Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw is an Indian entrepreneur who is the founder and chairperson of Biocon Limited, a biotechnology company based in Bangalore, India. She studied fermentation science and became the first woman to earn a degree in brewing. When she was unable to find work in her field in India due to gender discrimination, she started her own company Biocon in 1978 with just $500. Under her leadership, Biocon has grown into a major biotechnology company with over $800 million in annual revenue and has helped advance India's biotechnology industry. She has also established healthcare and education programs through the Biocon Foundation to benefit the underprivileged in India.

1. Woman
Entrepreneur
Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw
Biocon Limited.

2. INTRODUCTION
Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw (born 23 March 1953) is an Indian entrepreneur. She
is the chairman and managing director of BioconLimited, a biotechnology
company based in Bangalore (Bengaluru), India and the current chairperson of
IIM-Bangalore. In 2014, she was awarded the Othmer Gold Medal, for
outstanding contributions to the progress of science and chemistry. She is on
the Financial Times’ top 50 women in business list. As of 2014, she is listed as
the 92nd most powerful woman in the world byForbes.
Kiran Mazumdar was born to Gujarati parents in Bangalore, India. She went to
school at Bangalore’s Bishop Cotton Girl's High School, graduating in 1968. She
then attended Mount Carmel College, Bangalore, a women's college offering pre-
university courses as an affiliate of Bangalore University. She studied biology and
zoology, graduating from Bangalore University with a B.Sc. in Zoology in
1973. Mazumdar hoped to go to medical school, but did not obtain a scholarship.
Her father, Rasendra Mazumdar, was the head brewmaster at United Breweries.
He suggested that Kiran study fermentation science, and train to be a
brewmaster, a very nontraditional field for a woman. Mazumdar went
to Federation University in Australia to study Malting and Brewing. In 1974 she
was the only woman enrolled in the brewing course, and the top of her
class. She earned the degree of Master Brewer in 1975.
She worked as a trainee brewer in Carlton and United Breweries, Melbourne and
as a trainee maltster at Barrett Brothers and Burston, Australia. She also worked
for some time as a technical consultant at Jupiter Breweries Limited, Calcutta and
as a technical manager at Standard Maltings Corporation, Baroda between 1975
and 1977. However, when she investigated the possibility of further work in
Bangalore or Delhi, she was told that she would not be hired as a master brewer
in India because "It's a man's work." She began to look abroad, and was offered
a position in Scotland.

3. PROFILE OF THE COMPANY
Biocon Limited (BSE: 532523) is an Indian biopharmaceutical company based
in Bangalore, India. The Company manufactures generic active pharmaceutical
ingredients (APIs) that are sold in the developed markets of the United States and
Europe. It also manufactures biosimilar Insulins, which are sold in India as branded
formulations and in both bulk and formulation forms. In research services, Syngene
International Limited (Syngene) is engaged in the business of custom research in
drug discovery while the other fully owned subsidiary Clinigene International Limited
(Clinigene) is in the clinical development space. In December 2009, Biocon acquired
the Active Pharma Ingredients (API) undertaking from IDL Speciality Chemicals Ltd.,
a subsidiary of Gulf Oil Corporation Limited.
Located with R & D in Bangalore and API unit in Hyderabad, India, Biocon has two
subsidiaries — Syngene, a custom research organisation, and Clinigene, a clinical
research organisation. Biocon’s presence straddles four main therapeutic areas —
Diabetology, Cardiology, Nephrology and Oncology — and plans to introduce two
new divisions, Comprehensive Care, and Immunotherapy, this year.
Biocon’s cardiology, nephrology, diabetology and oncology products including
BESTOR, BASALOGTM, BioMAb EGFR, STATIX, NUFIL safe, INSUGEN, TACROGRAF,
ERYPRO safe, and MYOKINASE are claimed to be considerably less expensive than
other leading brands. Two of its novel programs on the verge of proof-of-concept
stage are IN-105, which is the only oral insulin in the world to be in long duration
clinical trials, and the T1h, a novel humanised monoclonal antibody (MAb), the only
first-in-class novel MAb being tested in India for rheumatoid arthritis and psoriasis.
Between 2005 and 2010, Biocon entered into more than 2,200 high-value R&D
licensing and other deals within the pharmaceuticals and bio-pharmaceutical
space. It has also expanded its global footprint to emerging and developed markets
through acquisitions, partnerships and in-licensing. Biocon’s Corporate Social
Responsibility wing, the Biocon Foundation, is involved in numerous health and
education outreach programs targeting the underprivileged sections of India.
In 2009–10, Biocon’s net income increased 44% to 24,048 million, crossing the
half-billion-dollar mark and profits grew 215% to 2,933 million. The pharmaceutical
business exceeded 200,871 million in revenue and the net R&D expenditure
increased to 917 million, growing 42% over 2008 and up 282% over 2005, while
its research services business crossed 2,807 million.

