Strategy Speakers in India

Bijou Kurien has more than three decades of experience in the Indian Consumer & Retail industry. After earning his spurs at Hindustan Unilever Ltd., he joined the founding team at Titan Industries, where he helped build powerful brands such as Titan, Fastrack, Sonata, and Tanishq, and create India's largest exclusive brand retail chains. In his stint with Reliance Retail, he was at the forefront of one of the most ambitious retail ventures ever which dramatically transformed the Indian retail landscape. Currently, he is an independent consultant and member of the Strategic Advisory Board of L Catterton Asia (a part of the LVMH Group), an independent director on several listed and unlisted companies, advises select consumer product companies and mentors a few start-ups. Bijou has been associated with the India Retail Forum & Retailers Association of India and has been a member of the World Retail Congress since its inception.

As a Consultant and Contributor, Mehraj Dube leverages his marketing and editorial expertise to help businesses and their founders market better and grow faster. He has a rare blend of communications, editorial, marketing skills with a proven track record of 20+ years in managing multiple complex projects to achieve group level goals. Mehraj brings clarity, energy and innovation through newsrooms and corporate teams to develop and orchestrate breakthrough communications. He has led strategic planning and resource management to execute and deliver multi-million-dollar projects in marketing and related functions for trendsetting brands like ZEE News, WION and ABP News. Dube is a career journalist who has mostly worked with NDTV. He had also been associated with Reliance Industries and Star News. After many years in journalism, he moved into a business role in a media company. 

Richard Rekhy is the former CEO of KPMG, India, and a current Board Member of KPMG Dubai. As CEO, he was a member of KPMG's Global Board and the Council of KPMG International. He set the foundation for strengthening KPMG India’s capabilities across advisory and tax solutions for the GCC channel. With over thirty-six years under his belt in Consulting and Professional Services, Richard has worked at Arthur Andersen, Ernst & Young, and KPMG, spearheading the firms in various capacities. Richard is affiliated with leading business enterprises, domestic and worldwide, and is also an active member of diverse industry associations and trade bodies. He was a member of the advisory group for the HSBC Skills for Life Programme and the CII National Council member. An eloquent and powerful orator, Richard is a respected voice on a range of social and economic issues and focuses on customer centricity.

Venu Nair, former MD of Shoppers Stop, has joined apparel marketplace Myntra as chief of strategic planning and omnichannel. Nair comes with an experience of over 30 years in retail, sourcing, business analysis and strategy. He has joined Myntra’s senior leadership team where he will be responsible for strengthening Myntra’s existing international brands portfolio, while building strategic partnerships with leading global brands. Nair leverages his 30+ years of experience in the retail industry to mentor and provide strategic guidance and operational support to the senior management and board of directors. He is passionate about growing international and Indian retail brands and delivering value to the customers, shareholders, and employees.
He has also held senior leadership roles at Westside, Tata Trent, and Marks and Spencer, where he demonstrated skills in P&L management, business development, planning, and operations management. 

Providing Management System Consultancy.Currently handling more than 12 projects in Sri Lanka.

Paul Dupuis is the founder and CEO of Take-5 Global K.K., a consultancy firm that specializes in business advisory, leadership development, and M&A in Japan and India. With over 25 years of experience across Asia, Paul has facilitated the growth and transformation of leaders and organizations. Paul is dedicated to bridging global connections within his teams and revitalizing the entrepreneurial spirit. Previously, he served as CEO and Chairman of Randstad Japan, where he led 100 branches and 35,000 employees to achieve record profitability and exceptional revenue growth. In Randstad India, Paul spearheaded a turnaround that established the company as a market leader. For his efforts, he was recognized by the Great Place to Work Institute as one of India’s Best Leaders in Times of Crisis in 2021.

Parmesh is an author, LGBTQ inclusion advocate and Vice President at Godrej Industries Ltd. where he heads the Godrej India Culture Lab. He serves as part of FICCI's inaugural D&I task force and as a board member of Khoj International Artists’ Association. In the past, he has been a TED Senior Fellow (2018) Yale World Fellow (2014), a World Economic Forum Young Global Leader (2014), a Utrecht University-Impakt Fellow (2012), and an academy member of the Global Teacher Prize.

Rishi, a B2B and B2C marketing expert, excels in building niche B2B digital marketing consulting services, seamlessly crafting sharp digital strategies for diverse business domains. He's adept at developing digital roadmaps, brand positioning, and messaging frameworks.

In B2B, Rishi demonstrates prowess in lead generation using a Multi-Channel Approach, primarily leveraging LinkedIn and executing Account Based Marketing Campaigns across Indian and US markets.

In B2C, he boasts a track record of constructing Multi-Million $ websites, attracting over 50M visitors and catering to 1M satisfied customers, yielding turnovers exceeding US$50M across 18+ years. Notably, Rishi achieves industry-leading conversion rates ranging from 2% to 5%. Additionally, he's proficient in managing vast merchandize portfolios comprising 15k - 25K SKUs across 100+ categories.

Himanshu, a versatile business transformer, thrives in diverse industries, displaying inspirational leadership and a knack for turning around challenging situations. Proficient in creating order from chaos, he excels in scaling operations from modest beginnings.

Having spent 20 years with Diversey and leading APAC business, he brings to fore a wealth of international business experience and cultural understanding. Being a part of the global Executive Committee, has dealt with formulating and actioning business strategy at global level.

His forte lies in a distinctive blend of robust business acumen and technical expertise across sectors and domains.  Himanshu boasts experience in general management, leadership, talent management and Business strategy. He brings a wealth of experience and is adept at navigating and optimizing businesses across multiple domains with a talent for steering to success in complex environments.

