Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw Quotes

Powerful Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw for Daily Growth

About Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw

Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw is an eminent Indian entrepreneur, philanthropist, and biotechnology pioneer, known for her significant contributions to the pharmaceutical industry and societal development in India. Born on March 23, 1953, in Bangalore, Karnataka, Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw demonstrated an early interest in science and biology. She pursued a bachelor's degree in chemistry at the Mount Carmel College in Bangalore before moving to Australia for further studies. In 1976, she obtained a Master of Science (Biochemistry) from the University of Melbourne. Upon her return to India in 1980, Mazumdar-Shaw struggled to find employment in the biotechnology sector due to lack of local industry. This adversity fueled her ambition and prompted her to establish Biocon Limited in 1978, which initially produced enzymes for the brewing industry. Over time, Biocon expanded its portfolio to include insulin, biosimilars, vaccines, and research services. In 2004, Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw became the first woman to head a large Indian pharmaceutical company when she was appointed as the Chairperson and Managing Director of Biocon. She has been instrumental in making Biocon a globally recognized biotechnology company and establishing India as a significant player in the global pharmaceutical industry. Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw's influence extends beyond the business realm, as she is actively involved in various philanthropic activities. She serves on the boards of several educational institutions and non-profit organizations, promoting science education and women empowerment. Through her journey, Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw has inspired countless individuals with her relentless pursuit of success and unwavering commitment to nation-building. Her quotes, including "I don't believe in regrets," encapsulate her indomitable spirit and resilience in the face of adversity.

Interpretations of Popular Quotes

"Failure is just a stepping stone to success."

The quote by Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw, "Failure is just a stepping stone to success," emphasizes that setbacks or failures are not dead ends but rather opportunities for growth and progress towards achieving one's goals. It suggests that every failure should be viewed as a learning experience, guiding us closer to our ultimate success. The message encourages resilience, determination, and the ability to learn from mistakes in order to overcome obstacles and eventually succeed.


"The more you dream, the more you achieve."

This quote by Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw highlights the power of dreams in driving achievement. It suggests that having big aspirations or visions for oneself (dreaming) is not only natural but also crucial to accomplishing significant goals. By dreaming, one can set ambitious targets, strive towards them, and ultimately achieve more than they might have otherwise. The quote encourages individuals to envision their potential successes, as the process of dreaming serves as a powerful motivator in the pursuit of personal and professional fulfillment.


"Believe in yourself and take calculated risks."

This quote by Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw encourages personal confidence and strategic risk-taking. The first part, "believe in yourself," emphasizes the importance of self-assurance and trusting one's own abilities. It suggests that a strong belief in oneself is essential for success, as it fuels perseverance and determination. The second part, "take calculated risks," highlights the value of making informed decisions when confronted with uncertainty or challenges. Rather than avoiding risk entirely, she encourages us to carefully evaluate potential outcomes before acting, ensuring that our actions are well thought out and strategic. This balanced approach to risk-taking can lead to growth, innovation, and success in both personal and professional life.


"Success comes from hard work, perseverance, learning, studying, sacrifice and most importantly, love of what you are doing."

This quote by Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw emphasizes that success is not a random event but the result of deliberate effort, persistence, continuous learning, dedication, and above all, passion for one's work or chosen field. In simpler terms, it suggests that to achieve success, one must be prepared to work hard, keep going despite challenges, seek knowledge, make sacrifices, and follow their heart in the pursuit of their dreams. This quote inspires people to understand that success is not an overnight phenomenon but a journey marked by effort, resilience, and love for what they do.


"Don't wait for opportunity, create it."

This quote by Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw emphasizes the importance of proactive action in creating opportunities rather than passively waiting for them to come along. It suggests that individuals should not rely on external circumstances but should actively seek out and build their own opportunities, thereby driving their personal and professional growth. The implication is that taking initiative, being resourceful, and having a spirit of entrepreneurship can lead to success in life.


I have a great team who has helped me build Biocon, I was very fortunate to be able to share my vision with a group of people who really were as excited about challenges as I was.

- Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw

Challenges, Excited, Very, Great Team

We need to ask ourselves: What use is our scientific endeavor and innovation when they are inaccessible to the people who need them the most? It is only when the benefits of research reach the person on the lowest rung of the economic ladder that it can be considered to have delivered true value.

- Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw

Reach, Benefits, Use, Inaccessible

I faced a number of challenges whilst I built Biocon. Initially, I had credibility challenges where I couldn't get banks to fund me; I couldn't recruit people to work for a woman boss. Even in the businesses where I had to procure raw materials, they didn't want to deal with women.

- Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw

Woman, Boss, Deal, Materials

I belong to the breed of first-generation entrepreneurs who have basically created our enterprises with very frugal resources.

- Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw

Belong, Very, Frugal, Breed

I believe in never giving up, no matter what the odds. My mantra is, 'Failure is temporary. Giving up is permanent.'

- Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw

Giving Up, Temporary, Mantra, Odds

My passion for innovation and my interest in the 'business of science' has seen Biocon commercialize many innovative platforms and products.

- Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw

Business, Innovation, Many, Platforms

I want to be remembered as someone who put India on the scientific map of the world in terms of large innovation. I want to be remembered for making a difference to global healthcare. And I want to be remembered as someone who did make a difference to social economic development in India.

- Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw

India, Scientific, Global, Map

Indian business women like Indra Nooyi, Chanda Kochhar, Naina Lal Kidwai, Shikha Sharma, Swati Piramal, Anu Agha, Swati Piramal, Sulajja Firodia Motwani and Zia Mody have put India on the global firmament.

- Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw

India, Global, Put, Indian

As a traditionally risk-averse nation, India has rarely been at the forefront of innovation. Indian companies have mostly imitated others and became very good at it.

- Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw

Innovation, Very, Became, Indian

What really got me focused on cancer was when my best friend was diagnosed with breast cancer, and even though she was a well-to-do person, I found that her treatment costs were crippling.

- Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw

Best, Got, Treatment, Crippling

I think there's a certain paranoia about science because there is a certain risk related to science which people are very wary about, and therefore, there is an inherent risk aversion to science and technology or, at least, science and technology of unknown.

- Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw

Think, Very, Which, Paranoia

My philanthropy is largely focused on healthcare, and I really want to make a difference to people's lives.

- Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw

People, Want, Lives, Make A Difference

I've had many failures in terms of technological... business... and even research failures. I really believe that entrepreneurship is about being able to face failure, manage failure and succeed after failing.

- Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw

Business, Failures, About, Manage

Unfortunately, our stock is somehow not well understood by the markets. The market compares us with generic companies. We need to look at Biocon as a bellwether stock. A stock that is differentiated, a stock that is focused on R&D, and a very, very strong balance sheet with huge value drivers at the end of it.

- Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw

Strong, Very, Differentiated, Drivers

I hate the title of being called 'the richest woman in India,' but it's the recognition that this was the value that I had created as a woman entrepreneur, and that makes me very, very proud.

- Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw

Woman, Proud, Very, Richest

If you think about brewing, it is biotechnology. And I would say that I was a technologist at heart. So whether I... fermented beer or whether I fermented enzymes, the base technology was the same.

- Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw

Think, About, Biotechnology, Base

It was a chance encounter with a biotech entrepreneur from Ireland that got me started as an entrepreneur in India, because I partnered this Irish company in setting up India's first biotech company.

- Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw

Chance, Irish, Started, Entrepreneur

I call myself an accidental entrepreneur. I was all set to take up a brewing job in Scotland when a chance encounter with an Irish entrepreneur led me to set up a biotech business in India instead.

- Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw

Business, Chance, Set, Entrepreneur

I owe my drive and determination to my upbringing, which instilled in me a set of values that make me who I am.

- Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw

Values, Set, Which, Instilled

When I started Biocon in 1978, the obstacles I needed to navigate were manifold - ranging from infrastructural hurdles to issues related to my credibility as a business woman. With no access to venture capital, money was scarce and high-cost, debt-based capital was all I had.

- Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw

Woman, Access, Capital, Scarce

I was greatly inspired by my late father, who was a well-known name in the brewing industry. It was he who encouraged me to take the road less traversed and gave me the confidence to pursue my path of entrepreneurship.

- Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw

Father, Industry, Well-Known, Greatly

As you become more successful, the gender barrier disappears. The credibility challenges you have during your growing up years starts disappearing when you start demonstrating success.

- Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw

Challenges, Gender, More, Disappears

I have successfully challenged the Western world's existing model of pharmaceutical innovation, which leads to the creation of monopolistic markets for novel, life-saving drugs that deliver high margins at low volumes.

- Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw

Innovation, Which, Margins, Life-Saving

I guess I was very fortunate; I had a very very, lets put it this way, I had very wonderful upbringing and a childhood where my parents, of course, exposed us to many cultural aspects, not only of India but other parts of the world.

- Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw

Other, Very, Aspects, Exposed

In India, I personally believe yes, there is a clear fear of unknown; there's a lot of risk aversions in science and technology. They want predictability in everything they do, and it starts from people. It starts from investors. It starts from the regulators. You see that mindset across the society.

- Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw

Science And Technology, Predictability

In Vedic times, we had the great quest for the unknown. We did wonderful things; we celebrate our past vigyaan and our wonderful heritage of science and technology of the Vedic times.

- Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw

Science And Technology, Wonderful Things

Innovation and commerce are as powerful tools for creating social progress as they are for driving technological advancement.

- Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw

Innovation, Driving, Technological

People believe that art and science are two distinct realms. It is far from the truth because, if you look at science from a microscope or from a different lens, you can see the beauty in science. It is very artistic.

- Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw

Beauty, Art, Very, Lens

You have to build a culture of philanthropy. In a country like India, we need to be sensitive and caring about the poorer, more disadvantaged section of our country.

- Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw

Country, Like, Poorer, Philanthropy

India is a fertile ground for entrepreneurs, given its large pool of world-class talent and resources. India's ability to generate wealth and create social good will come if we let entrepreneurs flourish by encouraging and enabling innovation.

- Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw

Innovation, Wealth, Given, Generate

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