Honourees
Shukla Bose is the founder and CEO of the Parikrma Humanity Foundation,[2] a nonprofit organization that runs English-medium schools for under-privileged children in Bangalore, India.
She volunteered with Mother Teresa at Missionaries of Charity for 7 years.[1][3] Her career began as a teacher in a convent school in Kolkata, and she later moved on to work at an army school in Bhutan.She then worked with the Oberoi Group, and afterwards as the Managing Director of Resort Condominiums India (RCI (company)). However, as she approached her mid-30s, she began to question what impact she could make in life. She admits, "by 1997, I was doing something bizarre, looking at obits and writing my own too, trying to understand from other people’s lives what leaves behind an impact."In 2000, she accepted an offer run a multinational NGO for children, and started their Indian operations. Within two years of applying her leadership and institution-building skills there, she felt inspired to start an NGO of her own. Shukla Bose spent 26 years in the hospitality industry before giving up her CEO position to begin Parikrma in 2003
Shukla Bose is the founder and CEO of the Parikrma Humanity Foundation,[2] a nonprofit organization that runs English-medium schools for under-privileged children in Bangalore, India.
She volunteered with Mother Teresa at Missionaries of Charity for 7 years.[1][3] Her career began as a teacher in a convent school in Kolkata, and she later moved on to work at an army school in Bhutan.She then worked with the Oberoi Group, and afterwards as the Managing Director of Resort Condominiums India (RCI (company)). However, as she approached her mid-30s, she began to question what impact she could make in life. She admits, "by 1997, I was doing something bizarre, looking at obits and writing my own too, trying to understand from other people’s lives what leaves behind an impact."In 2000, she accepted an offer run a multinational NGO for children, and started their Indian operations. Within two years of applying her leadership and institution-building skills there, she felt inspired to start an NGO of her own. Shukla Bose spent 26 years in the hospitality industry before giving up her CEO position to begin Parikrma in 2003
Adit Jain founded IMA India, an economic and business research firm, in 1994, where he currently serves as Chairman and Editorial Director. Prior to this, he held the position of Vice President and Head of Mergers and Acquisitions (M&A) at Lazard. Adit specializes in advising companies on their India strategies, providing expert witness testimony in commercial litigations, and offering insights during Parliamentary proceedings. He frequently delivers briefings to company boards, speaks at emerging market seminars, and has taught Business Policy as Adjunct Faculty at institutions like the Indian Institute of Foreign Trade and International Management Institute. He is also an accomplished writer with a substantial body of work spanning economics, politics, international affairs, and business practices. He holds non-executive director positions on the boards of Sanmar Group, BMR Advisers, and PR Pundit Public Relations.
Akila Krishnakumar has over 30 years of experience in software product development for financial services and education markets globally. She previously served as President - Global Technology and Country Head for SunGard (now FIS) in India. She is the founding partner of Social Venture Partners, and co-founded the MELA Foundation. In her corporate roles, she is an independent director at IndusInd Bank, Hitachi Energy, Matrimony.com, Brookfield REIT, and Bharat Financial Inclusion. Akila has a strong technology background, having led product development and operations, and received numerous awards for her leadership in the Indian technology industry.
Dr. Thomas, a stalwart in the healthcare sector with over four decades of experience, holds influential positions in numerous national healthcare associations.He founded and patronized the Association of Healthcare Providers India (AHPI), Association of National Board Accredited Institutions (ANBAI), and the Consortium of Accredited Healthcare Organizations (CAHO). His impact on healthcare policy includes - integrating communication skills into medical education, reducing service tax for the health sector, and making assaults on doctors’ non-bailable offenses. His state-level contributions in Karnataka span public health policy, hospital accreditation, and tobacco control. Dr. Thomas consults for the World Bank and has been instrumental in various healthcare initiatives and publications. His leadership during the COVID-19 crisis and numerous accolades, including the IMA Dr. M. G. Garg All-Time Achievement Award, underscore his remarkable career.
Ambi Parameswaran is a veteran branding and advertising professional who is now busy as an independent brand coach, CEO Coach, Independent Director, Adjunct Professor and Author. He still has something to share with the current generation of leaders and brand managers. In his words - "When I share, I end up learning more. I think anyone who has accumulated 30 years or more of experience should not let it all go waste. There are so many out there who can use their expertise. So share as much as you can, and don't expect any reward." Hi three word motto : Learn, Share, Grow.
Anita Gupta draws on a career spanning over three decades in brand development and people management, notably as Sr. Vice President & Managing Partner at J. Walter Thompson. Over a decade ago, she reinvented herself as an Executive Coach, a Sherpa to Leaders, specializing in Emotional Intelligence. My Persona, which she co-founded, focuses on nurturing authentic leadership and personal growth by amplifying strengths and reshaping limiting beliefs. Anita and her team employ the "My Persona Way" to partner with leaders, innovators, and organizations, driving innovation and personal development. Her adventurous spirit and dedication to self-discovery make her a relevant leader in today's world.
Arun Kumar serves as the Managing Partner of Celesta Capital, bringing extensive expertise in finance and investment management. With a career spanning decades, he has a proven track record in guiding investment strategies and optimizing portfolios. Arun's background includes leadership roles at renowned financial institutions, where he honed his skills in risk management, asset allocation, and wealth management. As the Managing Partner of Celesta Capital, he is dedicated to delivering superior financial advisory services and helping clients achieve their investment goals. His unwavering commitment to excellence has made him a respected figure in the finance and investment industry.
