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A new leadership shift is becoming visible in India Inc.: FMCG leads with 19% of women CEOs, followed by pharma at 17%, according to a survey by Executive Access commissioned by The Times of India. The broader signal is not symbolic representation alone, it suggests these sectors have built stronger leadership benches that are now converting into top roles.
The article points to a practical reason: consumer-facing sectors and pharma have sustained management pipelines for women for longer, while industries such as manufacturing, infrastructure, technology, and logistics still lag because the pipeline remains thinner. Experts also note that mid-management attrition, limited structural support, and stereotypes continue to slow leadership progression in many sectors.
Why it matters:
Leadership diversity is becoming a sector-level capability signal. Industries that invest early in sponsorship, career continuity, and pipeline development are more likely to produce resilient leadership benches over time.
