Roshni Nadar Malhotra became Chairperson of HCLTech in 2020 after succeeding her father, Shiv Nadar, the founder of HCL. With this transition, she became the first woman to lead a listed IT services company in India.
Today, HCLTech is one of the biggest technology firms in India, enjoying an outstanding global presence in digital engineering, cloud, cybersecurity, AI, and enterprise services. With Roshni at the helm, the firm continues to expand its presence globally even as it establishes itself in next-generation technology service offerings.
Unlike most other business executives, Roshni tends not to have a big public persona and seldom seeks visibility through aggressive means. Her leadership philosophy is rather about institution-building and growth.
Roshni grew up in Delhi in a family closely linked to India’s technology industry. Despite that background, her academic interests initially leaned toward media and communication rather than business.
She earned a degree in Communications from Northwestern University, where she studied radio, television, and film. She later completed her MBA from the Kellogg School of Management.
Before entering the HCL ecosystem, she worked with international media networks including CNN America, CNBC, and Sky News UK in production and communication-related roles.
Roshni joined HCL Corporation in 2009. Instead of stepping directly into the top role, she spent years working across different responsibilities within the organization.
She later became CEO of HCL Corporation and eventually Vice Chairperson of HCLTech before taking over as Chairperson in 2020. Industry experts viewed the transition as one of India’s most closely watched corporate succession plans.
She has also served on several important board committees, including Stakeholders’ Relationship, ESG, Diversity Equity and Inclusion, and Corporate Social Responsibility.
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Beyond the business realm, education continues to be one of Roshni’s major concerns. She is a trustee of the Shiv Nadar Foundation, which manages organizations and programs dedicated to leadership and education. It has spent over $1.5 billion on various educational and social endeavors.
One of the most prominent among them is the VidyaGyan Leadership Academy, which provides meritorious rural children from poor families of Uttar Pradesh with opportunities for leadership training.
Roshni has been instrumental in the formulation of this initiative. This program focuses on preparing the students from rural areas to assume leadership positions within and outside India. Many of the VidyaGyan graduates have gained admission to prestigious institutions.
Roshni is also deeply involved in wildlife conservation. She founded The Habitats Trust in 2018, an organization working to protect India’s endangered species and ecosystems.
The foundation collaborates with conservation groups, researchers, and local communities to support habitat restoration and biodiversity protection. Her interest in conservation also led her into documentary filmmaking. Since 2019, she has produced the series ‘On The Brink,’ which focuses on endangered wildlife species in India.
When Roshni set out to make On The Brink, she wasn't content to just put her name on it. She was out in the field, alongside conservationists, getting close to species most people only read about.
The episode on gharials, those ancient, long-snouted river crocodilians teetering on the edge of extinction, eventually won a National Film Award. But the award almost feels beside the point.
The series wasn't a cause she picked up for optics. Wildlife had been a genuine passion long before the cameras rolled, and The Habitats Trust, which she founded in 2018, is really where that quietly ran deep.
Episodes on bats and gharials received National Film Awards in the science and environment category. She also produced the children’s film ‘Halkaa,’ which addressed sanitation and open defecation through the story of a child living in a slum settlement.
Roshni serves on the Dean’s Advisory Council at the MIT School of Engineering and is part of the Kellogg School of Management Executive Board for Asia.
She is also on the board of the US-India Strategic Partnership Forum and the global board of directors of The Nature Conservancy. In addition, she serves as an independent director on the board of HDFC Asset Management Company.
Her work in business and philanthropy has earned international recognition. France awarded her the Chevalier de la Légion d’Honneur in 2024. Forbes has repeatedly included her in its list of the world’s most powerful women.
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Away from corporate leadership, Roshni Nadar is known for her interest in wildlife, conservation, music, and storytelling. She maintains a private lifestyle despite being one of India’s most influential business leaders. Her career reflects a mix of business leadership, philanthropy, education reform, and environmental advocacy. At HCLTech, she represents a generation of leaders trying to balance corporate growth with long-term social responsibility.
How did Roshni Nadar Malhotra begin her professional career?
Roshni Nadar Malhotra started her career in media and communications, working with CNN America, CNBC, and Sky News UK before joining HCL Corporation and gradually moving into technology leadership roles.
What makes Roshni Nadar Malhotra significant in India’s IT industry?
Roshni became the first woman to lead a listed IT services company in India after becoming Chairperson of HCLTech in 2020, marking a major milestone in Indian corporate leadership.
What is The Habitats Trust founded by Roshni Nadar Malhotra?
The Habitats Trust is a conservation organization founded in 2018 that focuses on protecting endangered species, restoring ecosystems, supporting biodiversity research, and collaborating with conservation communities across India.
How is Roshni Nadar Malhotra involved in education initiatives?
Through the Shiv Nadar Foundation, Roshni supports educational programs like VidyaGyan Leadership Academy, which provides rural students leadership training, academic opportunities, and access to prestigious institutions globally.
Which international recognitions has Roshni Nadar Malhotra received recently?
Roshni received France’s Chevalier de la Légion d’Honneur in 2024 and continues appearing on Forbes’ lists recognizing influential women leaders shaping global business and philanthropy worldwide.