Economic Times HR Excellence Awards 2027: Recognising women driving business impact through HR

For decades, women have formed the backbone of human resources, shaping culture, supporting talent and building organisations from within. Yet, despite their strong presence, women in HR have rarely had an equal seat at the business leadership table. The role has often been viewed through the narrow lens of employee support and administration, rather than as a strategic function capable of influencing growth, profitability and long-term business success.

That perception is changing.

As talent becomes a critical driver of competitive advantage, HR has moved closer to the heart of business strategy. Today’s HR leaders are expected to understand business performance, leverage data, shape organisational transformation and build the talent strategies that enable companies to scale. Women leaders are increasingly stepping into this role with confidence, moving beyond traditional expectations to become strategic decision-makers, CHROs and CEOs.


It is this shift that the Economic Times HR Excellence Awards 2027 seeks to celebrate through its Woman HR Leader of the Year category under the Leadership Honours track.

The category goes beyond celebrating a successful HR career. It recognises women who have demonstrated that people's leadership can translate into tangible business impact, whether through building high-performing teams, enabling transformation, strengthening organisational culture, improving employee experience or creating more inclusive pathways to leadership.

Recognition at this level matters. It gives accomplished women leaders greater visibility, reinforces their credibility as business strategists and sends a powerful message of ‘HR leadership is business leadership’ across organisations.

More importantly, celebrating these leaders helps redefine what the next generation can aspire to become. When women see other women occupying influential positions and shaping critical business decisions, the path to leadership becomes more visible and more attainable.

The Woman HR Leader of the Year is therefore not just an award. It is a celebration of how far women in HR have come and a statement about where the future of leadership is headed.

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