Ashoke Sen
Ashoke Sen is an Indian theoretical physicist and distinguished professor at the International Centre for Theoretical Sciences (ICTS), Bangalore. A former distinguished professor at the Harish-Chandra Research Institute, Allahabad, He is also an honorary fellow in National Institute of Science Education and Research (NISER), Bhubaneswar, India. He is also a Morningstar Visiting professor at MIT and a distinguished professor at the Korea Institute for Advanced Study. His main area of work is string theory. He was among the first recipients of the Breakthrough Prize in Fundamental Physics ""for opening the path to the realization that all string theories are different limits of the same underlying theory""
In 1998, he won the fellowship of the Royal Society on being nominated by the theoretical physicist Stephen Hawking. His contributions include the entropy function formalism for extremal black holes and its applications to attractors. His recent important works include the attractor mechanism and the precision counting of microstates of black holes, and new developments in string perturbation theory. He joined the National Institute of Science Education and Research (NISER), Bhubaneswar, India as an honorary professor in the School of Physical Sciences. In the year 2020, he joined Indian Institute of Science Education and Research, Bhopal (IISER Bhopal), Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, India as a Visiting / Adjunct Professor in the department of Physics. He is currently serving as a distinguished professor at the International Centre for Theoretical Sciences (ICTS), Bangalore where he is working on string theory.
Ajay is a seasoned global executive with over 45 years of diverse cross-functional experience. He began his career with 3M in India in 1988, where he played a pivotal role in establishing the company's presence, forming joint ventures, and launching IPOs. Over 28 years with 3M, he held leadership roles worldwide. He retired as the Chairman of Syndicate Bank and now chairs Quantum Advisory Services and serves as an independent director at Alicon Castalloy Ltd. He actively mentors startups, advocates for corporate governance, and contributes to various committees, including those focused on innovation and quality.
Mr. Deepak Sharma served as the Chairman of Citi Private Bank at Citigroup, Inc. from November 2009 to April 30, 2014. Mr. Sharma served as the Chief Executive Officer of Global Wealth Management International at Citigroup Inc., and also served as its Head of U.S. private bank (Citi Private Bank) and Head of Citi Smith Barney.
Mr. Sharma served as the Chief Executive Officer of Global Wealth Management of Asia- Pacific region and Middle East region, Singapore for Citigroup Inc., since March 2005. Mr. Sharma’s career has spanned different functional and geographical areas in the Citigroup global network, which includes management positions in Operations and Technology, Treasury, Strategic Planning, Electronic Banking, and Private Bank & Investment Management.
He worked with Citigroup in India, Korea, Saudi Arabia, USA, and Switzerland prior to coming to Asia to take up his current assignment with the Private Bank. In Switzerland, he served at The Citigroup Private Bank as Head for the Middle East North Africa Region. He serves as Chairman of The Citigroup Private Bank. Mr. Sharma is a Co-founder and Trustee of Indiapore Trust.
he is also the co founder of 91 springboard - the startup growth hub
As Chairperson of the Bharat Floorings Group, Dilnavaz Variava was the driving force of the company’s strategic direction and focus from the 1990s till recently. She continues as a non-executive Chairperson. Being the second generation to run the company in it’s over 90 year’s history; Dilnavaz has unique knowledge of the history of floorings in India. Prior to taking over her role as Chairperson at Bharat Floorings, Dilnavaz was CEO of World Wildlife Fund (WWF) India and has served on many Govt committees on issues of environment and agriculture. She also served for many years on the Board of Grindwell Norton Ltd.
Dinesh Verma (India, 1959) has had a prolific career in the architectural field, now spanning nearly four decades. Having graduated from IIT, Mumbai in 1982, he went on to establish ACE Group Architects in Bangalore in 1984. Which, under his leadership today, has designed and executed a plethora of projects across the country.
Over the years, educational and institutional architecture has been his area of special focus and involvement. Today, he has designed more than 70 schools, 8 engineering colleges and 2 universities. Multinational companies like GE, HP are working in environments designed by him.
Innovation in design, versatility and team work are the vital elements that make up Vermas philosophy. A twice recipient of the Architect of the Year and Social Architect of the Year Award by Sahara-Accomodation Times, the latest feather in Vermas’ cap is the BERG – Business Excellence & Research Group, Singaprore Award for the Best Institutional Architect in 2015.
Currently, the managing editor of Antarya, a bi-annual journal released by IIID-Bangalore, Verma constantly strives to bring the architectural and design community together.
Fiona’s career started in academia, teaching at institutions like St. Xavier's College, Mumbai. However, her observation that sexual education for young adolescents was often overlooked, led her to launch the "Reproductive and Sexual Health Awareness" series in 2008, targeting adolescents aged 8-16, along with parents and teachers.
Dr. Miranda is deeply involved with the NGO Seeds of Awareness and Research Foundation, which focuses on Comprehensive Sexuality Education (CSE) using experiential methods. As a director at the 17000 Ft Foundation, Dr. Miranda contributes to enhancing education in rural Ladakh, raising funds for libraries, digilabs, and teacher training programs.
