International Women’s Day 2023 is a time to celebrate the achievements of women in all fields. In recent years, we’ve seen an increase in the number of women breaking through barriers and assuming leadership roles in top companies across the globe. One such field is compliance where there is a drastic contribution made by women. To honour their contributions, we’ve compiled a list of the top women in compliance on LinkedIn, working in some of the most prominent companies in the industry. These trailblazing women have not only shattered the glass ceiling but are also paving the way for future generations of women to succeed in this challenging and rewarding field. These women have demonstrated exceptional leadership skills, expertise in their respective fields, and a passion for diversity and inclusion.
The following stories are an inspiration to all women who aspire to be leaders in their fields, regardless of the challenges they face.
Manorama Kulkarni
Director-
Manorama Kulkarni is a versatile executive leader with over 23 years of global leadership experience. She has expertise in strategic thought leadership, clientele engagement, and organizational business skills. Manorama is also a passionate partner for diversity and inclusion and actively coaches young women in leadership roles. She holds a degree and Master of Law from the National Law School of India University and is a registered guest lecture speaker in industry forums and financial institutional alumni. Additionally, she is a founder member of the NGO Bangalore Women Forum®, which supports the economic empowerment of women through various training outreach programs and funding management for new innovations and women startups.
Esha Chakravarty
Chief Compliance Officer & Group General Counsel at Cloud4C
Esha Chakravarty is a highly accomplished legal professional with over 14 years of experience in compliance risk management, corporate legal and litigation domain. She is a common law jurisdiction-qualified lawyer who has worked in law firms. Currently, Esha is serving as Chief Compliance Officer & Group General Counsel at Cloud4C, where she is responsible for ensuring compliance with regulatory requirements, mitigating legal risks, and providing legal support to the organization. In the past, she has worked with several leading corporates & MNCs like Nuvoco Vistas Corporation Limited, Datamatics Business Solutions Limited, UPL Limited, and Aegis Limited, gaining diverse experience in compliance and legal matters. With her extensive expertise in compliance risk management, Esha has played a key role in developing and implementing compliance policies and procedures across multiple organizations.
Shalini Chakravorty
Chief Ethics & Compliance Officer at PhonePe
Shalini Chakravorty is an internationally experienced businesswoman and currently serves as the Chief Ethics & Compliance Officer at PhonePe. She has a successful track record of experience in designing, developing and deploying the strategy, and has demonstrated the ability to lead multicultural teams across Asia, Canada, the UK, Africa, and Latin American countries. Shalini’s exceptional performance and achievements have been recognized with the “Business Leader of the Year – Commendable Young Women” award by The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India. She is also very passionate about diversity and inclusion, and leads the markets’ women forum, which works towards hiring, retaining, and engaging women in the workforce, and supports the company in investing in women externally. Shalini has played a key role in achieving her organization to be among the “Top places for women to work” by leading the movement. Additionally, she believes in giving back to society and regularly visits various universities in India as a guest lecturer.
Rashmi Dastidar
CCO – WhatsApp
Rashmi Dastidar is a Chief Compliance Officer at WhatsApp and an accomplished compliance professional with a passion for developing strong risk and compliance practices in emergent markets. With cross-industry experience spanning services, manufacturing, and consulting, Rashmi has helped oversee strategic, operational, security, ESG, fraud, and compliance risks in complex manufacturing and service sector environments. She is known for her strong people and leadership skills, and her ability to build motivated teams that deliver high performance. Her expertise has been recognized in the media, as she has been featured as a panellist on Making A Safer Work Environment, an Economics Times program. Rashmi’s dedication to developing effective risk and compliance practices in emergent markets makes her an inspiring leader for women in compliance.
Kamala Kantharaj
Chief Risk Officer – BSE
Kamala Kantharaj is an accomplished professional with over 33 years of experience in the financial services industry, including stock exchanges and financial institutions. She has also worked in reputed organizations like IIM-B, PFC, and an Audit firm. Currently serving as Chief Risk Officer at the Bombay Stock Exchange, Kamala has also served as the Executive Director of the Bangalore Stock Exchange and became the first woman to functionally head a stock exchange across domestic as well as international exchanges. Along with her successful career in finance, Kamala is also an active member of arts and culture communities. She is currently serving as the President of the Mysore Association and playing an active role in the management of the association. Her leadership and contribution to both finance and culture make her an inspiration for women across industries.
While we’ve only highlighted five outstanding women in compliance, we want to take a moment to recognize and celebrate all the women who are making a difference in this field. Whether they’re leading teams, developing policies, or driving innovation, their contributions are essential to the success of their organizations and the broader industry. Today, on International Women’s Day, let’s take a moment to thank the women in our lives who inspire and motivate us to do our best work and let’s continue to support and empower each other as we work towards a more equitable and inclusive future.
