Mrs Kiran Mazumdar, India's pioneer in Biotechnology (enzyme technology) is Bangalore born and educated (Bishop Cotton Girls School, Mount Carmel College). Choosing to be different, she went to Ballarat College, Melbourne, specialising in Malting and Brewing Technology there to become India's first woman Brewmaster. She started Biocon in 19'78 collaborating with an Irish firm, floated 2 joint ventures, Biochemizyme and Biocon-Quest India Ltd. With her commitment to individual enterprise, she has held positions in industry councils, including - Vice-President, Association of Women Entrepreneurs of Karnataka (AWAKE) . Rightly, she was awarded Rotary Award for Best Model Employer, National Award for Best Small Industry, and most noteworthily, the Padmashri in 1989 from the Government of India.

"Click here for our interview with Kiran Mazumdar Shaw"

Vijay Mallya, heads one of India's fastest growing industrial conglomerates - The UB Group. Taking over as Chairman in 1983, on the death of his father, Vittal Mallya, he has put together a young and dynamic team of professionals to head the businesses of the Group, comprising Spirits, Beer, Pharmaceuticals, Agrochemicals, Bio-technology, Resorts, Exports, Satellite Programming, etc. Under his stewardship, the Group has grown to 60 companies, shifting the emphasis from liquor to high-technology core sector industries. He is Chairman of Hoescht Marion Roussel, United Breweries International, Best and Crompton Engineering, Mangalore Chemicals & Fertilisers and Mallya Hospital. A keen sportsman, he has won trophies on the professional car racing circuits, flies his own airplanes and is a yachtsman of distinction.

Son of the legendary Ravi Kirloskar, Vijay Kirloskar is the present Chairman & M.D. of Kirloskar Electric Company. After his bachelor's degree in engineering and a Master's degree in Management he assumed leadership of KEC on the demise of his father . The Company has been growing at a rate of over 25% every year. He is also an active sportsman, plays badminton and golf. He is interested in western music and was the Chairman of the Pune Music Society. He was recently crowned with the award for Excellence in Industrial Electronics. He is also associated with CII Southern Region and several such bodies.