Radha Vembu: Second Richest Self-Made Woman in Software

At the age of 50, Radha Vembu has emerged as a notable figure in the Indian business arena, recognized as the wealthiest self-made woman in India as per the 360 ONE Wealth Hurun India Rich List 2023.

Renowned in the technology industry, Radha is highly regarded for her significant contributions to software development and business leadership. She is the sister of Sridhar Vembu, co-founder of Zoho Corporation, where she has played a crucial role in the company's success and growth. With sharp intelligence and a passion for innovation, she has led various initiatives within Zoho, contributing to the company's rise as a global leader in cloud-based software solutions. Radha's leadership style combines technical expertise with a commitment to creating a collaborative and empowering work environment. Her dedication to advancing technology and achieving business excellence makes her a noteworthy and influential figure in the dynamic tech industry. Best known for the online office suite offering Zoho Office Suite, the firm competes with the likes of Microsoft and Salesforce.

Radha Vembu - Biography

Radha Vembu - Personal Life
Radha Vembu - Career
Radha Vembu - Zoho
Radha Vembu - Philanthropy
Radha Vembu - Controversy
Radha Vembu - Awards and Recognitions

Radha Vembu - Personal Life

Born on December 24, 1972, in Chennai, Radha completed her early education at the National Higher Secondary School in Chennai. She holds a degree in industrial management from the Indian Institute of Technology, Madras.

Her father, Sambamurthy Vembu, worked as a stenographer in the Madras High Court.

Radha's husband, Rajendran Dandapani, serves on the Zoho board and holds positions as Business Solutions Evangelist at Zoho Corporation and President at Zoho Schools of Learning. On rare occasions, Dandapani has shared on social media that Radha gifts him books and cooks for him.

The couple is blessed with a son.

During her leisure time, Radha enjoys gardening, which is her favorite activity outside of her professional commitments.

Radha Vembu - Career

Radha Vembu, one of the founders of Zoho Corporation, has achieved the status of the wealthiest self-made Indian woman, surpassing Falguni Nayar of Nykaa, as per the Hurun India Rich List 2023. The report values Radha's net worth at ₹34,900 crore, ranking her 40th among the top 100 richest Indians. In the list of India's top five software entrepreneurs, she holds the third position, with Shiv Nadar and the family of HCL leading.

Over the past year, Radha has made a remarkable climb of 103 ranks, as reported in the 2023 M3M Hurun Global Rich List released on March 22. Globally, she stands as the second richest self-made woman in software and services. The 2023 Hurun list features 247 self-made women, a decrease of 22 from the previous year, with 102 women billionaires.

Radha possesses a 47.8 percent stake in Zoho, while her brother Sridhar Vembu owns 5 percent of the company. Another brother, Sekar, is also a stakeholder in Zoho but prefers to stay out of the public eye.

In addition to co-founding Zoho Corporation, Radha serves as a director for an agricultural NGO called Janaki Hi-Tech Agro Pvt. Ltd. and a real estate company named Highland Valley Corporation Pvt. Ltd.

Radha Vembu - Zoho

Zoho, with its headquarters in Austin, Texas, operates from a large 375-acre campus.

Founded by Radha's older brother, Sridhar Vembu, the company originally started as AdventNet in 1996. Radha's wealth comes from her ownership in the private Zoho Corp, known for providing cloud-based business software. After graduating with a degree in industrial management from IIT Madras, Radha serves as the product manager for Zoho Mail and is the director of the Corpus Foundation.

Radha also oversees Zoho Workplace, manages a team of 250, and actively contributes to the development of more than 45 products at Zoho Corporation. She emphasizes her involvement in creating a fair workplace and personally addressing internal issues.

Competing with major companies like Microsoft, Oracle, and Salesforce, Zoho Corp provides a suite of business, collaboration, and productivity applications. With over 30 online applications ranging from CRM to mail, office suite, project management, invoicing, email marketing, social media management, and more, the suite includes Zoho Writer, Zoho CRM, Zoho Sheet, Zoho Show, Zoho Projects, Zoho Meeting, Zoho Creator, Zoho Docs, Zoho Invoice, Zoho People, Zoho Mail, Zoho Assist, Zoho Reports, Zoho Recruit, Zoho Support, Zoho Books, Zoho Bug Tracker, Zoho Campaigns, Zoho Sites, Zoho Connect, and more.

In 2020, Zoho introduced a toolkit named Zoho Remotely to assist businesses in transitioning to a work-from-home setup.

Zoho has obtained 25 patents in the last three years.

Zoho Mail, initiated in 2008, boasts a user base of over 15 million.

Additionally, Zoho is currently testing 'arattai,' a WhatsApp alternative, with the term meaning "chat" in the Tamil language.

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Radha Vembu - Philanthropy

Apart from her business accomplishments, Radha is acknowledged for promoting gender equality and empowering women in the technology industry. Her journey aligns with the global push for fairness and representation in business, making her success a shared triumph for women aiming to overcome stereotypes and create a more inclusive future.

Additionally, Radha's philanthropy work, especially in education, underscores her dedication to improving society. Through support for educational programs, scholarships, and initiatives, she significantly contributes to empowering young minds and nurturing the development of future leaders, extending her positive influence beyond the business sector.

Radha Vembu - Controversy

Pramila Srinivasan, the wife of Zoho's CEO Sridhar Vembu, has claimed that Sridhar provided Zoho shares to his siblings for minimal amounts. One of these siblings is Radha, who holds an almost 48% stake in Zoho.

Radha Vembu - Awards and Recognitions

Radha's name appeared on the Hurun Global Rich List 2023, showcasing a substantial increase in her wealth over the past year. She climbed an impressive 103 ranks during this period, securing the position of the second wealthiest self-made woman globally in the software and services industry.

FAQs

Who is Radha Vembu?

Radha Vembu, one of the founders of Zoho Corporation, has achieved the status of the wealthiest self-made Indian woman, as per the Hurun India Rich List 2023. She currently works as a product manager at Zoho Mail.

What is the net worth of Radha Vembu?

The real-time net worth of Radha Vembu is $2.1 billion.

How much stake does Radha Vembu hold in Zoho Corporation?

Radha Vembu holds almost a 48% stake in Zoho Corporation.