Naina Lal Kidwai Biography
Early Life And Education of Naina Lal Kidwai
Naina Lal Kidwai was born in 1952 in Calcutta, West Bengal, India. After completing her early education in India, she went on to study at the London School of Economics, where she obtained her Bachelor of Science degree in Economics.
Upon graduation, Kidwai worked for Citibank in India and the United States. She then returned to India in 1986 to work for the Industrial Credit and Investment Corporation of India Ltd. (ICICI), rising through the ranks to become its Managing Director in 1997. In 1998, Naina Lal Kidwai became the first woman to head an Indian bank, when she was appointed CEO of ICICI.
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Career Highlights Of Naina Lal Kidwai
Naina Lal Kidwai had an illustrious and impressive career spanning over three decades. Some of her key highlights include:
She joined the HSBC group in 1982 and became the first Indian woman to be on the group's Board of Directors in 1992.
In 1998, she was appointed Managing Director of HSBC India, making her one of the most powerful women in Indian business.
In 2004, she took on the additional role of Regional President for HSBC Asia Pacific.
In 2009, she became the first Indian woman to be elected as a Director of the IMF Board.
In 2012, she retired from her position as Managing Director of HSBC India but continues to serve as a Director on the Board of HSBC Asia Pacific.
Her experience and expertise in banking and finance have been invaluable to both Indian and global businesses. She has been an inspiration to many women professionals and is a role model for young girls who aspire to have successful careers in business.
Professional Achievements Of Naina Lal Kidwai
She has led an illustrious career in finance and has been with HSBC for over three decades.
Under Her leadership, HSBC has become one of the most respected banks in the world. She has been honored with numerous awards, including the Padma Shri, one of India's highest civilian awards.
She is also a member of the boards of directors of several major companies, including Xerox and Reliance Industries. In addition, she is a trustee of the prestigious Indian School of Business and a member of the International Advisory Board of the London Business School.
Her experience and expertise make her an invaluable advisor and leader in the business community.
Business And Philanthropic Ventures Of Naina Lal Kidwai
Naina Lal Kidwai has had a successful run in the business world as well. She was the president of the International Monetary Fund’s (IMF) Executive Board and held a non-executive directorship at Nestlé, making her the first Indian woman to join an international board. She also served on the board of Ashok Leyland and Hindustan Unilever, and chaired HSBC India among many other accomplishments.
In addition to her work in the corporate world, Naina Lal Kidwai is an actively involved philanthropist. She is a founding member of Breakthrough India and Women Invest India and works for several other charities. In 2007, she founded Women on Corporate Boards (WCD), an initiative to increase the number of women on company boards in India. She is also responsible for setting up ASHA (Affirmative Sustainable Hub for Accelerating), a global platform that works to promote gender diversity in business.
Awards And Honors Given To Naina Lal Kidwai
Naina Lal Kidwai has received several honours and awards throughout her career. In 1991, she was named the Best Businesswoman in India by the Financial Times. In 2004, she was awarded the Padma Shri, one of the highest civilian honors in India. In 2011, she was awarded an honorary doctorate degree from IMI Geneva for her contributions to business and finance.
The year 2016 saw her receive The Outstanding Business Leader Award at Asia House’s Asian Business Leaders Conclave and Awards. She was also named ‘Global Leader for Tomorrow’ by The World Economic Forum in Davos.
In 2018, Naina Kidwai became the first Indian woman to be inducted into Harvard Business School's ‘Society of Fellows, based out of Boston. She is also a member of several other prestigious organizations such as Asia Society's Center on US-China Relations and the Indian Council for Research on International Economic Relations.
Net Worth Of Naina Lal Kidwai
Naina Lal Kidwai Net Worth $450 million. She is considered one of the leading women in banking and financial services in India. Her wealth has enabled her to be actively involved in philanthropic activities, both in India and abroad.
Throughout her illustrious career, Naina Lal Kidwai has been honored with numerous awards including the Padma Shri, the Padma Bhushan, and the Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB) Award for Excellence in Investment Banking. She has also been recognized by various business magazines and publications as one of the top female executives in Asia Pacific.
Moreover, Naina Lal Kidwai is an active investor and entrepreneur. She currently serves on the board at just over a dozen companies across different industries, ranging from banking to fintech to private equity firms. She has also invested in startups like Zolostays and SeedfundIndia and sits on their advisory boards.
