The rise of Indian women?

According to a 2010 report by Catalyst, a not-for-profit focused on women in business, 11% of the CEOs of large Indian companies are women. While that may seem like an unfriendly statistic to women, consider that only 3% of the Fortune 500 are led by the fairer sex.  An HBR blog post points out that women in India represent a growing, attractive talent pool. Consider these facts:

Indra Nooyi, PepsiCo CEO, #6 on Forbe's list of the World's 100 Most Powerful Women

Women make up 42% of India's college graduates, a figure that has grown steadily over the last two decadesand is only expected to rise. Relatively unfettered by cultural preconceptions that steer Western women away from the "hard" sciences, they account for 44% of degrees in the sciences and 25% in business administration, management, or commerce. Also noteworthy: More than 50% of female college grads also hold a post-graduate degree, in comparison to 40% of men. "If you look at the number of top graduates from any Indian school," whether in management or engineering, as one HR manager for a global conglomerate notes, "a disproportionate number are women."

Armed with their freshly minted diplomas, Indian women are hungry to prove themselves. Over 85% aspire to hold a top job, showing levels of ambition nearly double that of their U.S. counterparts and markedly higher than women in Brazil, Russia, or China. Age doesn't affect their determination: Both older and younger Indian women show levels of ambition far higher than their counterparts elsewhere.

Indian gents, time to make some space before you get elbowed aside?

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