Chitra Ramakrishna :

46, Joint Managing Director, National Stock Exchange

Because: She is one of the architects of the National Stock Exchange (NSE), which is amongst the world's biggest and most efficiently run securities exchange boards. Because under her, the NSE has become a transparent market ecosystem that reaches out to more than 1,500 locations in the country.

Because last year, the NSE made a profit of Rs 860 crore under her leadership. Because in 2011, she was a top contender for the spot of the next chief of UTI Mutual Fund, the fourth largest fund house in the industry.