“Reliance now has more women in senior roles; they bring a rare kind of EQ,” says Mukesh Ambani

Reliance Industries Chairman and Managing Director Mukesh Ambani has called for stronger support systems for working women and working mothers in Corporate India, saying greater participation of women in leadership will be important for India's next phase of growth. Speaking at the launch of the Hindi edition of Arundhati Bhattacharya's memoir Indomitable , titled Aparajita , Ambani highlighted Bhattacharya's four-decade career to discuss leadership, resilience, family support and the challenges women face while building demanding careers. Mukesh Ambani on Women in Leadership Ambwomen are increasingly becoming important contributors across different sectors and should be viewed as active drivers of India's growth rather than only beneficiaries of economic progress. “Women are no longer merely beneficiaries of progress; they are its architects. When the women of India rise, India rises. And when the women of India become unstoppable, India becomes unstoppable,” he said. Bhattacharya, who has been on the Reliance Board since 2018, became the first woman chairperson of the State Bank of India in 2013. Ambani praised her ability to bring an independent perspective to boardroom discussions, challenge ideas constructively and consider the long-term impact of decisions. He also highlighted the importance of family support in helping Bhattacharya continue her career as a working mother. Referring to the support she received from her husband, Professor Pratimoy Bhattacharya, and daughter Sukrita, Amb, “Family is our first and most enduring capital, emotional, moral and spiritual.” From EQ to Lifelong Learning Ambani also spoke about the qualities women can bring to leadership, particularly what he described as the “Empathy Quotient” or EQ. “Women bring a rare kind of EQ, Empathy Quotient, to negotiate any real-life situation,” he said. Ambani added that he increasingly believes the world needs more Emotional Quotient than Intellectual Quotient, which, according to him, also means having more women in leadership positions. He identified four key lessons from Bhattacharya's memoir: family values, taking responsibility instead of blaming others, lifelong learning and people-centric leadership. On accountability, Ambsetbacks should be treated as feedback rather than a final verdict. He said his approach is to ask what was missed, what needs to change, and how quickly action can be taken. He also urged leaders to remain lifelong learners, learn from younger people and technology, and pay attention to areas that make them uncomfortable. Highlighting Bhattacharya's leadership principle at SBI, “Collaboration inside and competition outside,” Amb, “Leadership is not about collecting followers; it is about creating more leaders.” Also read: "AI+robots will more than double the global economy in less than 10 years," says Elon Musk Call for Women-Led Development Ambani framed his remarks around India's shift from “women's development” to “women-led development”, arguing that women should play a greater role in driving India's economic and institutional growth. He called on business leaders to collectively strengthen the support ecosystem for working women and working mothers, including workplace support, career continuity and leadership opportunities. He invited Bhattacharya and other women leaders to help shape the proposed initiative and said Reliance Foundation would participate. Ambani also cited his mother Kokilaben, wife Nita Ambani and daughter Isha Ambani as influences on his views about women's leadership. He said Nita and Isha, both working mothers, were not present at the event but had asked him to convey their support for the initiative. For Ambani, Bhattacharya's achievement as SBI's first woman chairperson is significant not only because she broke a historic barrier, but also because her journey can create opportunities for more women to follow. Also read: Ashneer Grover says DU's crumbling infra is reason why parents send children to foreign universities: "Jo afford kar sakte hain"