She is also engaged with various other NGOs, and mentors Catholic youth in a Mumbai-based program called Take Charge, encouraging them to explore their potential in personal, academic, and professional aspects. Outside her commitments, she enjoys performing music globally and engaging in adventure sports with her family, viewing life as an exploration of diverse opportunities.
Dr. Girdhar J Gyani served as the Secretary General of the Quality Council of India from 2003 to 2012. During his tenure, he played a pivotal role in establishing and operating a national accreditation structure to promote quality across various sectors in India. His work extended to manufacturing, education, skill development, environment, healthcare, and public services, benefitting Indian trade and industry globally. Dr. Gyani was elected as a director on the board of the International Accreditation Forum (IAF) and made significant contributions to improving the effectiveness of quality certification processes. He pioneered accreditation schemes for healthcare and environmental impact assessments, making notable advancements in these areas. Dr. Gyani also played a crucial role in developing quality accreditation standards for schools in India, contributing to holistic student development. Dr. Gyani is widely recognized as the "Quality Man of India."
A Wharton graduate with a career spent at P&G followed by a very long and impactful stint at Egon Zehnder, Govind is currently dedicating his time to the social sector. He Chairs SVP in India, is on the board of Give India, and is also a member of the Living my Promise pledge.
On the professional side he continues to help organizations like Infosys (where he is on the board) and Warburg Pincus (where he is an advisor).
Gulab Kothari is an Indian author, and editor-in-chief of Rajasthan Patrika. Kothari is known for his contributions to Vedic Studies and was conferred with the Moortidevi Award in 2011, for his book Mein Hi Radha, Mein Hi Krishna.
Kothari received D.Litt. in philosophy from Intercultural Open University (IOU) in 2002. In March 2004, Kothari was nominated as the newly set-up Pandit Madhusudan Ojha chair at the University of Rajasthan to promote research on Vedas, by IOU. In August 2014, Kothari was awarded PhD in administration from Universidad Central de Nicaragrua (UCN) and Universidad Azteca (UA).
Hema is a seasoned HR professional with over 40 years of experience. As the former Senior VP and Global Head of HR at Infosys, she played a pivotal role in the company's growth. She has over two decades of experience in executive coaching, mentoring, and leadership development, working closely with business leaders, CEOs, and board members to transform their leadership styles for maximum impact.She has held key industry positions, including Chairperson for The Conference Board's HR Council of India and Regional President - South of the National HRD Network of India.
She's recognized as an HR thought leader, regularly contributing insights through her column ""HR Matters"" in Mint. Hema has held key industry positions and received multiple awards for her contributions.
Mr. Jayesh Parekh serves as Managing Partner at Good Startup. He served as Special Advisor at Jungle Ventures. He co-founded Sony Entertainment Television, a major television network launched in collaboration with Sony Japan. Prior to that, he spent over 12 years at IBM in various senior technical, marketing, and business development positions based in Houston and Singapore. He is an active angel investor with investments in various Venture Capital Funds in Silicon Valley and start-up enterprises across the broad technology and media space. He is an Entrepreneur-In-Residence at INSEAD, a member of TiE Angels, and the Indian Angel Network, as well as a board member of Shemaroo Entertainment (media & entertainment, Sanctum and also sits on the Investment Committee of Aavishkaar India II Fund, a social impact fund. He serves on the board of Milaap, a crowd-sourced lending platform. He serves as an Advisor at Genesis Program. He serves as a Senior Advisor at Silk Bridge Partners.
Jija Hari Singh (born 8 January 1951) was the first woman (Indian Police Service) IPS Officer from Karnataka. She remained in service for 36 years before retirement in 2011 as Director General of Police (DGP). Jija Hari Singh qualified the civil services exam and chose Indian Police Service (IPS) in the year 1975, when joining the police force was not an option for a woman. Kiran Bedi was in training at that time, but there was no one else.
Jija has many popular tags bestowed on her. The J Mag on women's special cover story adorned with a beautiful picture of her describes Jija M Harisingh as the first lady IPS officer in South India.
A recipient of the Indira Priyadarshini National Award for Contribution to Arts, Jija Harisingh is an artist of repute who has held solo exhibitions in Washington, Wollongong and New Delhi. Her work has also been exhibited in London, Vienna, Berlin, Jakarta etc. Jija Madhavan Harisingh was one of the fifty Indian women artists chosen by Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) for the international exhibitions of the Amrita Shergil Revisited project.
Jija is presently the President of the Institute of Directors, Bangalore Chapter and the Honorary President of The Art Mantram Foundation, a not-for-profit trust that promotes Indian art.
I am an engineering graduate from IIT Madras and an alumnus of IIMC. I have been a serial entrepreuner and 5 years back I sold everything including the IP and took up writing . l have staged a couple of plays that I had written. Two of my novels are published- one a mainstream litfic by Rupa in India and another - a comic adventure fantasy in the US. Apart from this, I have translations of short stories from Tamil to English.
Dr. Raghupathy is a former Director of the Ministry of Environment, Forests, and Climate Change in GOI. She currently serves as Visiting Faculty at the TERI School of Advanced Sciences, teaching post-graduate students and guiding research for doctoral and post-graduate students. Dr. Raghupathy is an advisor and independent consultant specializing in Environment Management, Sustainable Development, and Circular Economy. She is an expert member on advisory and scientific committees in India and abroad and holds editorial roles in prestigious journals. With 42 years of experience in environmental health, waste management, and impact assessment, she has received international awards for her contributions, including in E-waste recycling and environmental research.
