Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw
Born 1953 · Age 72
Indian entrepreneur; founder and executive chairperson of Biocon Limited and Biocon Biologics. Pioneered India’s biotech industry and a prominent philanthropist and board member of multiple global institutions.
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Life & Career Timeline
Born in Bangalore, India
Kiran Mazumdar (later Mazumdar-Shaw) born to Gujarati parents in Bangalore; daughter of Rasendra Mazumdar, head brewmaster at United Breweries.
Graduated Bishop Cotton Girl's High School
Completed secondary schooling at Bishop Cotton Girl's High School, Bangalore.
Pre-university at Mount Carmel College
Attended Mount Carmel College (pre-university courses affiliated to Bangalore University).
B.Sc. (Zoology) Bangalore University
Graduated with a bachelor's degree in zoology from Bangalore University.
Enrolled in malting & brewing at Ballarat (Australia)
Went to Ballarat College, Melbourne University to study malting and brewing; the only woman enrolled in the brewing course.
Early industry roles (trainee brewer/manager)
Worked as trainee brewer at Carlton & United Breweries and trainee maltster at Barrett Brothers and Burston (Australia); then technical consultant/manager roles in India (1975–1977).
Earned Master Brewer qualification
Awarded master brewer (post-graduate/malting & brewing) from Ballarat/University of Melbourne.
Founded Biocon India (in her garage) with Rs.10,000
Started Biocon India in Bengaluru as a JV with Biocon Biochemicals (Ireland). Seed capital Rs.10,000; foreign ownership cap made her 70% owner.
First exports and property purchase
Within a year Biocon manufactured enzymes and exported to US/Europe (first Indian company to do so). End of first year she purchased an eight-hectare property for expansion.
Established R&D team at Biocon
Began formal R&D at Biocon focusing on novel enzymes and solid substrate fermentation technology.
Raised US$250,000 VC from Narayanan Vaghul/ICICI Ventures
First major expansion capital: ~$250,000 venture funding used to build new plant and scale R&D and fermentation operations.
Biocon receives U.S. funding; Padma Shri awarded
Biocon became the first Indian biotech to receive U.S. funding for proprietary technologies. Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw received the Padma Shri (India).
Biocon Biochemicals (Ireland) acquired by Unilever
Leslie Auchincloss's Biocon Biochemicals was acquired by Unilever; partnership provided global best practices to Biocon India.
Incorporated Biocon Biopharmaceuticals Pvt Ltd (BBLP) JV with Cuba
Set up BBLP to manufacture and market selected biotherapeutics in a joint venture with the Cuban Center of Molecular Immunology.
Founded Syngene (R&D services subsidiary)
Created Syngene to provide contract research and early-stage R&D services.
Imperial Chemical Industries (ICI) acquires Unilever specialty chemicals
Unilever sold its specialty chemicals (including Biocon Biochemicals) to ICI — a structural change in Biocon’s foreign partnership landscape.
John Shaw raises $2M to buy ICI shares; Marries John Shaw
John Shaw personally raised US$2 million to purchase outstanding Biocon shares from ICI. The couple married in 1998; Kiran became Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw.
John Shaw joins Biocon management
John Shaw left Madura Coats and joined Biocon's management; later became vice chairman (2001).
Founded Clinigene (clinical research subsidiary)
Established Clinigene to focus on clinical research trials and development of generics and new medicines (later merged into Syngene).
FDA approval & statins strategy
Biocon obtained an important U.S. FDA approval for manufacture of a cholesterol-lowering molecule; Biocon expanded into statins after patent expirations, which would drive >50% revenue share later.
John Shaw becomes Biocon vice chairman
John Shaw formally became vice chairman of Biocon in 2001, taking a leadership role in governance and strategy.
Honorary doctorate from Ballarat University
Received an honorary doctorate (D.Sc.) from her alma mater, Ballarat University, for contributions to biotechnology.
Biocon IPO — first Indian biotech IPO
Biocon went public in 2004; IPO oversubscribed 33 times and first-day market value closed at US$1.11 billion; company revenue rose from ₹70 crore (1998) to ₹500 crore in 2004.
Launched Biocon Foundation (CSR)
Started Biocon Foundation focusing on health, education and infrastructure in rural Karnataka and other CSR initiatives.
