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I faced a number of challenges whilst I built Biocon. Initially, I had credibility challenges where I couldn't get banks to fund me; I couldn't recruit people to work for a woman boss. Even in the businesses where I had to procure raw materials, they didn't want to deal with women.

My passion for innovation and my interest in the 'business of science' has seen Biocon commercialize many innovative platforms and products.

When I started Biocon in 1978, the obstacles I needed to navigate were manifold - ranging from infrastructural hurdles to issues related to my credibility as a business woman. With no access to venture capital, money was scarce and high-cost, debt-based capital was all I had.

One of the problems in the biotech world is the lack of women in leadership roles, and I'd like to see that change by walking the walk.

We will have to be very vigilant that young female scientists have the same opportunities as their male colleagues.

I feel it is now my duty to speak to young women, to encourage them to have careers and, particularly, careers in science.

'Bionic Woman' really enriched my career. It was a big, amazing thing to do.

IndieBio's capital, facilities and deep mentoring by a network of biotech specific experts have the potential to spawn the Google's, Facebook's and Instagram's of biology.

I'm an investor in a number of biotech companies, partly because of my incredible enthusiasm for the great innovations they will bring.

But while doing that I'd been following a variety of fields in science and technology, including the work in molecular biology, genetic engineering, and so forth.