Meet Divya Abhishek, a remarkable and accomplished individual hailing from Chennai. Born to N. Sukumar, a Chartered Accountant, and Usha Sukumar, Divya’s journey from her early years at Vidya Mandir showcased her love for reading and an innate passion for learning.

Determined to pursue her intellectual interests, Divya’s studious nature led her to excel academically. She completed her Commerce degree from Madras University and furthered her education with a post-graduation in Business Administration. Her insatiable thirst for knowledge led her to achieve All India Ranks in Chartered Accountancy, Company Secretary, Cost Accountancy and LLB courses. She also completed her certification in International Tax Law and Transfer Pricing from Leiden University, Netherlands. She has obtained Advanced Diploma in International Taxation conducted by the Chartered Institute of Taxation and also has a Diploma in International Financial Reporting Standards from the ACCA London.

Fascinated by numbers, Divya delved into the field of finance at the age of 17, managing a dual commitment to work and correspondence courses at Madras University. Currently, she works with her family concern along with her father, aunt, father in law and husband Abhishek.

Family plays a pivotal role in Divya’s life. Her elder sister Aishwarya, her sister’s husband Harish and his brother Barath share a close bond with her. Divya is married to Abhishek Murali and the couple has two lovely sons. Despite societal expectations, Divya’s supportive family, including her mother who left her job to enable Divya’s career, has allowed her to thrive in both her personal and professional life.

Passionate about women’s empowerment, Divya holds key positions in organizations such as Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce & Industry Ladies Organization (FICCI FLO) Chennai and Women Empowerment Forum of India (WEFI). She thrives on challenges in the corporate world, emphasizing the importance of having a clear framework in mind. Divya also engages in various social causes, serving as Secretary of the Society of Cost Accountants and Treasurer of the All India Taxpayers Association.

An accomplished speaker, Divya has addressed over 1050 meetings and a TEDx speaker as well. She has co-authored a book on “Income Tax Ready Referencer”. She authored books on corporate social responsibility and the technical guide on Social Stock Exchange published by the Institute of Cost Accountants of India. Her accolades include being the youngest woman independent director on the board of listed companies and receiving the prestigious “Woman Star of the Year Award” by the South Asian Federation of Accountants in the SAARC region.

Balancing a hectic schedule, Divya starts her day at 6:30, spending quality time with her toddlers and managing her professional commitments. She is the Chairperson of the Southern Regional Council of ICMAI, and credits her father-in-law V Murali for his mentorship and guidance. She is a visiting faculty at National academy of Direct taxes, C&AG, ICSI institute, ICAI institute and also at her alma mater, Madras University, where she takes classes for MBA students. She also sits on the academic boards of various institutions.

In her pursuit of personal well-being, Divya, a former district-level badminton player, now unwinds with non-fiction books and Netflix shows. Her favorite foods include chaat and garlic bread

.Inspired by Oprah Winfrey’s mantra, Divya focuses on the positive aspects of life, continually breaking glass ceilings and making a lasting impact on the professional and personal fronts.

Juliana Sridhar is a lawyer and columnist