Ms. Ananyashree Birla
Non-Executive Director
Ananya is a businesswoman, artist, and the fifth generation of the illustrious Birla family.
Ananya has built a remarkable career, balancing her entrepreneurial success with impactful philanthropy, particularly, in the area of mental health. Named as one of Business Today’s Most Powerful Women, ET 40 Under 40, and Fortune 40 Under 40, Ananya started Svatantra Microfin at the age of 17. In one of the largest deals in the industry, Ananya Birla’s Svatantra acquired Chaitanya India Fin Credit, making Svatantra the second largest microfinance organization in the industry. With a team strength of over 19,500 and an AUM of over 16000 Cr., Svatantra finances entrepreneurs who power India’s growth story. Recently, Svatantra secured the largest PE investment deal in the microfinance sector, amounting to a whopping INR 1930 Cr. ($230 million), with investments from Advent International and Multiples. Svatantra has been a first mover and shaper of the industry by being the first end-to-end cashless organization, and also the first to roll out an extensive customer-facing app that is conducive to client social behaviours. The AA- graded organization (highest rating in the sector) was awarded the best microfinance organisation of the year and has been placed in the top 25 best places to work in its segment by globally recognized Great Places To Work 2020. In addition, Svatantra MHFC, her micro housing arm, is the only housing institution to focus on the EWS/LIG segment, and to have a completely branchless model. It was also named as one of the top 50 Great Places to Work in the mid-size category.
Ananya was also named as Financial Express’s Newsmaker of the Year, voted one of GQ’s Most Influential Young Indians, Miss Vogue’s 28 Geniuses under 28, has graced the cover of Forbes Women to Watch, and was named as one of Economic Times Most Promising Women Business Leaders of 2022.
Ms. Ananya Birla’s efforts in her entrepreneurial ventures have been recognised and felicitated by various Government entities such as the Hon’ble Prime Minister of India, Shri Narendra Modi at Champions of Change, an event organized by the National Institution for Transforming India (NITI Aayog). Ms. Ananya Birla was also conferred by the Hon’ble Chief Minister of Maharashtra, Shri Devendra Fadnavis, for her role in empowering rural Indian women and pioneering 100% cashless disbursement since its inception.
An alumnus of Oxford University, she is also the founder of Ananya Birla Foundation. In May 2020, the Foundation made its’ first grant to Save The Children India targeting 100,000 individuals, and several grants thereafter in different areas of need, such as, surgeries for acid attack survivors, surgeries for abandoned animals and menstrual hygiene. The foundation is currently doing pioneering work in research and intervention designs for mental health in rural India. An ardent advocate for mental health, Ananya is also the Ambassador for National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI). She is also the co-founder of Mpower, a foundation that provides mental health awareness across the country.
Ananya is also a Director on the Board of Aditya Birla Management Corporation Pvt. Ltd., Aditya Birla Fashion & Retail, and Grasim. Her Board roles at the Aditya Birla companies highlight her broader influence in business.
Ananya is presently working on new consumer facing businesses that will be launched over the span of the next 6 months. Her on-going work points to her evolving journey in shaping India’s future across various sectors.