Top 10 Women HR Leaders - 2026

In organizations that provide products and services to consumers through retail channels, women leaders in HR are leading the transformation of the workplace. As they operate in highly dynamic sectors with highly engaged workforces, they maintain a balance between the need to strategically plan for future employees and the need to remain nimble so that their company can compete in an increasingly challenging business environment. Their role is becoming critical as many organizations face a talent shortage, changes in consumer behavior, new laws and regulations, and requirements to quickly adopt new digital technologies.

Women Leaders in HR in the retail and FMCG sectors manage large, global and often distributed employees, including thousands of hourly employees who work at the front lines of a company's operations. They are responsible for working with companies to improve their productivity while ensuring that they have the policies and procedures necessary to manage their employee populations in a manner that is consistent with the company's brand promise and customer experience. Women leaders in HR services organizations drive innovation in HR service delivery models and consulting methodologies, enabling their clients to develop and implement best practices related to the management of talent, performance appraisal systems, and organizational design.

Women's heads of HR are positioned to combine a data-driven approach with empathy and leadership. Utilizing analytics, digital tools, and AI to increase the effectiveness of talent acquisition, succession planning, and learning systems, all while making diversity, equity and inclusion top priorities. They participate in leading company-wide transformational projects, including but not limited to mergers, restructurings, developing capabilities and changing the corporate culture, through their efforts ensuring business continuity and long-term sustainability.

By developing their influence within the senior leadership team, women within the field of HR are elevating the function from being simply a support function to becoming an integral part of the creation of business value. They are also driving a significant impact not only on their organisations but also on the HR profession as a whole, by affecting industry ratings, ethical standards of employment, and the future of work in the FMCG, retail or general HR service environment.

In this issue, the Women Entrepreneurs Review magazine brings a list of ‘Top 10 Women HR Leaders - 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.