Luis Miranda, Chairman of the Board & Co-Founder of the Indian School of Public Policy, is deeply involved in philanthropy and social initiatives. He co-founded Take Charge, a mentoring program for Catholic youth, and is a #LivingMyPromise signatory, pledging to donate at least 50% of his wealth to charity. He serves on the boards of several organizations, including Educate Girls and SBI Foundation, and is a Trustee at the University of Chicago Trust in India. Luis played a pivotal role in establishing HDFC Bank and IDFC Private Equity, and his contributions have been recognized with various awards and honors.
Mani K
Mani Krishnamurthy is a visionary entrepreneur who founded and leads Indus Life Sciences Pvt Ltd. His remarkable journey began with humble beginnings, starting work at 18 while pursuing a B.Com degree in the evenings. Over the years, he advanced from manual labor to administrative roles, all while continuing his studies. In 1985, he joined Tablets India, gaining international exposure. Despite initial doubts due to his middle-class background, he founded Indus with support from his wife. Starting with minimal capital and two co-founders, the company has grown to a 200+ Crore global organization with 165+ employees in 40+ countries and a diverse product portfolio. Indus focuses on understanding local needs and has expanded into consumer products, including health and wellness offerings. Mani Krishnamurthy's vision extends to making Indus a 500+ Cr organization, securing a lasting legacy for future generations.
Ms. Manjari Jaruhar is a pioneering figure in India as one of the first five women police officers and the first from Bihar. She retired as Special Director General of the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) and had a distinguished career in the Indian Police Service (IPS). Her memoir, 'Madam Sir,' has become a bestseller. She currently advises Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), serves as Chief Coordinator with the Indian Music Industry (IMI), and is a Senior Advisor to 9.9 Media. Ms. Jaruhar is renowned for her expertise in security, personnel management, training, gender issues, and has been recognized with prestigious awards and accolades.
Dr Maria Nigam, a clinical physician, has dedicated the past thirty years to medical social work and is committed to promoting Public Health with an emphasis on equity, quality and accountability. She founded PRANA in the pandemic to give “Praan” to Covid patients by facilitating plasma donations- Beyond the pandemic PRANA continues to encourage donation of Blood and Blood Products through an active registry of donors and match them to recipients in need. PRANA Mental Health worked to create a positive impact on the emotional problems in the pandemic. Also very assionate about Preventive Medicine, she developed PRANA for Clean Air works to mitigate airborne transmission by promoting and donating N95/ FFP2 Masks, creating awareness on enhancing ventilation and upgrading or adding air filtration. Prana has partnered with Active Buildings to donate low-cost Air Cleaners to vulnerable indoor spaces. Dr Nigam is also an avid Angel investor-keen to support Clean-Tech & Health-Tech with a focus on elder-care, tele-health, mental health and solutions for Long Covid patients.
An entrepreneur & innovator with more than three decades of cross-function/cross-industry experience (20 years as a first-generation entrepreneur), Anjan has co-authored a seminal technical book and has one granted and five pending patents. Previously he was Co-founder and managing director of HyCa Technologies Pvt Ltd (www.hycator.com); Director, Proact Research & Consultancy Pvt Ltd; India rep, UNITOR (Norwegian MNC); Branch Sales Manager, (PPD), ITC Ltd; Chief engineer with foreign merchant ships and marine engineer with Great Eastern Shipping.
Anjan Mukherjee, a former marine chief engineer, created a device to turn contaminated water into safe water. Anjan, who likes to play with machines and considers science as his passion, says he stumbled upon the technology which he thought could solve the world’s drinking water problem, and that translated into a company. Along with his wife Piyul Mukherjee, he started Taraltec Solutions in 2017 in Mumbai.
Mathew Cherian, Board Chair of CARE India, has a background in rural development and cooperatives, working with the National Dairy Development Board. He served as Director of Oxfam India and is involved in various policy committees and high-level bodies related to social justice, corporate social responsibility, and elder rights. As the former CEO of HelpAge and now Global Ambassador for HelpAge International, he focuses on aging and poverty issues. Cherian is also a member of the Global Future Council of the World Economic Forum and an author of books like "The Million Missions" and "Ageing and Poverty."
Dr. Meenakshi Bharath is a Gynecologist and Fertility specialist at the Centre for Assisted Reproductive Techniques (CART). Beyond her medical career, she is a passionate green campaigner and a staunch advocate for a Clean Bangalore. Driven by her dedication to waste segregation and recycling, she tirelessly works to raise awareness about solvable environmental issues.
Despite her medical profession, Dr. Meenakshi actively entered public service, running for elections as a corporator in the Bangalore Bruhat Mahanagar Palike in 2010 and the Karnataka State Legislative Assembly in 2012. Her entry into politics aims to change the game by introducing dedicated and responsible players.
With boundless energy, Dr. Meenakshi has spent the last decade leading social campaigns, addressing critical issues, and proposing sustainable solutions. Her primary focus remains on environmental and health concerns, connecting people, and resolving day-to-day challenges.
