As the leader of the third-largest private bank in India, Sharma has focused on bringing Axis Bank into the digital future. This year, Axis launched Ping Pay, the first multi-social payment app in India, which allows friends to pay and charge each other electronically. She also oversaw a transformational IT project across the bank. Her steady hand helped Axis’ profit increase 18.3%, to around $1.1 billion, in the year ending in March. —Claire Groden