NE BUSINESS BUREAU
CHENNAI, SEPT 25
For the first time, women’s representation in leadership roles in India Inc has touched 20%, according to the 2025 Avtar & Seramount Best Companies for Women in India (BCWI) study. The milestone highlights the steady progress of corporate India in building inclusive workplaces and empowering women to lead.
The landmark 10th edition of BCWI, featuring 125 companies, also reveals that overall women’s representation at the best workplaces remains stable at 35.7%. Professional Services leads with 44.6% women in the workforce, followed by ITES (41.7%), while Pharma stands out with the highest ratio of women in leadership at 24.8%.
- Pharma leads in women executives; inclusive policies and ESG focus power corporate transformation
- Health/well-being related challenges emerge as a dominant reason for women to exit the workplace: even more than child-care responsibilities
- 100% companies on the Most Inclusive Companies Index (MICI) focus on People with Disabilities (PwD), up from 58% in 2019
Attrition rates for women and men are similar, around 20%, with “better job opportunities” cited as the top reason for both groups to quit. However, the study notes that health and well-being challenges now emerge as a stronger driver for women exiting the workforce than childcare responsibilities—signalling the need for organizations to rethink wellness strategies.
The inclusion agenda continues to expand. The Most Inclusive Companies Index (MICI) shows a sharp rise in commitment to diversity:
- 100% of companies now focus on Persons with Disabilities (PwDs), up from 58% in 2019.
- 95% of companies address LGBTQ+ inclusion, up from 23% in 2019.
- Nearly 9,700 PwDs are employed across MICI-listed companies.
For the first time, Avtar & Seramount also announced the Top 10 Best Companies for ESG (BCESG), recognizing leaders in environment, sustainability, and governance. Findings show that 90% of companies focus on energy efficiency and 80% adopt solar power, though hydro and wind remain underutilized.
Celebrating the decade-long journey of BCWI, Dr. Saundarya Rajesh, Founder-President of Avtar, said: “From an average women’s representation of 25% in 2016 to 35.7% today, and women in C-suite leadership rising from 13% to 20%, this progress is inspiring. What’s equally encouraging is that Indian companies now form 40% of the Best Companies list, up from 25% in 2021. This movement empowers women, enables allies, embraces diverse identities, and engages responsibly with sustainability.”
Subha Barry, President of Seramount, added: “What inspires me about the Most Inclusive Companies Index is the real change it sparks—helping organizations in India break down barriers, design thoughtful solutions, and open new opportunities for underrepresented talent.”
With inclusivity becoming a business imperative, the 2025 findings send a strong message to aspiring women leaders: the glass ceiling is cracking wider, and India Inc is learning to not just include women—but empower them to lead.
