Shikha Sharma, 50, MD & CEO, Axis Bank

She has had an action-packed year so far. In June, she left the ICICI Group's life insurance company to join Axis Bank, the country's third-largest private bank. "A lot has changed, says Sharma, who after popularising insurance, especially the unit-linked insurance plans (popularly known as ULIPs), is now hawking consumer, corporate and SME loans. Her profile may have changed dramatically in 2009, but she has a record of excelling in whatever task she was entrusted with in the past.

An alumnus of IIM-A, Sharma powered ICICI's insurance arm from zero to a leadership position in a fiercely competitive business and also made it ICICI Bank's largest non-banking subsidiary. Sharma, who loves classical music, believes in embracing change with a positive attitude. Five months into the new job, Sharma created four strategic business units retail, corporate, non banking subsidiaries and a corporate centre. Next, she plans to expand the board of directors from 12 to 15.

Once again in the BT Power List. Does it still enthuse you?
Being in the list is an endorsement of the ability to make a difference; definitely a privilege.

Your definition of power has it changed over the years?
It hasn't. Power to me means the ability to make a difference in whatever sphere that I chose to work in. What changes over the years is the areas I'm focussed on.

New lessons learnt in 2009.
The times of biggest changes are the times of greatest learning. This year has seen maximum learning in a long time.

New frontiers conquered in 2009.
The year 2009 has meant a lot of change to me personally; the organisation I worked with, the business that I was involved with, and even small things, like technology I used and my travel.

What next?
I ask four questions to myself on a periodic basis: Am I learning today, am I making a difference today, am I touching somebody's life and am I happy doing what I am doing?

Resource: Business Today