Dr. Meeran C. Borwankar, a 1981 Indian Police Service (Maharashtra Cadre) member, held key positions such as Director General of the Bureau of Police Research and Development (BPR&D), Director General of the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), and Commissioner of Police in Pune. She's a Hubert H. Humphrey Fellow from the University of Minnesota and a Law graduate. Dr. Borwankar specializes in financial crime, gender issues, human rights, and law enforcement. Recognized for her contributions, she's received the President of India Police Medal for Distinguished Services (2006), among other things has authored multiple books.
Milind Sarwate, Founder & CEO of Increate, focuses on business and social value creation, particularly in ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance), offering advisory and mentoring services. He serves as an Independent Director on the boards of prominent companies like Asian Paints, Mahindra Finance, Nykaa, Matrimony.com, and Hexaware, specializing in audit committees. With four decades of experience, he held key roles as CFO and CHRO at Marico and Godrej. Milind is a Chartered Accountant, Cost Accountant, Company Secretary, and a CII-Fulbright Fellow (Carnegie Mellon University, USA). He has received prestigious awards, including the ICAI CFO Award and CNBC TV-18 CFO Award, and is in the CFO India Hall of Fame.
Narayan Ramachandran, the former Chairman of RBL Bank and Chairman & Co-Founder of InKlude Labs, focuses on education and public health. His organization, InKlude Labs, collaborated with State Governments in Bihar, Rajasthan, and Delhi to deworm 35 million children in 2013.
With over 20 years of investment experience, he managed over $25 billion in assets for Morgan Stanley's Global Emerging Markets and Global Asset Allocation teams. Narayan actively invests in entrepreneurial ventures, emphasizing market-based solutions in areas like micro-finance, social venture capital, and affordable housing. He also writes a column called ""A Visible Hand"" for The Mint Newspaper, published in collaboration with the Wall Street Journal in India.
Neeta, a papermaker and historian, embraces authenticity by eschewing pretentious elements like watermarks and labels. She once wore an all-paper outfit but had to rush for cover when it rained, avoiding a wardrobe disaster. Her life mirrors her book, "Off the Deckle Edge," which celebrates the handmade paper's uniqueness. Neeta's paper-making journey in India is documented in a tactile narrative, using materials like marigold petals, banana fibers, silk strands, and gunny rags. She started her paper-making journey by pulping water hyacinths, only to have them eaten by stray dogs. Neeta's path led her to collaborate on earthquake-resistant cardboard houses in Gujarat with Shaigeru Ban and Kartik, offering affordable and durable housing solutions.
Padmashree is driven to make a social and environmental impact, focusing on climate crisis solutions. She excels in fundraising and supports entrepreneurs in scaling their clean technology ventures in sustainable energy. As President of the Koramangala 1st Block Residents' Welfare Association, she fosters a waste-conscious community and works closely with civic authorities to optimize ward-level waste management, resulting in a unique biogas plant initiative recognized by the German Ministry of Environment. Padmashree has conducted 1000+ workshops on topics like waste segregation and sustainable menstruation, with success in waste management in slums and markets. She's a force for positive change, notably in Bangalore.
Dr Pallavi Mody is a professor of Economics. She has a PhD in Capital Markets. Besides Economics, she has taught Personal Finance at several places, including SP Jain Institute of Management and Research, Mumbai. Pallavi was a full-time Professor at S.P. Jain Institute of Management & Research in the area of Economics and Finance (2006-2022). Currently, she is Honorary Visiting Faculty at the institute teaching Personal Finance, Business Environment and International Business. She launched SVA Finance post-retirement in 2022, a personal finance consultancy, with a mission to educate and empower people to become self-sufficient in all financial matters.
Paula, a stalwart in India's early-stage startup ecosystem since 2006, is the founding partner of Aureolis Ventures, specializing in impact-driven investments. She also presides over Stanford Angels & Entrepreneurs India, an angel investing platform for Stanford alumni. With over 75 investments in India, Singapore, and the US, Paula mentors numerous startups while championing entrepreneurship, education, and science. Her roles span various boards, including KREA University, incubators like Riddl-BIRAC, and industry associations such as IMC, TiE, and CII. Paula's philanthropic efforts extend to multiple organizations, fostering positive change. Holding a master's degree in applied physics from Stanford University, she resides in Mumbai, indulging in painting, poetry, trekking, and nature exploration.
Ms. M. Rajyalakshmi Rao, an Independent Director of Tech Mahindra Limited, holds an MBA from Osmania University and an MS in Advertising from the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, USA. With 18 years of experience in the Consumer Judicial System, she spent eight years with the Maharashtra District and State Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission and ten years with the National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission, Government of India. A prolific author, she wrote two books on the consumer movement. She's been a member of various significant committees, including the Reserve Bank of India Committee on Customer Service in Banks and the Film Censor Board. She's held leadership positions as the First Lady President of the American Alumni Association in Mumbai and the immediate past National President of the Indo-American Chamber of Commerce. Additionally, she founded the All India Foundation of Deaf Women and serves on the Advisory Board of the Council for Fair Business Practices, among various other roles in business and industry organizations.
