Winning Bizness Desk
Mumbai.Reliance Foundation Chairperson Nita Ambani has been ranked India’s most powerful woman in Fortune India’s 2026 list of the country’s 100 Most Powerful Women, with the recognition highlighting her leadership in philanthropy, social development and institution building. The latest ranking also underlines the growing influence of women across business, healthcare, technology and entrepreneurship. Adding to the Ambani family's presence on the list, Isha Ambani secured the seventh position, reflecting her expanding leadership role in business and retail.
Leadership rooted in social impact
Fortune India recognised Nita Ambani for leading large-scale initiatives in education, healthcare and community welfare through the Reliance Foundation. Under her leadership, the foundation says it has positively impacted more than 100 million people across India, including nearly 29 million children through various education, nutrition and development programmes.
Addressing the Fortune India Most Powerful Women 2026 awards event, Nita Ambani said leadership should be defined by compassion, inclusion and empowerment rather than authority alone. She said true power lies in enabling others to succeed and stressed that India needs greater "soft power" built on kindness, empathy and respect for every living being. She also emphasised that empowering girls ultimately strengthens the nation.
Recent honours strengthen global recognition
The Fortune India recognition comes close on the heels of another international honour for Nita Ambani. On July 3, she received the AAPI Humanitarian Award in Tampa, Florida, from the American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin (AAPI) for her contributions across multiple sectors.
Key areas cited for the honour include:
- Healthcare and medical outreach initiatives.
- Education and child development programmes.
- Promotion of sports and Indian culture.
- Community development and social welfare projects.
The back-to-back recognitions reinforce her growing profile as one of India's leading philanthropic and social sector figures on the global stage.
Top women leaders across diverse sectors
Nita Ambani was followed by Roshni Nadar Malhotra at the second spot in Fortune India's rankings. The Reddy sisters—Shobana Kamineni, Sangeeta Reddy, Preetha Reddy and Sunita Reddy—jointly occupied the third position, reflecting the influence of the Apollo healthcare ecosystem. The top 15 list also features Savitri Jindal, Preeti Adani, Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw, Isha Ambani, Priya Nair, Bela Bajaria and Leena Nair, representing industries ranging from manufacturing and biotechnology to media and consumer business.
Among the notable names, Isha Ambani emerged as the seventh most powerful woman in India, marking another milestone for the next generation of corporate leadership within the Reliance Group.
Women’s leadership, AI and entrepreneurship in focus
Former Union minister Smriti Irani, ranked 18th on the list, called for stronger institutional support for women-led enterprises, saying India's next phase of economic growth would depend on women becoming job creators rather than only job seekers. She also cautioned that artificial intelligence cannot deliver equitable outcomes unless women are adequately represented in AI training datasets.
Actor-entrepreneur Kriti Sanon, ranked 75th, shared her entrepreneurial journey during a panel discussion, saying sustainable consumer brands are built on product quality rather than celebrity appeal. She said more than half of the repeat customers of her skincare brand Hyphen return because of product performance, not because of her celebrity status.
Key takeaways from the event:
- Nita Ambani ranked No. 1 in Fortune India's 2026 list.
- Isha Ambani secured the seventh position.
- Smriti Irani stressed greater support for women entrepreneurs and inclusive AI.
- Kriti Sanon highlighted product quality as the foundation of long-term brand success.
The annual Fortune India rankings once again showcased the expanding role of women in shaping India's corporate, social and entrepreneurial landscape, while recognising leaders whose influence extends well beyond boardrooms into national development and community transformation.
