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This International Women’s Day 2026, meet the women leaders transforming India’s food, hospitality and FMCG sectors
International Women’s Day 2026 theme, Give To Gain, stresses support and shared growth for a fairer future. (Image: Shutterstock)
On any given day, India’s culinary and hospitality landscape is buzzing with reinvention, heritage hotels reborn as design destinations, millets returning to modern plates, boutique patisseries redefining indulgence, and homegrown FMCG brands disrupting supermarket shelves. But behind many of these transformative shifts is a powerful force often understated: women rewriting the rules of leadership.
This International Women’s Day, we spotlight the visionaries who are reshaping what India eats, drinks, and celebrates. From heritage palaces and global fine-dining ventures to sustainable nutrition brands and future-forward consumer companies, these leaders are not merely participating in the industry, they are steering it. With courage, creativity, and conviction, they are proving that ambition, artistry, and authority can coexist and that the future of India’s food story is decisively female.
Christine Samandari
Christine Samandari’s journey is a rare story of reinvention and cross-continental impact. A sociologist and humanitarian with two decades of leadership in global NGOs, Christine moved to New Delhi in 2008, where she co-founded L’Opéra, NCR’s renowned French pâtisserie and salon de thé. Driven by her passion for aesthetics and her son’s longing for authentic French flavours, she built L’Opéra into an award-winning brand that is now studied in Oxford University’s MBA programme.
Christine’s leadership is rooted in values, excellence, honesty, equality, and sustainable growth, which shape every aspect of the brand’s expansion. Navigating the complexities of a new industry and culture, she has established L’Opéra as a respected name, inspiring women entrepreneurs to lead with integrity, creativity, and resilience.
Priya Paul
Priya Paul, Padma Shri awardee and Chairperson of Apeejay Surrendra Park Hotels, has reimagined the landscape of Indian hospitality with her visionary approach to design, art, and guest experience. Taking the reins of THE Park Hotels at just 23, Priya navigated personal and professional upheaval to transform the brand into a pioneer of boutique hospitality in India.
Her bold decisions, embracing original art, collaborating with local artists, and infusing each property with a distinctive sense of place set new standards for luxury and creativity. Priya has also championed the adaptive reuse of heritage buildings, blending India’s rich history with contemporary style in destinations such as Chettinad and Patiala. Through her leadership, THE Park Hotels have become synonymous with innovation, authenticity, and empowerment, inspiring a new generation of hoteliers and travellers alike.
Henna Punjabi
At Four Seasons Hotel Mumbai, Henna Punjabi leads communications and brand positioning, shaping narratives that reflect the hotel’s distinct identity. With a strong background in marketing and public relations, she has led campaigns that drive brand visibility and meaningful audience engagement. Her work has earned industry recognition, named Runner-Up for Marketing & PR Person of the Year at the Hotelier India Awards. At Four Seasons Hotel Mumbai, she continues to strengthen the hotel’s voice through strategic storytelling and integrated marketing initiatives.
Nidhi Berry
Nidhi Berry is the Commercial Director at Four Seasons Hotel Bengaluru, where she oversees Sales, Marketing, Revenue Management and Reservations, guiding the hotel’s commercial strategy with a strong focus on performance and market positioning. She joined the hotel in July 2024 as Director of Revenue Management & Yield and was subsequently appointed to her current role.With over two decades of experience in the hospitality industry, Nidhi brings deep expertise in revenue strategy and commercial leadership. Over the course of her career, she has successfully steered large-scale commercial and systems transformations that have enhanced operational efficiency and strengthened overall performance.
Binny Choudhary
Binny Choudhary, Managing Director of Noormahal Palace Hotel, has transformed an unexpected entry into hospitality into a journey of creative leadership and innovation. Initially joining her husband’s venture with no prior industry experience, Binny learned every nuance of hotel operations firsthand before transforming Noormahal Palace into a premier destination known for its regal architecture and museum-worthy art collection.
Her hands-on approach and passion for aesthetics have set new benchmarks for luxury hospitality in India. Not content with domestic success, Binny expanded the family’s legacy to London with Colonel Saab, an award-winning fine-dining restaurant created with her son. Her story is one of relentless learning, artistic vision, and redefining Indian hospitality on a global stage.
Salloni Ghodawat
Salloni Ghodawat, CEO of Ghodawat Consumer Limited (GCL), is ushering in a bold new era for India’s FMCG sector with her disruptive, future-focused vision. Now at ₹1,300 crore in revenue, GCL has rapidly become a formidable force under Salloni’s leadership, driven by strategic acquisitions of pioneering brands such as TBH (Better for You snacking) and Coolberg, India’s leading non-alcoholic beer.
By championing emerging, new-age categories, Salloni is reshaping consumer engagement and positioning GCL as a trendsetter for modern India. At the heart of the company’s success is her unwavering commitment to product innovation and quality excellence. Working closely with business units and product development teams, she has championed a consumer-centric approach that anticipates market trends and delivers superior offerings. With sustainability embedded in the company’s DNA and a culture of collaboration and diversity, Salloni is not just building a business, she is redefining what it means to lead in FMCG.
Meghana Narayan
Meghana Narayan’s journey from international swimming champion and Rhodes Scholar to co-founder of Wholsum Foods is a powerful story of ambition, resilience, and purpose-driven entrepreneurship. After winning over 400 national gold medals and representing India at the Asian Games, Meghana pivoted from sport to healthy food innovation.
With Wholsum Foods, she has championed Indian millets through popular brands such as Slurrp Farm for children and Mille for adults, making nutrition accessible and sustainable for families across India and beyond. Her leadership has attracted major investments, including from actor Anushka Sharma, and propelled Wholsum Foods to consistent year-on-year growth. Deeply committed to breaking stereotypes and building ethical, planet-friendly brands, Meghana Narayan is inspiring a new generation of founders in India’s food and beverage landscape.
These remarkable women are transforming India’s food and hospitality industries with vision, courage, and originality. Their journeys remind us that when women break new ground, they don’t just reshape industries, they inspire an entire nation.
March 03, 2026, 12:38 IST