Kirloskar Brothers all pumped up to draw inspiration from nature

Rama Kirloskar, joint managing director at Kirloskar Brothers and managing director of Kirloskar Ebara Pumps Ltd, draws inspiration from nature to shape her operational and leadership approach.

"I have a background in biology and view the world through natural systems and organic logic. I constantly draw inspiration from nature, which is the ultimate engineer and has perfected resource optimisation," said Kirloskar. "If modern industry could truly adopt these biological principles, we could bridge the gap between high-level production and genuine sustainability."

A member of the 138-year-old Kirloskar business family, she played a key role in making Kirloskar Ebara Pumps debt-free.


For her selection, the jury cited her leadership in portfolio rationalisation to expand margins, differentiation through specialised engineering solutions and commitment to capital-efficient growth.

Kirloskar graduated from Bryn Mawr College in the US with a double major in mathematics and biology. She began her career at Polaris Partners, a Boston-based VC firm.