In January 2025 Forbes, an American global media company has unveiled its first Forbes “50 Over 50” Women Global list 2025 celebrating the achievements of inspiring women from 32 countries and territories across Asia, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and South and Central America.
- Quarraisha Abdool Karim, expert in infectious diseases epidemiology and one of the top researchers on Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS), is ranked first, while Rafaela Aponte-Diamant is the co-owner of the Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) based in Geneva, Switzerland, ranked 2nd.
- The list features three remarkable Indian women: Urmila Asher, popularly known as ‘Gujju Ben’ and the founder of Gujju Ben Na Nasta, ranked 3rd; Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw, a billionaire and founder of Biocon India Private Limited, ranked 32nd; and Sheela Patel, a renowned activist, ranked 37th.
List of Top 5 Women:
| Rank | Name | Designation | Country |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Quarraisha Abdool Karim | Cofounder and Associate Scientific Director, CAPRISA (Center for the AIDS Programme of Research in South Africa) | South Africa, SA |
| 2 | Rafaela Aponte-Diamant | Co-owner, MSC | Switzerland |
| 3 | Urmila Asher | Founder, Gujju Ben Na Nasta | India |
| 4 | Margaret Atwood | Author | Canada |
| 5 | Farana Boodhram | Founder, MiDesk Global | South Africa |
Table of India Women in the list:
| Rank | Name | Designation |
|---|---|---|
| 3 | Urmila Asher | Founder, Gujju Ben Na Nasta |
| 32 | Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw | Founder, Biocon India Private limited |
| 37 | Sheela Patel | Activist and Co-founder, SPARC |
About Indian Women on the list:
Urmila Asher (Gujju Ben– 80 years old) launched her food business, Gujju Ben na Nasta, showcasing her expertise in Gujarati cuisine during COVID-19
Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw (71 years old) is a billionaire entrepreneur from Bengaluru, Karnataka, and a prominent leader in the biopharmaceutical sector.
- She established Biocon India Private Limited in 1978.Over time, she transformed Biocon into a global name in affordable healthcare solutions. She has a net worth of USD 3.6 billion, as noted by Forbes
Sheela Patel (72 years old) is an activist and academic dedicated to improving conditions for slum dwellers and promoting equal urban spaces.
- In 1984, she co-founded the Society for Promotion of Area Resource Centres (SPARC) in Mumbai (Maharashtra) to provide housing for low-income communities.
- She also co-founded Slum Dwellers International, which operates in 33 countries, and led climate resilience initiatives for informal settlements, including the Roof Over Our Heads campaign at 27th Conference of the Parties (COP27) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).
About Forbes 50 Over 50 Global List:
i.List was produced in partnership with Morning Joe, an american talk show cohost Mika Brzezinski and her Know Your Value initiative.
ii.The list highlights women who are redefining success and proving that age is no barrier to making an impact.
iii.The list features entrepreneurs, investors, inventors, artists, activists, and other high achievers
About Forbes:
Chief Operating Officer (CEO)– Sherry Phillips
Headquarters– New Jersey, the United States of America (USA)
Established– 1917