R. Ramanan is a distinguished professional with a remarkable career spanning various leadership roles. He served as the First Mission Director of the Atal Innovation Mission (AIM) and Additional Secretary at NITI Aayog, overseeing a national innovation and entrepreneurship initiative in India. During his tenure, AIM established over 10,000 Atal Tinkering Labs in schools, 75+ Atal Incubation Centers, and 19 Atal Community Innovation Centers. He facilitated the Atal New India ARISE challenge and a substantial network of mentors. Ramanan also boasts a strong corporate background, having been the MD & CEO of CMC Ltd, a subsidiary of TCS. His leadership led to CMC's successful amalgamation into TCS. He's a Harvard Business School alumnus, sustainability leader, and recipient of several prestigious awards, including the IIT Bombay Distinguished Alumnus Award in 2023. Currently, he holds board positions and chairs various initiatives, including New Zealand Trade and Enterprise Beacheads.
Rtd. Brigraider Ravi Khullar
Retired Brigadier Ravi Khullar, a highly decorated war veteran with service in the 1971 Indo-Pak and 1999 Kargil wars, initially chose a military career over a lucrative engineering job. He enjoyed a distinguished military career, receiving the Chief of Army Staff Commendation Card in 1996. After retiring, he served as the CEO of The Club Mahabaleshwar, a luxury heritage resort, and continues to consult for them. Brig Khullar also advises a rural hospital near Pune, impacting its operations and motivating staff. A spiritual practitioner since an early age, he's been teaching Raja Yoga meditation and guiding numerous seekers. Despite macular degeneration affecting one eye, at 75, he remains dedicated to his spiritual mission, advocating for universal love, compassion, and world peace.
Ravi Gilani, a leading expert in cash flow enhancement, introduced the Theory of Constraints (TOC) to Indian companies in 1998. With over 30 years of consulting experience and 21 years as a practitioner, Ravi has consulted for diverse industries and received the TOCICO Lifetime Achievement Award. He created innovative concepts like Cash Velocity and Free Cash Score. As an IIT Delhi alumnus, he emphasizes challenging industry norms and metrics-driven decision-making. He aims to make India a thriving $5 trillion economy and now focuses on making organizations debt-free through concepts like Free Cash Score, weekly reviews, and doing Better Than Before period after period.
Revathy Ashok is a Co-Founder of Strategy Garage, a strategy and growth consulting firm for startups and medium-scale companies. She's an active Angel Investor, member of Indian Angel Network and LetsVenture, and works closely with investee companies on strategy and growth. In her corporate career, she held leadership positions, including Managing Director at Tishman Speyer (PE Fund) and CFO of Syntel Inc. Revathy is an Independent Member on the Boards of several leading companies and chairs audit and nomination committees.
She's also involved in social and philanthropic efforts, including serving as the Honorary Managing Trustee of B.PAC, advocating for city governance, transparency, and more in Bangalore. Revathy has received numerous awards and recognitions for her contributions to various fields.
With over 40 years of experience in healthcare and life sciences, I am a passionate leader, advisor, speaker, and author who focuses on the intersection of AI, precision medicine, and longevity science. My mission is to bring in a new paradigm of personalized, preventive medicine to advance healthy lifespan for people around the world.
I am a Founding Director of Metadvice, a company that leverages AI to provide personalized health advice and guidance. I also aim to transform the process of medical innovation in response to the future challenges facing healthcare worldwide, by advising and assisting life science enterprises on strategy, M&A, business development, and innovation. My past senior roles at Celgene, ABPI, IBM, Chiron, and others enable me to bring together the different worlds of pharmaceuticals, diagnostics, and medical informatics in the new era of P4 medicine.
RK Misra, co-founder of Yulu Bikes and Director at Magna Yuma, is also the President of the Society of Manufacturers of Electric Vehicles (SMEV) for 2023-24. In this capacity, he will spearhead SMEV's efforts to accelerate the adoption of electric vehicles (EVs) in India, drawing upon his extensive knowledge of the country's evolving mobility landscape. With nearly two decades of experience in urban planning, policy, and technology, Mr. Misra has collaborated closely with governments and industry bodies. He is also affiliated with Carnegie India, where he leads the Technology and Society program, and is involved in various other organizations and initiatives.
Sanjiv founded and led Egon Zehnder's practice in India, establishing the firm's dominance in executive search across various industries. Before this, Sanjiv co-founded Sachar Vasudeva & Associates, a Chartered Accountancy and Management Consulting firm, in 1985. He also co-founded the Executive Search Firm Direct Impact. He began his career in the finance function at SRF Nippondenso and later worked in management consulting at A F Ferguson.
Sanjiv has held various board positions, including HDFC Bank, KDDL Chandigarh, and Info Edge(India) Ltd.
He is involved in philanthropic endeavors and serves on advisory councils, including the Shaurya Trust Foundation and Social Venture Partners.
Shukla Bose is the founder and CEO of the Parikrma Humanity Foundation,[2] a nonprofit organization that runs English-medium schools for under-privileged children in Bangalore, India.