4. Biocon, Syngene and Clinigene together employ approximately 4,500 personnel
including biologists, chemists, medical practitioners, pharmacologists, engineers,
finance/legal/marketing analysts, HR generalists and general administrators. Around
6% of its employees have PhD degrees, 45% have a master’s degree, and 33% are
graduates. Biocon also collaborates with educational institutes to make courses more
industry oriented.

5. CONTRIBUTION TOWARDS THE
UPLIFTING OF THE COMPANY
Biocon Biochemicals of Ireland was acquired from Leslie Auchincloss by Unilever in
1989. The partnership with Unilever helped Biocon to establish global best practises
and quality systems. In 1997, Unilever sold its specialty chemicals division, including
Biocon, to Imperial Chemical Industries (ICI). In 1998, Kiran Mazumdar's fiancée,
Scotsman John Shaw, personally raised $2 million to purchase the outstanding
Biocon shares from ICI. The couple married in 1998, whereupon she became known
as Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw. John Shaw left his position as chairman at Madura Coats
to join Biocon. He became Biocon’s vice chairman in 2001.
In 2004, after seeking the advice of Narayana Murthy, Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw
decided to list Biocon on the stock market. Her intent was to raise capital to further
develop Biocon's research programs. Biocon was the first biotechnology company in
India to issue an IPO. Biocon's IPO was oversubscribed 33 times and its first day at
the bourses closed with a market value of $1.11 billion, making Biocon only the
second Indian company to cross the $1-billion mark on the first day of listing.

6. CONTRIBUTION TOWARDS
EMPLOYMENT AND THE ECONOMY.
In 2004, Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw started a corporate social responsibility wing at
Biocon, the Biocon Foundation. The Foundation focuses on the areas of health,
education and infrastructure, especially in rural areas of Karnataka which lack
healthcare facilities.
Mazumdar-Shaw dislikes the term "philanthropy", believing that it often provides
temporary fixes rather than changing underlying conditions. She prefers the term
"compassionate capitalist", believing that properly applied business models can
provide an ongoing foundation for sustainable social progress. "Innovation and
commerce are as powerful tools for creating social progress as they are for driving
technological advancement... when they are put to use for social progress, the
implementation is a lot cheaper, a lot more people benefit, and the effect is more
lasting."
Health
India does not have organized health care programs such as socialised medicine or
government-backed health insurance. Rural areas may have only one doctor for
every two thousand people: it is estimated that 70 million people do not have the
money to pay for a doctor's visit or for medicine. The Biocon Foundation is involved
in numerous health and education outreach programs to benefit the economically
weaker sections of Indian society.
Arogya Raksha Yojana
With Dr. Devi Shetty of Narayana Hrudayalaya Hospital, Mazumdar-Shaw has
supported the development of Arogya Raksha Yojana (Disease Protection
Program/Health Help). Through this program Biocon Foundation establishes clinics
to offer clinical care, generic medicines and basic tests for those who cannot afford
them. As of 2010, seven clinics each served a population of 50,000 patients living
within a radius of 10 km, treating in total more than 300,000 people per year. Clinics
organize regular general health checks in remote villages by bringing in physicians
and doctors from network hospitals. To improve early detection of cancer, they have
trained young women as community health workers, using smart phones to send
photographs of suspicious lesions to oncologists at the cancer center. Public health

7. campaigns such as "Queen of Heart" educate people about specific health issues and
promote early detection of problems such as cardiovascular disease.
The clinics operate on a model of micro-financed health insurance. Biocon provides
low-cost drugs, making a negligible profit on a unit basis, but an overall profit on
volume due to the participation of large numbers of people. Clinics also use a
"subsidised convenience" pricing plan, under which more wealthy patrons pay full
price in return for the convenience of scheduling their visits and procedures at
desirable times, while poorer patients can obtain cheap or even free services by
choosing less desirable times. Doctors and researchers look for opportunities to use
cutting-edge technology in ways that will drive down costs and ensure quality of
service.
Mazumdar-Shaw Cancer Center
The death of her best friend, Nilima Rovshen, and the illnesses of her husband and
her mother from cancer, have motivated Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw to strongly support
cancer research and treatment. In 2009, she established a 1,400-bed cancer care
center, the Mazumdar-Shaw Cancer Center, at the Narayana Health City campus in
Bangalore, collaborating with Dr. Devi Shetty of Narayana Hrudayalaya. In 2011, she
added a center for advanced therapeutics with a bone marrow transplant unit and a
research center. Her goal is to create a world-class cancer center.
Education
In collaboration with collaboration with Mcmillan India Limited and teacher Prathima
Rao, Mazumdar-Shaw has supported development and use of a basic mathematics
textbook, introduced in Kannada schools in 2006.
She funded a multi-year research program by creating the Biocon Cell for Innovation
Management with Dr. Prasad Kaipa at the Indian School of Business in 2009.
Infrastructure
Mazumdar-Shaw speaks openly about the importance of improving India's
infrastructure, emphasizing the need to address issues such as efficient governance,
job creation, and food, water, and health insecurity.
In Bangalore itself, Biocon, Infosys and other companies have had a significant
impact on the city. These companies attract many scientists who would otherwise go
overseas. Once a "pensioner's paradise", Bangalore is now called "the best urban
working environment in India". Biocon Park, built in 2005 not far from Mazumdar-

