Indra Nooyi, Jayshree among 4 Indian-origin biz leaders on Forbes' 100 richest self-made women list
Newyork, July 10: Four Indian-origin women, including Jayshree Ullal and Indra Nooyi, have been named by Forbes among America's 100 richest self-made women, with a combined net worth of a whopping USD 4.06 billion.
President and CEO of Arista Networks, a computer networking firm; Jayshree Ullal, co-founder of IT consulting and outsourcing firm Synte; Neerja Sethi, co-founder and former chief technology officer (CTO) of cloud company Confluent; Neha Narkhede and PepsiCo's former chair and CEO Indra Nooyi made it to Forbes list of 'America's Richest Self-Made Women'.
''Bolstered in part by a rebound in the stock market, they are cumulatively worth a record USD 124 billion, up nearly 12 per cent from a year ago,'' Forbes said last month at the release of its ninth annual list. Ullal, ranked 15th on the list, has a net worth of USD 2.4 billion. She has been president and CEO of the publicly-traded Arista Networks since 2008 and owns about 2.4 per cent of its stock. Arista recorded revenue of nearly USD 4.4 billion in 2022.
She is also on the board of directors of Snowflake, a cloud computing company that went public in September 2020.
The 62-year-old studied electrical engineering at San Francisco State University and engineering management at Santa Clara University.
Sethi, 68, ranked 25th on the list, has a net worth of USD 990 million.
Syntel, co-founded in 1980 by Sethi and her husband Bharat Desai, was bought by French IT firm Atos SE for USD 3.4 billion in October 2018. Sethi got an estimated USD 510 million for her stake.
She did her Bachelor of Arts/Science and Master of Business Administration from Delhi University and Master of Science from Oakland University.
Narkhede, 38, is ranked 50th on the list with a net worth of USD 520 million.
As a LinkedIn software engineer, she helped develop the open-source messaging system Apache Kafka to handle the networking site's massive influx of data. In 2014, she and two LinkedIn colleagues left to found Confluent, which helps organisations process large amounts of data on Apache Kafka. The USD 586 million (2022 revenues) company went public in June 2021 at a USD 9.1 billion valuation; Narkhede owns around 6 per cent, Forbes said.
In March 2023, Narkhede announced her new company, fraud detection firm Oscilar, where she is co-founder and CEO.
Nooyi, the former chair and CEO of PepsiCo, retired in 2019 after 24 years with the company, half of which she spent in the top job. The 67-year-old has a net worth of USD 350 million and is ranked 77th on the list.
As CEO, the 67-year-old thwarted a bid to break up PepsiCo, nearly doubled sales and introduced healthier products and environmentally friendly practices.
Her fortune stems from stock she was granted while working at PepsiCo.
Nooyi joined the board of Amazon in 2019 and grew up in India. She received an MBA from Yale before becoming one of corporate America's few female CEOs in 2006.
For the 6th time in a row, Daine Hendricks, the co-founder of ABC Supply, topped the list. ABC Supply is one of the largest wholesale distributors of roofing, siding and windows in the US. Hendricks, 76, has a net worth of USD 15 billion, Forbes said. To compile net worths, Forbes valued individual assets including stakes in public companies using stock prices from May 12, 2023, and valued private companies by consulting with outside experts and conservatively comparing them with public companies.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
Use Carnatic music to promote Kannada language: Nirmala Sitharaman
Mysuru (Karnataka), Nov 8: Kannada language through 'bhakti sangeetha' touches the core of the heart directly, Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said here on Friday.
Sitharaman was speaking at Mysuru Sangeetha Sugandha Festival being organised by the Ministry of Tourism in collaboration with the Ministry of Culture and the Sangeet Natak Akademi to showcase Karnataka’s musical and cultural heritage.
The festival, which was inaugurated on November 8 will be held till November 10.
Sitharaman during her keynote address said Mysuru Sangeetha Sugandha should aim not just promoting Dasa Keerthana or Carnatic music, but should also use the platform to promote Kannada language.
"I understand a lot of emphasis is placed on Carnatic music, on the GI (geographical indication) items from around this area. But personally, I strongly believe Kannada language, through bhakti sangeetha, is something which touches the core of one's heart directly," said Sitharaman, urging the organisers to use that to promote Kannada.
She also said Mysuru is the right place for the Sangeetha Sugandha festival, for it is not only home to many stalwarts of Carnatic music but even one of its royal family members – the last ruling Maharaja of Mysuru Jayachamarajendra Wadiyar – was an ardent musician, who has composed a lot of songs.
But she said the state government should make all the efforts possible to ensure the festival reaches many outside Karnataka digitally.
"If we can build through word of mouth, through media, through our contacts so that all Kannadigas, wherever they live, link through digital mode and enjoy the beauty of this language and the beauty of this sangeetha,” added Sitharaman.
She also said the Central government too has put in a lot of thought in preparing for the event.
"That is why the events are also going to be held in many places, including the National Gallery of Modern Art in Bengaluru, where a Carnatic vocalist will be singing," said Sitharaman.
According to her it is also going to be held in Aparameya Swamy temple in Doddamalluru of Ramanagara district, Sri Rama Mandira in Rudrapatna of Hassan district and even in Araga of Shimoga district, the birthplace of Purandara Dasa, considered the father of Carnatic music.
Sitharaman also said in future many events are being planned around Karnataka Rajyotsava.
"From here on, every year on the first weekend in November – Friday, Saturday, Sunday – this festival for promoting Mysuru, Kannada and sangeetha will be undertaken on behalf of the Ministry of Tourism and Culture," she said.
She urged people to come and support these efforts as they have always had.
"The artists do not need anything more than the recognition, which you, as a city of culture, have always had. I appeal to you to keep that momentum up. Support these artists. Promote Karnataka, promote Carnatic music and promote the sweet Kannada language," added the finance minister.
Earlier, a man had interrupted the event to make a request to Sitharaman.
He walked up to the stage where Sitharaman was seated and insisted that 'guarantees' should not be announced in the poll-bound Maharashtra. He was escorted out of the auditorium and the programme continued.
The event was also attended by Karnataka Social Welfare Minister H C Mahadevappa, Union Minister Suresh Gopi and Mysuru MP Yaduveer Krishnadutta Wodeyar.
Smt @nsitharaman addresses the audience at the inauguration of 'Mysuru Sangeetha Sugandha 2024' Festival in Mysuru, Karnataka.
— Nirmala Sitharaman Office (@nsitharamanoffc) November 8, 2024
Also present on the occasion are Shri Suresh Gopi (@TheSureshGopi), Hon'ble Minister of State for Tourism & Petroleum and Natural Gas, Shri Yaduveer… pic.twitter.com/fgGTTUa2KE
