Roshni Nadar Malhotra, born in India in 1981, is one of the wealthiest women in her country after acquiring a major stake in HCL Technologies, an Indian multinational that provides consulting and information technology services. The company was founded by her father, Shiv Nadar, a billionaire philanthropist and one of India’s most influential business figures.
Roshni has appeared on several lists highlighting India’s richest and most powerful personalities, standing out as the youngest among the nation’s top ten wealthiest individuals. Together with her father, she has led numerous philanthropic initiatives through the Shiv Nadar Foundation, an organization focused primarily on education and social development.
Since 2020, Nadar has served as Chairperson of HCL Technologies, and by 2025, her father transferred the majority of his shares to her, cementing her position as one of India’s richest and most prominent leaders. Her solid academic background has enabled her to apply her knowledge effectively in both the company and the foundation she helps direct.
Roshni Nadar’s Distinguished Education
Born and raised in Delhi, Roshni attended Vasant Valley School, one of India’s leading private institutions, before moving to the United States to pursue higher education. As an only child, she studied Communication at Northwestern University in Illinois, specializing in radio, film, and television. She then earned an MBA from the Kellogg School of Management, also in Illinois.
Although it was always clear that she would eventually join the family business, Roshni first worked in the corporate and media sectors, gaining experience before entering HCL. Shortly after joining the company, she was appointed CEO, marking the beginning of her leadership journey in the tech industry.
Under her direction, HCL has surpassed $8 billion in net worth, employs over 200,000 people, and operates in more than 60 countries. These global operations have required her to balance innovation, efficiency, and leadership across multiple markets and business divisions.
Chairperson and the Gift of Ownership
Her father entrusted her with not only executive responsibilities but also a significant share of ownership. Shiv Nadar transferred more than 45% of his stake in HCL Technologies to Roshni, positioning her as the company’s primary shareholder and one of India’s most visible billionaires.
According to Indian media reports, the move was part of a long-term succession plan carefully designed by Shiv Nadar. Today, Roshni is the principal shareholder of HCL Corp and one of the company’s key decision-makers. She also holds nearly 13% of shares in Vama Delhi, another of the family’s enterprises.
Indian publications describe her as “a rare blend of technocratic leadership and social responsibility,” emphasizing her influence both in industry and in the philanthropic sector, where she continues to work with nonprofit institutions and social initiatives.
The Philanthropic Role of Roshni Nadar
Roshni serves as a trustee of the Shiv Nadar Foundation, where she plays an active role in advancing education and leadership development. She oversees the Shiv Nadar School of Engineering, a nonprofit institution, and also chairs a Leadership Academy that supports students from disadvantaged economic backgrounds.
Her environmental commitment is reflected in the creation of The Habitats, an organization dedicated to protecting natural ecosystems and biodiversity. In her public statements, she has stressed that “the core premise of the Foundation is that the institutions we build must outlive the founder and their family.”
Discussing the VidyaGyan program, which provides education to exceptional rural students, Nadar explained: “Once they are with us at VidyaGyan, the goal is not only to educate them—they are already brilliant—but to help them become leaders.”
Field research conducted by her foundation revealed that “60% of India’s rural population lacks access to opportunities for leadership due to limited education.” VidyaGyan was thus established to identify talented students early and nurture their potential.
As one of India’s most powerful women, Roshni Nadar continues to balance corporate leadership with her philanthropic mission, driven by a vision of education and empowerment that seeks to transform the lives of young people across India.