Ekta Kapoor tops IMPACT's list of 50 Most Influential Women, 2016

Ekta Kapoor, Joint Managing Director and Creative Director, Balaji Telefilms, has topped IMPACT’s 50 Most Influential Women in Media, Marketing and Advertising list, 2016.

Kapoor, who is not a newcomer to the list, catapulted to the top spot this year owing to her enduring influence on Indian Television over the years, for which she has rightly been crowned ‘Queen of Indian TV’, and her success in producing meaningful and entertaining cinema.

The fifth edition of IMPACT’s Most Influential Women list was unveiled in Mumbai on Wednesday at a high level industry gathering. The event was presented by Colors and powered by Dainik Bhaskar, along with banking partner Kotak Mahindra Bank and associate partners SAB and 9X.

Some of the other names on the list this year are Tanya Dubash, Executive Director & President, Marketing, Godrej Group, Priya Nair, Executive Director, Home Care, Hindustan Unilever Ltd, Sangeeta Pendurkar, Managing Director, Kellogg India, Kirthiga Reddy, Managing Director, Facebook India, Geetu Verma, Executive Director, Foods & Refreshment, Hindustan Unilever Ltd, Sonali Dhawan, Brand Director, Procter & Gamble India and Barkha Dutt, Consulting Editor, NDTV & Co-Founder, The Print. There are 15 new entrants to the list. Also, for the first time this year, the jury has chosen to honour 15 women achievers with Special Mention, in addition to the list of 50 Most Influential Women.

The list was put together by a jury of most esteemed industry leaders, led by Sam Balsara, Chairman and MD, Madison World. Other eminent names on the ten-member jury this year were Ambi MG Parameswaran, Advisor, FCB Ulka, Arvind Sharma, Chairman, Cheetahsoft Technologies, I Venkat, Director, Eenadu, Rohit Gupta, President, Sony Pictures Networks, Sandeep Goyal, Chairman, Mogae Group, Shireesh Joshi, COO, Strategic Marketing Group, Godrej Industries, Sunil Gautam, Founder & Partner, Pitchfork Partners, Timmy Kandhari, MD, Sapphire Professional Services and Vikas Khanchandani, Director, Aidem Ventures.

Summing up the jury process, jury chair Sam Balsara said, “We’ve come a long way since Year One. Our processes are also far more robust. I’m delighted that this list has gained in popularity and in importance going by the number of phone calls most of the jury members and I received, and the number of nominations we received. I can say with some satisfaction that this list has now arrived and it’s a much looked-forward-to list by both men and women in our industry.”

Commenting on the list, Annurag Batra, Chairman and editor-in-chief of BusinessWorld and the exchange4media Group, said, “IMPACT’s 50 Most Influential Women List is our attempt to showcase the Superwoman of today. It has become a highly coveted and sought-after list. This year’s topper Ekta Kapoor is someone who is constantly reinventing herself. Despite coming from a very prominent and well to do family, Ekta has continued to break stereotypes and forge ahead. Some of the women on the list, I know, some I look up to and others I would like to get to know. I’m sure our readers are aware that the Media, Advertising and Marketing industry has a high number of women professionals and a large proportion of women leaders. By showcasing these women leaders and Superwomen, we are encouraging young entrepreneurs in the field to work to match their standards and expectations. We are creating icons to be followed.”

Past winners of IMPACT’s 50 Most Influential Women List include Kirthiga Reddy, then Managing Director of Facebook India (2015), Rama Bijapurkar, market strategy consultant and acclaimed business author (2014), Shobhana Bhartia, Chairperson and Editorial Director HT Media Group (2013) and Vinita Bali, then Managing Director of Britannia (2012).

You can view complete list here :