She volunteered with Mother Teresa at Missionaries of Charity for 7 years.[1][3] Her career began as a teacher in a convent school in Kolkata, and she later moved on to work at an army school in Bhutan.She then worked with the Oberoi Group, and afterwards as the Managing Director of Resort Condominiums India (RCI (company)). However, as she approached her mid-30s, she began to question what impact she could make in life. She admits, "by 1997, I was doing something bizarre, looking at obits and writing my own too, trying to understand from other people’s lives what leaves behind an impact."In 2000, she accepted an offer run a multinational NGO for children, and started their Indian operations. Within two years of applying her leadership and institution-building skills there, she felt inspired to start an NGO of her own. Shukla Bose spent 26 years in the hospitality industry before giving up her CEO position to begin Parikrma in 2003
Soumitra boasts a 39-year career in the corporate world, starting with his Chartered Accountancy from ICAI and Articleship at Price Waterhouse. He held pivotal roles at TATA Steel and INDAL, and was a founding member of Tanishq at Titan Company Limited before joining Bosch Ltd. Soumitra has made significant contributions to CII (Confederation of Indian Industry), chairing the National Committee on MNCs from 2020 to 2023. He also led the Karnataka State Council for CII (2013-2014) and served on the National Level Skills Committee-CII (2017-2019) while promoting business excellence and agile corporate environments. As of July 2023, he has taken on the role of CEO and Director at IFQM, an industry initiative focused on Quality, Excellence, and Innovation. Outside work, he enjoys traveling and engaging in social service.
Subramanian Sarma is a highly experienced professional serving as the Whole-time Director & Sr. Executive Vice President (Energy) at L&T, overseeing Hydrocarbon, Power, and Green Manufacturing & Development. With a Chemical Engineering degree and a master's from IIT Mumbai, he boasts over 40 years of experience, including 30 years in the Middle East. His expertise covers the entire Oil & Gas value chain, encompassing Executive Management, Business Development, Project Management, and Process Engineering. Recognized for his significant contributions, he received the Distinguished Alumnus Award in 2021 from IIT Bombay and was named CHEMTECH CEW Business Leader of the Year in 2017. He joined L&T's board as a Non-Executive Director in 2015 and previously served as the Managing Director of Petrofac - Onshore Engineering & Construction, responsible for global onshore projects.
Sudha transitioned from a career as a scientist and clinical researcher in the US to the nonprofit education sector in India. Sudha is the Honorary Managing Trustee of the Foundation For Excellence India Trust. This nonprofit awards merit-cum-means scholarships to financially disadvantaged students in India, enabling them to pursue professional education, escape poverty, and uplift their families. Her dedicated efforts as Managing Trustee contributed significantly to FFE's growth, resulting in scholarships for thousands of students across India. This achievement underscores the impact of her unwavering commitment, professionalism, and passion for positive change.
She's a Board member of FFE-USA and a partner at Social Venture Partners, Bangalore. Her earlier scientific work focused on HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment.
Sumathi Rao, an Indian theoretical physicist and professor at the International Centre for Theoretical Sciences in Bengaluru, specializes in condensed matter physics. She's been an advocate for gender equality in academia and was a member of the International Union of Pure and Applied Physics' (IUPAP) women in physics promotion from 2000 to 2008. Rao has faced bias in her scientific career, with insinuations that her husband, also a renowned scientist in the same field, authored her work. She actively participated in IUPAP's working group for women in physics, aiming to enhance female representation in physics, particularly in leadership roles. She's written articles encouraging girls to pursue careers in science and engineering and overcome the challenges they may encounter. For her contributions to theoretical condensed matter physics, she has received prestigious fellowships from the National Academy of Sciences, India, in 2001 and the Indian Academy of Sciences in 2017.
Susan Lim Mey Lee is a pioneering Singaporean surgeon known for performing the first successful liver transplant in Singapore in 1990. She pursued her education in Singapore and Australia, studying medicine at Monash University under a Colombo Plan scholarship. Dr. Lim gained recognition for her medical work when she treated victims of the second Bali bomb blast in 2005. She and her husband established the Indiapore Trust to support underprivileged children and provide medical scholarships and bursaries at various universities. Additionally, she's been involved in the field of stem cell research and has held roles like Co-Chair of the Global Advisory Council for the International Society for Stem Cell Research. Dr. Lim is also a playwright and composer, having created musical and orchestral works. Her contributions extend to the world of music, with her pieces recorded by renowned orchestras and musicians.
Sushil Kumar Jiwarajka is a prominent industrialist and serves as the Honorary Consul General of Greece in Mumbai. He chairs the Artheon Group of Companies, with interests spanning Telecom, Renewable Energy, Industrial Batteries, and E-commerce. He is also the Chairman and Managing Director of Essjay Ericsson Pvt. Ltd, a Joint Venture with LM Ericsson. Additionally, he has promoted OMC Power Company, which provides clean, renewable energy for telecom and rural communities, earning numerous awards. His leadership extends to Artheon Electronics, known for executing prestigious rooftop solar projects across India. Jiwarajka has held various influential positions, including Chairman of the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce & Industry-Western Regional Council, demonstrating strengths in strategy, finance, government liaison, and international business. He's also an angel investor in startups, a motivational speaker, singer, and a social entrepreneur.
Thomas K. Philips is an accomplished senior investment professional, researcher, educator, author and subject matter expert on Risk Management, Portfolio Management, Performance Measurement and Valuation. He currently teaches Quantitative Portfolio Management and Valuation Theory in the Department of Finance and Risk Engineering at NYU’s Tandon School of Engineering.
He has a long history of achievement, including award winning innovation and research that has influenced investment practice, product design, client service and education. He is a highly sought-after speaker at seminars, conferences and educational events.
