Few people have such a strong grip on their language and clarity of thought that when they speak, everyone listens. I have a few personal favorites.
Here are my favorite Indian female leaders who speak brilliantly and with great insight. This list is not in any particular order of preference. I cannot resist listening to their talks or speeches.
Share your favorite female Indian speakers in the comments section. I would love to hear some uplifting words!
1. Indra Nooyi – Former CEO of PepsiCo
She is my current favorite person to listen to. Apart from her tone, language—both verbal and body language—and choice of words, what stands out is what she speaks about. After working in the corporate world for nearly 13 years, I have experienced several challenges as a working woman and mother. Surprisingly, I have found her addressing these grassroots-level issues and offering practical solutions on several forums, even though she was at the top of the corporate pyramid for most of her career.
Be it talking about how to come across as a confident woman in the office, putting your points on the table, or what needs to be changed in the overall scenario to make the workplace more conducive for women so they don’t quit, she speaks with honesty. She also openly discusses how she was not a perfect mother or daughter-in-law and acknowledges the feeling of guilt. She talks about why creating personal connections with your employees and their families is important.x`
While looking for answers, I found her book at the Hyderabad Literature Festival and grabbed it immediately.
In one of her talks, I remember hearing that she sent letters to the families of executives, expressing how wonderfully their family members were working at PepsiCo and why they were valuable assets to the company. This simple gesture changed the dynamics at the office positively, making employees feel 200% more loyal and energetic. It didn’t cost much and yet created a much-needed impact. How cool was that?
“Please help others rise. Greatness comes not from a position, but from helping build the future. We have an obligation to pull others up.”
2. Smriti Irani – Indian Politician and Former Actress
Some criticize her for being a former actress. However, there is nothing negative about it. Yes, her acting background gives her an edge in showing the right emotions at the right time. I have never seen her fumble. She speaks excellently in both English and Hindi. Some of her speeches in the Lok Sabha were on the louder side, but the talks I’ve heard her give on different forums are fantastic.
Recently, I came across a talk where she spoke about why it’s not enough for women to just earn money but also to have full control over it. She emphasized that women shouldn’t invest in property or buy stocks just because a husband or male family member told them to. Instead, they should have the confidence and control over their finances to invest where they believe is right. If they fail, they own it.
When she’s angry, she comes across as a tigress; when she’s calm, her tone is assertive and reassuring.
“You don’t need to compete with anyone else except you. You think you are not as good as them, and that is why you are competing. It’s not about the journey, but the decision of who do you want to be?”
3. Sudha Murty – Member of Rajya Sabha, Indian Educator, Author, and Philanthropist
She is just the right kind of person to exist in real life. But here she is—right in front of us! I started reading her books because our daughter is an avid reader. Someone once presented her with a Sudha Murty book (was it me? I’m not sure), and she’s been a fan ever since. Out of boredom, I decided to read the book too, even though it was a children’s book. I found it so amazing—simple story, simple words, no complicated vocabulary, and beautifully created characters and settings. Today, I think we have 15+ books by Sudha Murty, and we all love them.
Thanks to social media, I came across several of Sudha Murty’s talks and wondered, “How can this lady be so sorted and content?” In one of her talks, she shared how she convinced her son not to splurge money on a birthday party, even though they were financially well-off. I tried the same tactic on my daughter, and it worked wonders!
I agree that her Hindi is not fluent, and her English is basic (she admits it, and that’s exactly why her books are loved by the masses). But her zeal, energy, and motherly tone make her speech engaging enough to stop and listen. I attended one of her online talks and was blown away by her simplicity and innocence. How can such a famous and important personality of our country be so down-to-earth?
“Be dependent upon yourself and know that courage has to be born within you. It takes time but you have to work for it.”
4. Priyanka Chopra – Actress and Producer
As an actress, I can’t say I loved her. She is good, but that’s about it. However, after she moved to Hollywood and built her career all by herself, people had a lot of negative things to say about her. But when we talk about her as an orator, I have found some compelling statements from her. She speaks with a lot of confidence and maturity, especially when talking about how she didn’t have the best experience as an actress in her home country but pulled herself up and made it big in the USA. Now, “big” is, of course, a relative term. From what we can gather from social media, she seems to be very stable financially, professionally, and personally.
“I taught myself confidence. When I’d walk into a room and feel scared to death, I’d tell myself ‘I’m not afraid of anybody.’ And people believed me. You’ve got to teach yourself to take over the world”
5. Sushmita Sen – Indian Actress and Former Miss Universe
Apart from becoming famous as Miss Universe, she made waves due to her personal life—be it adopting two girls as an unmarried woman in India or her love life. Keeping her personal life private, I’m in love with her tone and body language when she speaks. She speaks slowly, clearly, and fluently. When she talks, it reflects her strong personality and individuality, things she absolutely believes in.
I have come across multiple speeches where she talks about standing up for yourself and the importance of financial stability and a strong mind. Despite this, she comes across as humble and without jealousy. Whenever she has spoken about Aishwarya Rai and their competition for Miss India in the same year, she has always given her high regard and admiration.
“The good thing is that I have never made sacrifices for my children. Because when you put sacrifices as an element, you tend to let the child feel the pressure of ‘I did this for you’”
6. (Late) Sushma Swaraj – Former Minister of External Affairs of India
For many reasons, I find Smriti Irani very similar to the late Smt. Sushma Swaraj. Her command of Hindi (and even English, when needed) was admirable. She was fierce and passionate, like a lioness, when she argued in the Lok Sabha. On other occasions, she came across as a very lovable lady who could articulate and discuss issues effectively. I remember when she was holding the position of Minister of External Affairs, she would go above and beyond to help any Indian stranded abroad. People had wonderful things to say about her. That passion was evident in her speeches.
“Duniya ki sabse badi si badi samasya ka samadhan hota toh sirf samwaad se hi hai. Yuddh kisi bhi samasya ka samadhan nahi hai”
(“The biggest problem of this world can only be solved by a dialogue/conversation. War is never a solution”)
7. Deepa Malik – Indian Para-Athlete and Former President of Paralympic Committee of India
Honestly, I had heard and read about her, but I started watching some of her videos only when my mother became bedridden. I wanted to show her that she hadn’t lost everything due to her left-side paralysis. In one of the interviews, Deepa listed what was ‘wrong’ with her body and how she managed her day. In another, she spoke about the sports and adventures she had tried and excelled in. She discussed how society often feels pity for her parents and family. Yet, in none of the interviews have I seen her shed a tear. She speaks with confidence and pride for herself, her family, and her country. She speaks with humility and a strong belief that, though physically limited to a wheelchair, she is mentally and emotionally free.
“The only festival you can celebrate every day is life. So erase all excuses and get on with the celebration. Life is not a dress rehearsal. So don’t wait for something drastic to happen.”
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