Early Life
Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw was born in Bangalore, Karnataka, India, on March 23, 1953, to Gujarati parents. She graduated from Bangalore University with a bachelor's degree in zoology in 1973. Initially, she aspired to study medicine but was unable to secure a scholarship. Her father, Rasendra Mazumdar, who was the head brewmaster at United Breweries, suggested she study fermentation science and train as a brewmaster, which was an unconventional field for women at the time. She earned a master's degree in malting and brewing from Ballarat College, Melbourne University in Australia in 1975.
Rise to Success
After her studies, Mazumdar-Shaw started her career as a trainee brewer at Carlton and United Breweries, Melbourne, and later worked as a trainee maltster at Barrett Brothers and Burston, Australia. Upon returning to India, she founded Biocon India in 1978 in Bangalore with a seed capital of Rs. 10,000. Initially, she faced challenges in a male-dominated industry, including securing funding and building a team. Biocon became the first Indian company to manufacture and export enzymes to the US and Europe in 1979. Over the years, Biocon expanded into biopharmaceuticals, focusing on diabetes and oncology. In 2004, Biocon went public, becoming the first biotechnology company in India to issue an IPO. In 2001 Biocon became the first Indian company to gain the approval of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the manufacture of a cholesterol-lowering molecule.
Key Business Strategies
Mazumdar-Shaw's business strategy has been focused on 'affordable innovation'. She has emphasized cost-effective techniques and low-cost alternatives for drugs. Biocon has also formed strategic partnerships, such as with Pfizer in 2006, to develop and commercialize biosimilars, expanding its global reach.
Philanthropy
In 2004, Mazumdar-Shaw established the Biocon Foundation, which focuses on health, education, and infrastructure, particularly in rural areas. She is also a signatory to the Giving Pledge, committing to donate the majority of her wealth to philanthropic causes. Her philanthropic efforts include supporting cancer research, establishing the Mazumdar-Shaw Medical Foundation in Bangalore, and contributing to science and research initiatives. She was recognized as the second most generous woman philanthropist in India in 2023.