TVG Krishnamurthy has extensive board-level experience of over 40 years in both multinational corporations and domestic businesses. He is deeply committed to mentoring entrepreneurs and supporting their growth, and is associated with several non-profit organizations. He presently mentors entrepreneurs in India, promoting early stage companies with global ambitions especially in the technology space. TVG acts mostly as a ‘Non-executive Chairman’, helping companies to strategize and to deliver unique customer advantages and competitive internal competencies. He is a Board member of OMI Foundation and also a trustee member of the Ola Foundation. He brings his expertise to guide organizations towards women's empowerment and education.
Ulhas Karanth
Kota Ullas Karanth is a prominent conservation zoologist and tiger expert based in Karnataka, India. He formerly directed the Wildlife Conservation Society's India Programme and played a pioneering role in employing camera traps for population density studies of large wild mammals in India. His work has primarily focused on Bengal tigers, involving country-wide surveys to estimate their populations and habitat needs, with a specific emphasis on conserving prey populations to ensure the survival of keystone predator species like tigers. Karanth has received several notable awards and honors for his contributions, including the J. Paul Getty Award for Conservation Leadership, the George Schaller Lifetime Award in Wildlife Conservation Science, the Padma Shri award, and recognition from organizations like the Sierra Club and Sanctuary Asia for his lifetime achievements in wildlife conservation.
Since 2000, Ravichandar has been actively engaged in pro bono work related to urban issues in India. He contributed to the Expert Committee on BBMP Restructuring for Bengaluru from 2014-18, initiated the City Connect platform for collaboration between corporates, civil society, and government in five cities, and championed the concept of Tender SURE in Bangalore, focusing on pedestrian-centric streets. He was a member of the Bangalore Agenda Task Force (BATF) from 2000-04 and also contributed to catalyzing the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JN-NURM). He is the Honorary Director of Bangalore International Centre and serves as the Honorary Consul for the Republic of Slovenia in Bangalore, India.
Additionally, he supports various social and cultural initiatives, and served as the co-Chair of the Karnataka Tourism Vision Group from 2013-16. With a background in Mechanical Engineering from BITS, Pilani, and an MBA from IIMA, he boasts 40 years of industry experience in research-based consulting.
Veena Iyer had a fulfilling banking career spanning over 35 years before discovering her true calling in her 60s. She underwent training in Dance Movement Therapy (DMT) at TISS in collaboration with Kolkata Sanved, specializing in working with diverse communities, including senior citizens, specially-abled individuals, school groups, teachers, homemakers, and corporate groups. Veena is passionate about giving back to society and has conducted awareness camps, therapeutic sessions, and workshops, even adapting to online platforms during the pandemic. She is associated with various forums for the elderly and contributes her expertise to health magazines. Now at 74, her zest for learning and making an impact continues unabated.
Vijay Padaki
Vijay is a distinguished Theatre Educator and management professional with a 60-year involvement in theater and 45 years in management. He founded The P&P Group, focusing on Organization and Institutional Development. He played key roles in institutions like the Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad, and Indian Institute of Management, Bangalore. Elected a Fellow by the International Association of Applied Psychology, he made significant contributions to research and practice. Vijay was also deeply involved with Bangalore Little Theatre (BLT), serving as actor, director, trainer, and administrator. He played a pivotal role in establishing the Bangalore Little Theatre Foundation and its Academy of Theatre Arts, fostering theater education and practice in India. Vijay has authored numerous plays and received accolades for his contributions to theater.
I Support young entrepreneurs and startup’s, work closely with a few of my clients and support through oversight in the area of Strategy, Finance, HR, Gen Administration and fund raising.
Am very passionate about the disability area and was the founder Director of National Institute of Speech and Hearing - NISH for 20 years.
In 2017 set up the Center for Autism and other Disabilities Rehabilitation Research and Education. (CADRRE)
Was the Founder CEO of Technopark Trivandrum- India’s first Technology Park.
Vijaya Verma is a seasoned technologist and entrepreneur with 24 years of experience in the IT industry. Her expertise encompasses technical design, business development, capital raising, and technology advocacy, focusing on building products, teams, and companies from the ground up. Currently leading Yos Technologies, she shapes the company's vision, corporate and business strategies, and oversees capital raising and growth initiatives. Prior to Yos Technologies, she was the driving force behind Alopa Networks, a pioneer in end-to-end OSS solutions for broadband. Alopa quickly rose to prominence under her leadership, becoming one of the top three broadband OSS vendors globally. In her earlier role as General Manager at Wipro, she managed the Product Division and played a crucial role in the success of CyberManage, a Java-based web-based network management product marketed worldwide. Vijaya holds a Master's Degree in Computer Communications from IIT Bombay and a Bachelor's Degree in Electronics and Communications from MS University, Baroda.
Yash (Paul) took an early retirement in July 2016 from the corporate world to follow his passion to make a contribution to the field of education of the underprivileged and women empowerment. Formerly as the CIO and Head of India Technology Delivery Center for Aon, Yash had delivery responsibilities for the Aon technology center and headed a team of 2500+ professionals engaged in software development and infrastructure management for Aon global businesses.
Prior to joining Aon Hewitt, he has worked for large multinational companies like American Express, General Electric and Fidelity in C level positions.
Yash currently enjoys his Golf, Long distance running, playing Saxophone and teaching Physics.