Dr. Soma Sharma - Global Women Leaders to Watch 2026

Leaders at a Glance

With over 23 years of specialised experience in drug discovery, Dr. Soma Sharma as a leader has evolved from a hands-on researcher into a strategic architect of analytical operations. Her journey is rooted in her deep expertise in structure elucidation and the characterisation of New Chemical Entities (NCEs), where she has perfected her skills in complex molecular classes such as oligopeptides and oligonucleotides.

Name: Dr. Soma Sharma
Designation: Director
Company: TCG Lifesciences (Formerly ChemBiotek Research International)
Industry: Life Sciences and Pharmaceutical industry
Country: India

Dr. Soma Sharma - Global Women Leaders to Watch 2026

Drug discovery is often romanticised as the triumph of a single breakthrough, yet the real test of science lies in the discipline that validates it. Every molecule that advances toward development must first withstand interrogation under unforgiving analytical scrutiny. Precision, interpretation, and intellectual steadiness decide whether promise matures into progress. Within this demanding terrain, Dr. Soma Sharma has built a career defined not by spectacle but by scientific depth and institutional commitment.

Her academic formation at Banaras Hindu University set the tone early. Gold medals at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels, followed by a doctoral degree in Analytical Chemistry, signalled intellectual range, yet they also instilled restraint. Scientific achievement, in her view, carries an obligation to serve something larger than recognition. That sensibility travelled with her into TCG Lifesciences, where more than two decades of continuous engagement shaped her evolution from analytical specialist to Director–Analytical.

Today, she leads a large division spanning purification sciences, spectroscopy and research & analytical development. Her expertise in structure elucidation of new chemical entities, advanced LC–MS method development, multidimensional NMR interpretation, and regulatory-compliant data governance underpins collaborations with international pharmaceutical clients. Each stage of her journey reflects not only acceleration but also the accumulation of judgment.

Portfolio magazine spoke with her to explore the experiences that shaped her thinking, the responsibilities that shaped her leadership, and the convictions that continue to guide her work.

Which achievements or turning points truly shaped you, not just as a professional, but as a person?

Recognition has a way of crystallising responsibility. At my convocation at Banaras Hindu University, where I received five gold medals for academic distinction across my B.Sc. and M.Sc., the applause felt significant, yet the defining moment was far quieter. Watching my parents in that audience, absorbing the weight of their pride, reframed the entire experience. Achievement ceased to be a personal milestone and instead became an obligation. In that instant, a realisation crystallised: with great knowledge comes great responsibility. I made a silent commitment that day to direct my expertise toward societal contribution rather than personal acclaim.

TCG Lifesciences (Formerly ChemBiotek Research International) soon became the proving ground for that conviction. Entering the field of drug discovery reshaped ambition into obligation. Scientific analysis ceased to be an intellectual exercise and became a moral undertaking. Every compound examined represented human hope. Exposure to global clients and advanced technologies broadened perspective and demanded precision. Leadership did not arrive suddenly; it unfolded as the team grew from 100 to over 200 professionals. When I stepped into the role of Director of Analytics, strategic decision-making became central to my work. Growth in scale required growth in character. Every milestone strengthened my belief that science must serve society and leadership must serve people.

Over the years, you have navigated constant change and scale. What lessons continue to shape your leadership approach?

Longevity in leadership teaches one unavoidable reality: stability is temporary. Every phase of growth demands recalibration. Market expectations evolve, operational complexities deepen, and teams expand beyond familiar dimensions. Within that movement, I discovered that tension often arises not from ambition but from imbalance.

Commercial objectives and human development are frequently positioned as opposing forces. Experience taught me otherwise. Sustainable performance emerges when business discipline and personal aspiration reinforce rather than undermine one another. Targets remain essential, yet behind every metric stands a person navigating ambition, doubt, and growth. Recognising that duality required patience and reflection.

Adaptability gradually replaced rigidity as a guiding principle. Authority alone cannot sustain momentum; credibility arises from empathy, and resilience becomes meaningful only when it protects both outcomes and people. Leadership, as I understand it today, rests less on directive power and more on calibrated judgment exercised in shifting conditions.

Can you share one of the most difficult decisions you have made and how it transformed you?

Certain choices define not merely trajectory but identity. At a stage when my marriage was being arranged abroad, I confronted a decision that demanded clarity of conviction. Remaining single in order to dedicate myself fully to my professional path was neither impulsive nor easy. For women in leadership, scrutiny is often layered with expectation, and personal compromise is sometimes presented as inevitable.

I chose differently. Work was not simply a career; it represented commitment, responsibility, and impact. Stepping away from something I had built with determination was never an option I could reconcile with myself. That decision demanded resilience and fortified independence. It sharpened my sense of agency.

Reflection today reveals that the experience did not narrow my life; it expanded it. Solo travel, creative writing, music, and event management remained integral to my identity. These dimensions cultivated a perspective beyond the laboratory and boardroom. Leadership, I came to understand, cannot be compartmentalised. Personal courage informs professional presence.

“Success is no longer measured by titles or achievements; it is measured by the lives we elevate along the way.”

In conversations about women and confidence, what do you believe is commonly misunderstood?

Caution is frequently misinterpreted as hesitation. Many women are raised within environments that prioritise protection, which can limit exposure rather than capability. Reserved communication styles or measured decision-making are sometimes labelled as insecurity.

Opportunity, not competence, often determines visible confidence. When women are entrusted with authority, provided meaningful platforms, and granted ownership of outcomes, performance rarely disappoints. Exposure strengthens conviction.

Across industries and communities, examples continue to demonstrate that capability transcends gender. The women profiled in this very edition illustrate that excellence emerges when potential meets trust. Confidence expands in proportion to responsibility.

As someone who mentors many young professionals, what truth do you wish more women understood earlier?

Awareness of intrinsic worth alters trajectory. Education builds competence, financial independence fosters autonomy, yet self-recognition anchors both. Growth accelerates when individuals internalise their value rather than await validation.

Strength does not require constant assertion. It can manifest through clarity of thought, composure under pressure, and principled decision-making. Emotional intelligence, resilience, and adaptability represent powerful assets that extend beyond technical expertise.

There is something I firmly believe, and if embraced earlier, would spare many leaders from unnecessary doubt.

“You do not seek validation when you know your worth; you create impact.”

Looking ahead, what legacy matters most to you?

Professional titles will inevitably recede into history. What remains are impressions left on people. I hope to be remembered not for hierarchy but for accessibility, not for authority but for encouragement.

Authenticity, strategic clarity, and emotional insight together define the leadership standard I aspire to embody. Intellectual rigour drives performance; empathy sustains loyalty. Balancing cognitive sharpness with emotional awareness has shaped every phase of my journey.

If those who have worked alongside me recall feeling strengthened, challenged constructively, and supported during pivotal moments, then the legacy will be complete. Influence, in its most meaningful form, resides not in position but in the confidence one instils in others.