8. Shaw's original office, is a ninety-acre campus with five thousand
employees. Outside the developed areas, however, there is still severe poverty.
Mazumdar-Shaw is an energetic proponent of good government and infrastructure.
She supported the Bangalore Agenda Task Force, an initiative of S. M.
Krishna and Nandan Nilekani to improve the city's infrastructure and standard of
living. Mazumdar-Shaw is part of the Bangalore City Connect Foundation, a non-
profit trust for discussion of civic issues, involving both urban stakeholders and the
government. Mazumdar-Shaw is actively engaged in urban reform, partnering with
Jana Urban Space Foundation and local government to improve roads. She is also
involved in the Bangalore Political Action Committee (BPAC), which reviews and
recommends candidates running in elections.
After the 2009 flood, Biocon, Infosys and Wipro all committed to rebuilding homes
for flood victims in north Karnataka. Biocon committed to building 3,000 houses at a
cost of Rs 30 crore.
AWARDS & RECOGNITIONS
Mazumdar-Shaw is the recipient of several prestigious international awards including
the Othmer Gold Medal (2014) for outstanding contributions to the progress of
science and chemistry, the Nikkei Asia Prize (2009) for Regional Growth, the ‘Veuve
Clicquot Initiative For Economic Development For Asia' Award (2007), Ernst & Young
Entrepreneur of the Year Award for Life Sciences & Healthcare (2002), and
'Technology Pioneer' recognition by World Economic Forum (2002). On 05/05/2015
Federation University Australia (Formerly known as University of Ballarat) named a
road in Mt Helen campus as Mazumdar Drive. Kiran and Shaw together attended the
opening function and cut the rippon.
Her pioneering work in the biotechnology sector has earned her numerous national
awards, including the prestigious Padma Shri (1989) and the Padma Bhushan (2005)
from the government of India. She was given the Economic Times Award for
'Businesswoman of the Year' in 2004. At the Pharmaleaders Pharmaceutical
Leadership Summit she was named "Global Indian Woman of the Year" (2012); she
also received the Express Pharmaceutical Leadership Summit Award for "Dynamic
Entrepreneur" in 2009. The Indian Merchants' Chamber Diamond Jubilee
Endowment Trust's Eminent Businessperson of the Year Award was presented to
Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw in 2006 by the Governor of Maharashtra, S. M. Krishna. She
also has received the Indian Chamber of Commerce Lifetime Achievement Award
(2005), the 'Corporate Leadership Award' by the American India Foundation
(2005), and theKarnataka Rajyotsava Award (2002).

9. CONCLUSION
Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw's pioneering efforts in biotechnology have drawn global
recognition both for Indian Industry and Biocon. Her unique vision has steered
Biocon's transition from an industrial enzymes company to an integrated
biopharmaceutical company with strategic research initiatives. Biocon is today
recognized as India's pioneering biotech enterprise.
She chairs Karnataka's Vision Group on Biotechnology and also served on the Board
of Science Foundation, Ireland. She presently serves on the Advisory Council of the
Government's Department of Biotechnology where she has been instrumental in
bringing government, industry and academia together, to chart a clear and
progressive growth path for Biotechnology in India. Ms. Shaw is also a Board
member of BVGH (Bio-Ventures for Global Health). Most recently, she has been
invited to join the Prime Minister's Council on Trade & Industry in India and the US-
India CEO Forum.
Ms. Shaw is the recipient of several prestigious awards including the ET
Businesswoman of the Year, Best Woman Entrepreneur, Model Employer, Ernst &
Young's Entrepreneur of the Year Award for Life Sciences & Healthcare, Leading
Exporter, Outstanding Citizen, Technology Pioneer, etc. Her most cherished awards
are however, the national awards, PADMASHRI (1989) and PADMA BHUSHAN (2005)
presented to her by the President of India, for her pioneering efforts in Industrial
Biotechnology.
A successful technocrat of global standing, Ms. Shaw is highly respected in the
corporate world. She is a much sought after biotech pioneer who has been referred
to as "India's Biotech Queen" by The Economist and "India's mother of invention" by
New York Times. She was conferred the Wharton- Infosys Business Transformation
Award in 2006 for spearheading the Biotechnology sector in India. Nature
Biotechnology has recently voted her the most influential Bio-business personality
outside Europe and USA.
Ms. Shaw received a graduate honors degree in Zoology from Bangalore University
(1973) and qualified as a Master Brewer from Ballarat University, Australia (1975).
Ms Shaw also received an honorary Doctorate of Science, from her alma mater,
Ballarat University, in recognition of her pre-eminent contributions to the field of
Biotechnology.
She is married to John Shaw, a Scotsman and Indophile, who headed a leading
textiles MNC, Madura Coats from 1991-1998 as Chairman and Managing Director.
John Shaw has since joined Biocon as Director, International Business and is the
Vice Chairman of the Board.