wcrc leaders asia 2 | Page 78

COVER STORY ASIA'S 100 MOST POWERFUL WOMEN With a passion to build businesses complemented by exemplary entrepreneurial skills, Shikha Sharma, Managing Director & CEO of Axis Bank, has emerged as one of the most powerful women of India. Sharma has had to work hard to reach where she is today. Her strategic thinking, great execution skills and enterprising leadership style helped her accomplish her goals. Her performance did not go unnoticed and in 2009, she was appointed as the Managing Director & CEO of Axis Bank. Her work ethics, ability to take up challenging tasks and executing them in the most transparent manner garnered great admiration from her colleagues. 2003 Nobel Peace Prize winner Shirin Ebadi, was the first female judge in Iran. She is the first Iranian and first Muslim woman to win the Nobel Peace Prize award for her for her significant and pioneering efforts human rights advocacy, in particular for the rights of Iranian women, children and political prisoners. But she has lived in exile since 2009. During the time that Shirin Ebadi was waiting for her attorney’s license to be approved, she taught human rights training courses at Tehran University with a particular focus on women and children. 78 Up Till October 15, 2015 SHIKHA SHARMA Citizenship/Residence India SHIRIN EBADI Citizenship/Residence Iraq