Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw, born on March 23, 1953, in Bangalore, India, is a pioneering Indian entrepreneur and philanthropist. She is the founder and executive chairperson of Biocon Limited, a leading biopharmaceutical company. Initially trained as a brewmaster, Kiran shifted her focus to biotechnology after facing gender-based barriers in the brewing industry. Under her leadership, Biocon became the first Indian company to manufacture and export enzymes to the United States and Europe. Her journey from a small garage startup in 1978 to a global biotech leader is a testament to her resilience and vision.

Before Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw founded Biocon, she trained as a brewmaster, a field dominated by men at the time. She earned her master's degree in brewing from Ballarat College, Melbourne University, and worked as a trainee brewer in Australia. However, upon returning to India, she faced gender-based discrimination, with companies refusing to hire her as a brewmaster, claiming it was "a man's job."

Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw made her fortune by founding Biocon Limited in 1978, starting as a small enzyme manufacturing company in a garage in Bangalore. Over the years, she transformed Biocon into a global biopharmaceutical leader, focusing on affordable healthcare solutions, including biosimilars, insulin, and cancer therapies. Her innovative approach and commitment to research and development helped Biocon expand into international markets, including the U.S. and Europe. Strategic partnerships, acquisitions, and the company's listing on the stock market further boosted its growth. Today, Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw is one of India's wealthiest self-made women, with a net worth of approximately $3.4 billion.