Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw, India’s richest self-made woman, founded India’s largest listed biopharmaceutical firm Biocon) by revenue, in 1978 from her garage in India. She iss a first-generation entrepreneur and global business leader with over 4 decades of experience in biotechnology. She is a Chairperson of the Board of the Directors, leading Biocon into successfully foraying into the lucrative US biosimilars market, catching the attention of investors. The company has sold 3 billion doses of insulin to date and has Asia’s largest insulin factory in Malaysia’s Johor region.

Her philanthropic initiative, The Mazumdar Shaw Cancer Centre, aims to create a sustainable, affordable cancer care model. She also has many philanthropic initiatives she has donated to such as scientific research & innovation, education, healthcare, and policy research & advocacy to name a few. She is a signatory of the Giving Pledge.

In 1989 she was awarded the Padma Shri for pioneering biotechnology in India. In 2005, she was also awarded Padma Bhushan, one of India’s highest civilian honour. In 2019 she received Lifetime Achievement Award by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) for her philanthropic efforts and contribution in healthcare. Outside of India, she was conferred with the Highest French Distinction – Chevalier de l’Ordre national de la Légion d’Honeur (Knight of the Legion of Honour), and in 2020 was Conferred with Australia’s highest civilian honour, the Order of Australia, for advancing Australia-India bilateral relationship. She was named EY World Entrepreneur of the Year 2020 for her contribution in improving universal access to affordable life-saving medicines in 2020.