Awarded Padma Bhushan (India)
Conferred Padma Bhushan by the Government of India for pioneering efforts in industrial biotechnology.
Indian Chamber of Commerce Lifetime Achievement & other recognitions
Received multiple national awards in 2005 including ICC Lifetime Achievement and industry leadership awards.
Built Biocon Park campus (Biocon Park)
Biocon Park established (2005) — a 35-hectare campus with capacity to house ~5,000 employees.
Established Mazumdar-Shaw Medical Foundation / Cancer Center
Set up a major cancer care center (Mazumdar-Shaw Medical Foundation) at Narayana Health City; source cites a 1,400-bed facility and/or large-capacity center for affordable cancer care.
Received Nikkei Asia Prize for Regional Growth
Honored with the Nikkei Asia Prize (2009) recognizing contribution to regional growth.
Named in TIME 100 Most Influential People
Featured on TIME magazine's list of the 100 most influential people in the world (2010).
Added advanced therapeutics & bone marrow transplant unit (Mazumdar-Shaw center)
In 2011 the medical center added an advanced therapeutics center with bone marrow transplant and research facilities.
Featured on Financial Times Top 50 Women in Business
Included in Financial Times list of Top 50 women in business (2011).
Received Othmer Gold Medal
Awarded the Othmer Gold Medal (2014) for outstanding contributions to the progress of science and chemistry.
Biocon patents & R&D deals milestones (as of 2014)
By 2014 Biocon had filed at least ~950 patent applications and completed >2,200 high-value R&D licensing and other deals between 2005–2010.
First woman Chairperson of IIM Bangalore Board of Governors
Appointed Chairperson of the Board of Governors of the Indian Institute of Management Bangalore (IIMB), replacing Mukesh Ambani.
Syngene listed on BSE/NSE
Syngene (Biocon subsidiary) listed on Indian stock exchanges in 2015; corporate profile cites a later market cap figure of ~₹23,000 crore (market fluctuations apply).
Signed the Giving Pledge
Joined The Giving Pledge (2015), committing to donate at least half of her wealth to philanthropy.
Named Chevalier de la Légion d'Honneur (France)
Conferred Knight of the National Order of the French Legion of Honour for contributions to biosciences and research (2016).
Recognized as first Indian woman businessperson to reach US$1B net worth
Felicitated in 2017 as the first Indian businesswoman to reach ~US$1 billion net worth according to media recognitions and rankings.
Multiple high-profile global recognitions
Featured on Fortune MPW lists, Medicine Maker Power List, and various rich lists (Hurun/Forbes) in 2018 reflecting growing wealth and influence.
Ranked on Forbes Most Powerful Women list
Listed by Forbes among the world's most powerful women (68th in 2019).
Elected Member, U.S. National Academy of Engineering (NAE)
Elected to the NAE (2019) for development of affordable biopharmaceuticals and the biotechnology industry in India; first Indian woman to receive this honor.
Awarded EY World Entrepreneur Of The Year
Named EY World Entrepreneur of the Year (2020) and received Australia's Order of Australia (Jan 2020) for services to bilateral relations and industry links.
Named in Pandora Papers
Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw and husband John Shaw were named in the Pandora Papers (2021) reporting on offshore holdings.
Appointed to Board of Trustees, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center
Named to the MSK Board of Trustees for a three-year term, reflecting engagement in global cancer research & care governance.
Death of spouse John Shaw
John Shaw, husband and long-time Biocon vice chairman, died on 24 October 2022.
Received Ban Ki-moon Award for Women's Empowerment and other honours
Honoured with Ban Ki-moon Award for Women’s Empowerment (2023), CNBC-TV18 Outstanding Business Leader (2023) and several other awards and appointments (e.g., Court of Regents, Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh).
Ranked 91st-wealthiest in India; net worth reported US$3.6B
Forbes (2024) ranks Mazumdar-Shaw 91st-wealthiest in India with an estimated net worth of US$3.6 billion.
Awarded Honorary Doctor of Science, Concordia University
Received an honorary DSc from Concordia University, Montreal (October 2024).
Continued global roles & recognitions (board, advisory positions)
Holds/continues high-profile roles: full-term member MIT Corporation, board positions (PureTech, MSK, Lincoln Center), honorary consul general of Ireland (since 2007), Vice Chair USIBC, and many advisory board memberships.
Key Achievement Ages
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