive, and transformative types of leadership to come.

Women alumni leaders from IIT Madras together represent a mixture of technical expertise, strategic vision, and social concern, thus affirming the fact that the institute still produces leaders who are able to innovate, influence and impact society positively at both the national and global scales. Instead, their legacy keeps being the source of inspiration that allows the new generation of leaders to get ready to enter the scene where leadership shall be determined by the ability to perform, the power to see, and the trait of being inclusive rather than the old-fashioned way of being.

In this issue, the Women Entrepreneurs Review magazine brings a list of ‘Top 10 Alumni Women Leaders from Indian Institute of Technology Madras - 2026', who are domineers of change in the corporate realm of the country. This list of ten leading and inspiring women is crafted by a team of CEOs, VCs, and the editorial board, delivering inspiring stories of their journey and the contributions & roles played by them in the creation and empowerment of an economically powerful nation.

  • GasTech Systems
  • Alekhya Boora, CEO, Bangalore

  • She leads the organization with a focus on innovation, sustainability, and operational excellence, driving strategic initiatives, technology adoption, and solutions that advance the energy sector

1
  • Bawse Baby
  • Divya Bharathi T, Founder, Tirupur

  • A research-driven entrepreneur, she blends her expertise with purpose-driven product creation, leveraging years of experience across diverse sectors to spearhead initiatives in innovation and product development

2
3
  • Slate of Swan
  • Medha, Co-Founder & CEO, Bangalore

  • She has years of experience in ESG consulting and advisory, primarily focusing on research, analytics, communication, engagement, and first-mile activities

4
  • UCAL
  • Sandhya Shekhar, Independent Director, Chennai

  • She works with corporates on digital transformation and business strategy, with expertise in virtualization and digital strategies, business strategy, knowledge management, innovation and entrepreneurship, enterprise solutions, and more

5
  • Speed Infra Developers
  • Shalini Vaddy, Partner, Hyderabad

  • An entrepreneur who blends innovation, industry networks, and collaborative leadership to shape large-scale, future-ready communities, she drives organizational strategy, leads partner and consultant collaborations, and oversees marketing, sales, CRM

6
7
  • Forever Technologies
  • Uma N Rao, Director, Chennai

  • An engineering expert, she is a leader known for her work on global seismic and heritage projects, her dedication to sustainable construction and repair practices, and her commitment to advancing engineering standards and talent development in India

8
  • Shankar IAS Academy
  • Vaishnavi S D, Managing Director, Chennai

  • An academic leader and education entrepreneur committed to making civil services preparation accessible and inclusive, she has leveraged her academic background to expand the academy into a comprehensive training institution

9
  • Sugar Cosmetics
  • Vineeta Singh, CEO, Mumbai

  • She is known for her entrepreneurial vision, combining innovation, consumer insights, and bold marketing strategies to drive the company's growth while making beauty accessible, inclusive, and trend-setting

10

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