Indian American business leaders Jayshree Ullal and Neerja Sethi have earned spots on Forbes’ 2026 list of America’s Richest Self-Made Women, joining a select group of entrepreneurs and executives who have built significant wealth through their own achievements and leadership.

The annual Forbes ranking highlights women who have created, grown, or led highly successful businesses across industries ranging from technology and finance to healthcare and retail. Ullal and Sethi are among a small number of Indian-origin women recognized on this year’s list, reflecting the growing influence of South Asian entrepreneurs in the American economy.

Jayshree Ullal, president and chief executive officer of Arista Networks, ranked among the wealthiest women on the list with an estimated net worth of $4.8 billion. Since taking the helm of Arista in 2008, Ullal has helped transform the company into a major force in cloud networking infrastructure, serving some of the world’s largest technology companies. Under her leadership, Arista has become a key player in the data center and artificial intelligence networking markets.

Born in London and raised in India before moving to the United States, Ullal earned engineering degrees from San Francisco State University and Santa Clara University. She previously held leadership roles at Cisco Systems before joining Arista and is widely regarded as one of the most influential executives in the technology sector.

Neerja Sethi, co-founder of information technology services company Syntel, was also recognized on the Forbes list with an estimated net worth of $1 billion. Sethi and her husband Bharat Desai launched Syntel in 1980 with a modest initial investment and built it into one of the most successful technology outsourcing firms in the United States.

Over several decades, Syntel grew into a global enterprise serving major corporations across banking, healthcare, insurance, and manufacturing. In 2018, the company was acquired by Atos in a deal valued at approximately $3.4 billion, cementing Sethi’s place among the country’s most successful self-made entrepreneurs.

The inclusion of both Ullal and Sethi underscores the significant contributions Indian American women continue to make in technology and business leadership. Their careers represent different paths to success – Ullal through executive leadership and company growth, and Sethi through entrepreneurship and company building – yet both demonstrate the impact of long-term vision, innovation, and perseverance.

Their recognition comes at a time when women remain underrepresented among the nation’s wealthiest entrepreneurs and executives. Forbes’ list serves not only as a measure of financial success but also as a reflection of leadership influence, business creation, and economic impact.

For the broader South Asian American community, the achievements of Ullal and Sethi highlight the growing presence of Indian-origin women in the highest levels of corporate leadership and entrepreneurship. Their success stories continue to inspire future generations of founders, executives, and innovators across the United States.

Key Takeaways About Jayshree Ullal and Neerja Sethi

• Both were named to Forbes’ 2026 Richest Self-Made Women in America list.
• Jayshree Ullal is the CEO of Arista Networks and has an estimated net worth of $4.8 billion.
• Neerja Sethi co-founded Syntel and has an estimated net worth of $1 billion.
• Both are among the most successful Indian American women in business and technology.
• Their recognition highlights the growing influence of South Asian women in U.S. entrepreneurship and corporate leadership.