Get All Access for $5/mo

These #4 Indian Women are Making Millions in Commodity Trading The commodity market, not just in India but around the world, is mainly male-driven and finding a woman trader is a tough task

By Vanita D'souza

Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

You're reading Entrepreneur India, an international franchise of Entrepreneur Media.

LinkedIn I Entrepreneur Media

Hillary Clinton once said, "Women are the largest untapped reservoir of talent in the world." Though Clinton's comment is generic, being relevant to all sectors and industries, it simply fits best for the commodity trading business.

The commodity market, not just in India but around the world, is mainly male-driven and finding a woman trader is not an easy task.

In fact, chances are that a lot of traders don't even know that female traders do exist.

So, Entrepreneur India has prepared a list of women traders, who have crossed barriers to make it really big in the commodity market.

#Madhu Vadera Jayakumar

She is among the first few female women commodity traders, who founded E-commodities Limited.

This former CEO of E-commodities Limited has more than 17 years of experience in the financial markets and is an IIM MBA graduate as per her LinkedIn profile. She is an independent investor and also the public interest director in the Multi Commodity Exchange (MCX).

#Jyothi Budhia

With over 30 years of experience in the financial market, including the commodities, one can often spot Budia in the early morning financial market news shows.

She is a derivative and technical analyst and has been the Director of BK trading since 1986. Apart from being a trader and giving expert opinions on television, Budhia also spends time educating students and is a visiting facility of in-house institutes of stock markets like Bombay Stock Exchange, National Stock Exchange, MCX and the Manipal University.

#Vaishali Sarwankar

Trading runs in the blood of this Maharashtrian Porgi, whose family has its roots in the baniya (trading) community. But, she has learned her commodity trading skills from her previous employer Bunge Limited.

Presently, she is not just rocking the domestic market, but is also playing her cards right in the international commodity market.

Sarwankar is the Head of International Trade and Director at Atlantic Industrial & Trading, a Singapore-based trading company, which has a turnover of more than USD 500m.

It's true that women are breaking stereotypes, but the trading business is yet to witness that as the change has still not taken place, Sarwankar once said in an interview to Entrepreneur India.

"I stepped into the sector at an early age, and by now, have come to understand the finer nuances of the business very well. The initial period of finding my footing in the industry was quite unnerving, but things only got better with time. With respect to the supportive government policies and access to capital and technological infrastructure, women now have more opportunities and access to tools to make it big not only in trading but in any field they choose," she added

Apart Atlantic, Sarwankar is also a director of Carnival Edutech Foundation.

#Deepali Singh

After trying her hands in tiffin services and restaurant business, Singh got into commodity broking. Having done a business of more than INR 60 crore, Singh registered her company last year as Jaya Laxmi Foods and operates from the Indore Commodity Market. The firm is majorly into the commodity trading of wheat. Singh is also a national-level basketball player.

Vanita D'souza

Former Senior Correspondent, Entrepreneur India

I am a Mumbai-based journalist and have worked with media companies like The Dollar Business Magazine, Business Standard, etc.While on the other side, I am an avid reader who is a travel freak and has accepted foodism as my religion.

Starting a Business

I Left the Corporate World to Start a Chicken Coop Business — Here Are 3 Valuable Lessons I Learned Along the Way

Board meetings were traded for barnyards as a thriving new venture hatched.

Lifestyle

Actress Nupur Sanon breaks boundaries between fashion and business with her new brand, No Boundaries

As Bollywood actress Nupur Sanon starts her new clothing brand NoBo—No Boundaries recently, in conversation with Entrepreneur India, the young artist opens up on her childhood story that inspired her to start her journey as an entrepreneur, why fashion policing on women should stop, and how she is balancing between establishing a homegrown brand and working on her next film Noorani Chehra with Nawazuddin Siddiqui.

Growth Strategies

EV Industry Voice Its Wishlist Ahead Of Budget 2024

GST, reallocation of subsidies including FAME and PLI, and boost for recycling and R&D among concerns of electric vehicle sector ahead budget session mid-July.

Business News

Apple Reportedly Isn't Paying OpenAI to Use ChatGPT in iPhones

The next big iPhone update brings ChatGPT directly to Apple devices.

Business Ideas

63 Small Business Ideas to Start in 2024

We put together a list of the best, most profitable small business ideas for entrepreneurs to pursue in 2024.

Branding

ChatGPT is Becoming More Human-Like. Here's How The Tool is Getting Smarter at Replicating Your Voice, Brand and Personality.

AI can be instrumental in building your brand and boosting awareness, but the right approach is critical. A custom GPT delivers tailored collateral based on your ethos, personality and unique positioning factors.