"I want to be remembered as someone who put India on the scientific map of the world in terms of large innovation. I want to be remembered for making a difference to global healthcare. And I want to be remembered as someone who did make a difference to social economic development in India."
Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw
Businesswoman, Entrepreneur
Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw is a pioneering Indian entrepreneur and founder of Biocon, known for her contributions to biotechnology and leadership in healthcare innovation.
- Born
- March 23, 1946
- Quotes
- 23
- Rank
- #3792
About Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw
Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw — Life and Legacy
Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw is a prominent figure in the biotechnology sector, recognized for founding Biocon, one of India's largest biopharmaceutical companies. Her journey is marked by a commitment to innovation and a vision to make healthcare accessible to all. Mazumdar-Shaw's core philosophy revolves around the idea that true leadership is about inspiring others and embracing risk. She once stated that 'the future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams,' which encapsulates her belief in the power of vision and ambition. This perspective is particularly evident in her approach to overcoming the challenges she faced in a male-dominated industry, where she championed the importance of resilience and determination. Her quotes often reflect a deep understanding of the interplay between innovation and leadership, emphasizing that real change comes from the implementation of bold ideas. Mazumdar-Shaw has consistently advocated for the role of women in leadership, arguing that diverse perspectives are crucial for driving innovation. Today, her insights continue to resonate, inspiring a new generation of leaders to challenge the status quo and pursue their dreams with tenacity. Through her work, she has not only transformed the biotechnology landscape but has also set a powerful example of how vision and perseverance can lead to meaningful change.
Quote collection
Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw quotes (page 1 of 2)
23 quotes — follow a thought to its full quote page.
"I really believe that entrepreneurship is about being able to face failure, manage failure and succeed after failing."
"If you think about brewing, it is biotechnology. And I would say that I was a technologist at heart. So whether I... fermented beer or whether I fermented enzymes, the base technology was the same."
"As you become more successful, the gender barrier disappears. The credibility challenges you have during your growing up years starts disappearing when you start demonstrating success."
"An entrepreneur's life is always a continuous journey."
"I faced a number of challenges whilst I built Biocon. Initially, I had credibility challenges where I couldn't get banks to fund me; I couldn't recruit people to work for a woman boss. Even in the businesses where I had to procure raw materials, they didn't want to deal with women."
"Today anything can be done - we have the techniques"
"My passion for innovation and my interest in the 'business of science' has seen Biocon commercialize many innovative platforms and products."
"I have never let gender get in my way."
"I hate the title of being called the richest woman in India, but it's the recognition that this was the value that I had created as a woman entrepreneur and that makes me very, very proud."
"I have never let gender get in my way. It has taken me over 30 years to get from a garage to the huge campus that we have today. And it's been a long journey."
"I have a great team who has helped me build Biocon, I was very fortunate to be able to share my vision with a group of people who really were as excited about challenges as I was."
"Indian business women like Indra Nooyi, Chanda Kochhar, Naina Lal Kidwai, Shikha Sharma, Swati Piramal, Anu Agha, Swati Piramal, Sulajja Firodia Motwani and Zia Mody have put India on the global firmament."
"One of my objectives when I started Biocon was to make sure that I create a company for women scientists to pursue a vocation."
"I do serve on various boards and I'm very honest and frank, obviously, I am a very forthright person and I do, sort of, share my candid views on anything."
"Unfortunately our stock is somehow not well understood by the markets. The market compares us with generic companies. We need to look at Biocon as a bellwether stock. A stock that is differentiated, a stock that is focused on R&D, and a very-very strong balance sheet with huge value drivers at the end of it."
"As a traditionally risk-averse nation, India has rarely been at the forefront of innovation. Indian companies have mostly imitated others and became very good at it."
"You have to build a culture of philanthropy. In a country like India, we need to be sensitive and caring about the poorer, more disadvantaged section of our country."
"My legacy is going to be in affordable health care. I am willing to invest in developing that model and the policies around it."
"What really got me focused on cancer was when my best friend was diagnosed with breast cancer and even though she was a well-to-do person, I found that her treatment costs were crippling."