Rekha Menon, 

Before Menon was hired to build the geographic services division of Accenture in India, she worked as an entrepreneur and HR manager with a not-for-profit organisation, and on the shop floor of the erstwhile Eicher Goodearth. In her seven years with Accenture, where she has been responsible for functions ranging from HR to marketing, the company’s workforce has grown from 3,000 to 70,000. Menon was recently put in charge of the ASEAN region. Milk cooperative movement leader Verghese Kurien and social worker Ela Bhatt are among Menon’s role models. She is passionate about long-distance cycling, hiking, and giving back to society. She says: “Be passionate about what you do and be a marathon runner—take the long-term view.”