The multinational business magazine published and owned by Times Inc., Fortune, has released the 2017 list of the most powerful women in the world. This year, the list comprises of 26 CEOs from around the globe who control close to $ 1.1 trillion in market capitalization. The full list includes 51 successful women including nine women from the tech industry.
The Chief Executive Officer of General Motors, Mary Barra topped the list for the third consecutive year. She was instrumental in beating Elon Musk’s Tesla Model 3’s release in the market with the Chevrolet Bolt EV which even boasted of a better battery.
Indra Nooyi, who has led PepsiCo as the CEO and president for a decade, took the second spot on the list. She also played a significant role in the acquisition of Tropicana and the company’s merger with Quaker Oats. Nooyi was featured 18 times in the 20 years the Fortune list of most powerful women has been published.
Marillyn Hewson, the Chairwoman, President and Chief Executive Officer of Lockheed Martin along with Abigail Johnson, the Chairman and CEO of Fidelity Investments and Sheryl Sandberg, the COO of Facebook take the 3rd, 4th and 5th spots on the list respectively.
Sandberg was instrumental in Facebook’s blockbuster 2016 ad revenue growth, which increased to 57% or over $ 26.9 billion and propelled the company to new heights. Her book titled Option B, which deals with grief over the loss of her husband, also topped the best seller list this year.
Seven newcomers made it to the list this year, including Hollywood actress Reese Witherspoon. Chief Executive Officer of the Pacific Gas and Electric Company, Geisha Williams, became the highest ranking newcomer on the list. She is also the first Latin woman to run a Fortune 500 company and is currently ranked at 19. Boeing’s Defense, Space and Security CEO, Leanne Caret, Staples CEO Shira Goodman, Reinsurance Group of America CEO Anna Manning, Hershey CEO Michele Buck, Ulta Beauty CEO Mary Dillon and Mattel CEO Margo Georgiadis are the other newest editions to the list.
The number of female chief executive officers in the Fortune 500 companies hit a record low in 2017. Only 6% of the total 500 or 37 women hold the top managerial positions in reputed organizations around the world. The number of women in the leading roles in tech companies also brings to light the uncomfortable realities of a big gender gap in one of the fastest growing industries in the world.
According to Fortune, four main criteria are looked at while making the list. It includes the size and importance of the woman’s business in the global economy, the health and direction of the business, the arc of the woman’s career and social and cultural influences.
Bengaluru-based investment bank IndigoEdge, in partnership with entrepreneur Hitesh Ahuja, has launched PixelSky Capital, a secondaries fund targeting INR 400 crore. The fund will invest in eight late-stage tech and consumer companies expected to go public within three to four years, with cheque sizes of INR 40–50 crore each. PixelSky has already invested in beauty retailer Purplle and aims to close a second deal by June 2025.
The fund focuses on secondary transactions, allowing existing shareholders to sell stakes to new investors, providing liquidity ahead of IPOs. Founders have committed INR 10–15 crore, with additional capital coming from domestic family offices and startup founders. Final close is expected by March 2026.
Led by Hitesh Ahuja, who sold his foodtech startup Yumlane in 2023, and IndigoEdge cofounder Zerin Rahiman, PixelSky marks IndigoEdge’s expansion from advisory and proprietary investments into fund management. The firm has facilitated over 150 transactions worth around $3 billion and invested INR 25–30 crore as a limited partner in multiple VC funds. PixelSky is currently evaluating about 20 companies before finalizing its portfolio
Meta is developing its first true AR glasses, set to launch in 2027. Before the public release, employees will test the device starting in 2024. The company is also releasing new generations of Ray-Ban smart glasses in 2023 and 2025 with enhanced features like a “viewfinder” display.
Specifications and Features
The AR glasses are expected to feature OLED displays and Qualcomm Snapdragon chipsets, offering sophisticated AR and AI capabilities. They will enable users to interact with virtual objects and project high-quality holograms of avatars onto the real world.
Design and Competition
Meta aims for a sleek design, potentially building on its Ray-Ban partnerships. The AR glasses market is competitive, with Apple and Google also investing heavily. Meta seeks to make its AR glasses a game-changer by offering a unique user experience.
Future Plans
In addition to AR glasses, Meta is expanding its VR offerings with new headsets like the Quest 3 and exploring other wearable technologies. The company is focused on reducing costs to make the AR glasses more consumer-friendly by launch.
MobiKwik is venturing into the stock broking sector with the launch of its subsidiary, MobiKwik Securities Broking Private Limited (MSBPL), following approval from the Ministry of Corporate Affairs on March 3, 2025. This move aims to diversify MobiKwik’s offerings beyond its core digital payments services and compete with established players like Zerodha and Groww.
MSBPL will provide a range of brokerage services, including trading in shares, securities, commodities, and derivatives. The subsidiary has an initial capital of Rs 1 lakh, with plans for an additional Rs 2 crore investment to support its operations.
As MobiKwik enters this competitive market, it brings a substantial user base of 172 million and a merchant network of 5 million. Despite recent financial challenges, including a reported loss of Rs 55.2 crore in Q3 FY25, the company aims to leverage its existing infrastructure and user engagement to capture a share of the growing investment technology market, projected to reach $74 billion by 2030.
This strategic expansion aligns with MobiKwik’s broader goals of enhancing its financial service