Indian business magnate Gautam Adani is making efforts to increase the number of women leaders in his conglomerate, Adani Group, as part of a drive to diversify its boardrooms. Recently, two women with family ties to Adani have taken on leadership roles within the company. Srushti Adani, the wife of Adani’s nephew Sagar Adani, has been appointed to lead digital initiatives at Adani Digital Labs, while Diva Adani, the daughter-in-law of Adani, will oversee non-aero business strategies at Adani Airport Holdings Ltd.
These appointments are part of the company’s diversity, equity, and inclusion approach, which aims to have women directors make up at least 20% of its board. However, the move also highlights the common practice among Indian conglomerates of preserving control within the founding family. This approach can send conflicting messages to employees about meritocracy and may lead to concerns about nepotism.
Diva Adani, who married Adani’s youngest son Jeet Adani earlier this year, will help shape a customer-centric approach to airport management. Before joining Adani, she worked with the company’s charitable foundation on its disability program. Srushti Adani, an engineering graduate from the University of California, founded and led medical equipment manufacturer Wellnest Tech.
This trend of involving family members in key decision-making roles is not unique to Adani Group. Other Indian conglomerates, such as Reliance Industries Ltd, have also followed similar practices. Mukesh Ambani’s daughter Isha Ambani is heading up Reliance’s retail arm, while his wife Nita Ambani is the chairperson of the joint venture between Reliance and Walt Disney Co.
According to Kavil Ramachandran, a professor of entrepreneurship at the Indian School of Business, this trend reflects the family’s appreciation for the relevance and capabilities of women in key roles. However, it also carries the risk of pushing merit to the “back seat” and making performance evaluation difficult, especially if the business is not showing expected results.
The Adani women are also involved in the group’s philanthropic initiatives, with Namrata Adani, wife of Pranav Adani, serving as a non-executive director at Adani Group and involved with the Adani International School. Priti Adani, the group’s matriarch, guides the Adani Foundation, which works in 7,060 villages across 21 states for social change. Overall, the involvement of women in key roles at Adani Group reflects a shift towards greater diversity and inclusion in Indian family businesses.