The unstoppable walk of an Indian Woman
Kiran Mazumdar Shaw – Chairman and Managing Director of Biocon Limited : Born – 23rd March, 1953 (Age – 64)
Early life
Born to Yamini Mazumdhar and RasendraMazumdhar, Kiran was born and bought in a Gujarati Family in Bangalore. Her father – RasendraMazumdar, the head brewmaster at United Breweries suggested her to study fermentation science, and encouraged her to become a brewmaster.
Education
Kiran Mazumdar finished her schooling from Bishop’s Cotton Girls High School in 1968. She holds a bachelor’s degree in science (Zoology Hons.) and has earned a master’s degree in malting and brewing from Ballarat College, Melbourne University. She has received several honorary degrees for her pre-eminent contributions in the field of biotechnology.
As you become more successful, the gender barrier disappears. The credibility challenges you have during your growing up years starts disappearing when you start demonstrating success. – Kiran Mazumdar Shaw
Career
She worked as a trainee brewer in Melbourne and as a trainee maltster at Barrett Brothers and Burston, Australia. She also worked as a technical consultant in Calcutta and as a technical manager at Standard Maltings Corporation, Baroda; from 1975 to 1977. Then, she worked for four years at BioconBiochemicals Ltd, Ireland.
Career growth
Soon after returning to India, Kiran with a seed capital of Rs. 10,000 (around 4 lakhs today) started Biocon India in 1978, in the garage of her rented house in Bangalore. Biocon India became the first company in India to be able to manufacture enzymes and export them to the United States and Europe.
Achievements
Conferred with ‘The Global Leadership in Engineering 2016’ Award. Conferred with the Highest French Civilian Award. Featured on Forbes’ 2013 list of ‘100 Most Powerful Women.’ Conferred with Padmashri for pioneering biotechnology in India in 1989 and also receives Padma Bhushan Award in 2005.
Images: Various sources
Digital Copy : https://goo.gl/E4YMnD