These #4 Indian Women are Making Millions in Commodity Trading The commodity market, not just in India but around the world, is mainly male-driven and finding a woman trader is a tough task

By Vanita D'souza

Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

You're reading Entrepreneur India, an international franchise of Entrepreneur Media.

LinkedIn I Entrepreneur Media

Hillary Clinton once said, "Women are the largest untapped reservoir of talent in the world." Though Clinton's comment is generic, being relevant to all sectors and industries, it simply fits best for the commodity trading business.

The commodity market, not just in India but around the world, is mainly male-driven and finding a woman trader is not an easy task.

In fact, chances are that a lot of traders don't even know that female traders do exist.

So, Entrepreneur India has prepared a list of women traders, who have crossed barriers to make it really big in the commodity market.

#Madhu Vadera Jayakumar

She is among the first few female women commodity traders, who founded E-commodities Limited.

This former CEO of E-commodities Limited has more than 17 years of experience in the financial markets and is an IIM MBA graduate as per her LinkedIn profile. She is an independent investor and also the public interest director in the Multi Commodity Exchange (MCX).

#Jyothi Budhia

With over 30 years of experience in the financial market, including the commodities, one can often spot Budia in the early morning financial market news shows.

She is a derivative and technical analyst and has been the Director of BK trading since 1986. Apart from being a trader and giving expert opinions on television, Budhia also spends time educating students and is a visiting facility of in-house institutes of stock markets like Bombay Stock Exchange, National Stock Exchange, MCX and the Manipal University.

#Vaishali Sarwankar

Trading runs in the blood of this Maharashtrian Porgi, whose family has its roots in the baniya (trading) community. But, she has learned her commodity trading skills from her previous employer Bunge Limited.

Presently, she is not just rocking the domestic market, but is also playing her cards right in the international commodity market.

Sarwankar is the Head of International Trade and Director at Atlantic Industrial & Trading, a Singapore-based trading company, which has a turnover of more than USD 500m.

It's true that women are breaking stereotypes, but the trading business is yet to witness that as the change has still not taken place, Sarwankar once said in an interview to Entrepreneur India.

"I stepped into the sector at an early age, and by now, have come to understand the finer nuances of the business very well. The initial period of finding my footing in the industry was quite unnerving, but things only got better with time. With respect to the supportive government policies and access to capital and technological infrastructure, women now have more opportunities and access to tools to make it big not only in trading but in any field they choose," she added

Apart Atlantic, Sarwankar is also a director of Carnival Edutech Foundation.

#Deepali Singh

After trying her hands in tiffin services and restaurant business, Singh got into commodity broking. Having done a business of more than INR 60 crore, Singh registered her company last year as Jaya Laxmi Foods and operates from the Indore Commodity Market. The firm is majorly into the commodity trading of wheat. Singh is also a national-level basketball player.

Vanita D'souza

Former Senior Correspondent, Entrepreneur India

I am a Mumbai-based journalist and have worked with media companies like The Dollar Business Magazine, Business Standard, etc.While on the other side, I am an avid reader who is a travel freak and has accepted foodism as my religion.

Business News

JPMorgan Shuts Down Internal Message Board Comments After Employees React to Return-to-Office Mandate

Employees were given the option to leave comments about the RTO mandate with their first and last names on display — and they did not hold back.

Business Ideas

70 Small Business Ideas to Start in 2025

We put together a list of the best, most profitable small business ideas for entrepreneurs to pursue in 2025.

News and Trends

India has the Potential to Host over 620 New Large GCCs by 2030: ANSR

The BFSI sector dominates GCCs in India, followed by Manufacturing and Retail/CPG. There is also a strong focus on digital technologies, with 85 per cent of GCCs engaged in digital commerce initiatives.

News and Trends

Ecozen Secures Over USD 23 Mn Debt Funding to Expand Climate-Smart Solutions

This round of investment will be directed toward scaling Ecozen's flagship solutions, including Ecotron, Ecofrost, and advanced motor control systems.

News and Trends

D2C Skincare Brand Foxtale Raised USD 30 Mn Series C Funding

Last year, the Mumbai-based brand raised USD 18 million (around INR 150 crore) in its Series B funding round, led by Panthera Growth Partners from Singapore.

News and Trends

RP Tech to Acquire 70% Stake in Satcom Infotech to Expand Cybersecurity Portfolio

Satcom Infotech will leverage RP Tech's extensive financial resources and robust nationwide distribution network to enhance service delivery and scale operations. Meanwhile, RP Tech will integrate Satcom's expertise in cybersecurity into its offerings, aiming to introduce new brands and forge impactful industry partnerships.