10 years of leadership, strategy, and execution experience across performance marketing, program management, and marketing analytics. Proven track record of driving exceptional growth and efficiency improvements in diverse global settings. Adept at managing teams, driving innovative projects, and optimizing processes to achieve remarkable business outcomes. Strong ability to leverage data-driven insights to make informed decisions and enhance organizational performance. Committed to fostering team growth and individual development to achieve organizational goals.

Vinita Bali is a distinguished business leader known for her success in India and internationally. With significant roles at multinational companies like The Coca-Cola Company and Cadbury Schweppes PLC, she has expertise in marketing and general management across regions including the UK, Nigeria, South Africa, Latin America, and the USA. Notably, at The Coca-Cola Company, she doubled brand growth and served as President of the Andean Division. In 2005, she became MD & CEO of Britannia Industries Ltd., where she diversified the geographic and product portfolio, promoted health initiatives, and quadrupled revenue. Vinita is a sought-after speaker at international forums and has received numerous awards for her leadership and business contributions.

Dr. Pillai is a thought leader in the domain of using behavior science and consumer neuroscience to help organizations enhance their customer and employee engagement. He is a certified neuroscience performance coach and a doctoral researcher in management, cognitive, behavioral, and human sciences. Dr. Pillai works with organizations to understand and influence human emotions, motivations, habits, and cognitive barriers to engagement. He has co-authored publications and regularly shares insights on topics such as stress, customer experience, and behavior change. 

Anand Nandkumar is an Associate Professor of Strategy and the Executive Director for SRITNE at ISB. His research delves into the factors shaping innovation and entrepreneurship at both industry and firm levels. He concentrates on high-tech sectors like pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, and software, straddling the domains of industrial organization, economics of technological change, and strategy. Presently, he investigates the impact of stronger intellectual property rights (IPR) on various dimensions of innovation, such as how robust patents influence long-term incentives and the operation of Markets for Technology (MFT). In the realm of entrepreneurship, his work explores how venture capitalists impact entrepreneurial performance and the outcomes of individuals toggling between jobs and entrepreneurship. An ISB graduate with a Ph.D. in Public Policy and Management, Nandkumar imparts his knowledge through courses on Competitive Strategy, AI-infused Leadership, Digital Transformation, Coporate Governance, Private Equity, Venture Capital, Growth Strategies, and Strategic Innovation Management.

Tojin T. Eapen is an innovation consultant and educator with expertise in idea management, creative artificial intelligence, and bioinspired system design. He currently serves as a principal consultant at Innomantra Consulting, a firm he co-founded in 2010. He is deeply passionate about addressing how individuals and organizations can leverage technology and AI tools to enhance their creativity. He explores this topic extensively in his co-authored article, "How Generative AI Can Augment Human Creativity" published as the cover piece of the July/August 2023 edition of the Harvard Business Review.

Namrata Dhasmana is an established Key Note Speaker. A highly unconventional journey, Major Dhasmana comes with a background from IIM-Lucknow and Officers Training Academy and has proven attributes of Resilience. Be it jumping from a running aircraft from 14,000 feet along with her troops, leading a 70 KM River Rafting in River Teesta in Sikkim, or leading important strategic appointments in forces, her Leadership is Visionary Leadership. She has led mid to large teams in a highly VUCA of diversified industries in Corporate. Recognized in Corporate Citizen magazine for her successful transition to corporate. Namrata is an entrepreneur to creates employability in society. 

Champion of Strategy at the Corporate Level. With humility in her heart and sharpness in her brain, she is a problem solver and a social cause volunteer.

An influential leadership figure, acknowledged nationally and internationally her journey is a testament to exploiting opportunities and adaptability. 

Akash stands out as a premier web3 and emerging tech speaker, drawing from his illustrious tenure with global giants such as Sony, Nike, and Walmart. His expertise in Marketing, Brand Management, and Strategy, coupled with a deep understanding of web3, blockchain, immersive technologies and AI , positions him uniquely to deliver enriching and transformative presentations. Every speaking engagement is meticulously tailored: Akash invests time in discovery sessions with organizers, understanding audience nuances and crafting content that resonates, ensuring impactful and value-driven sessions. He is an ISB alumnus with over two decades of senior leadership and consulting experience in Marketing, Brand Management, and Strategy with Fortune 100 companies. Metawrkx, a web3 and emerging technologies advisory, was born out of the need to empower businesses and brands with robust strategies that straddle emerging technologies to unlock unparalleled growth avenues in the new AI-powered, decentralized, immersive world.

Tanya Singh oversees India business and projects of Eurasia Group, the global leader in geopolitical and financial analysis and has worked as Personality and Public speaking Coach to Startup CXOs of Cars24, Freshworks, Zomato, Drip.Live (USA), etc. She works with institutions and individuals around the world with a focus on India in the Technology, Retail/Consumer and BFSI sector to build a platform for Bespoke corporate advisory, geopolitical and financial risk hedging for Global Value chains. She has coached the Enterprise Leadership for Apple India for launching M1 and M2 laptops and penetrating large Enterprise accounts to switch from Intel to Apple, coached global Board of CISCO to execute virtually, a 20 country government funding stimulus program for their Sales Teams along with drafting all internal and external communications and Coached the Customer service Leadership of L&T to be able to negotiate better for upsells with existing farming accounts.

Ratnanjali Arora is an HR professional with 10 years of experience in Consulting. She has played an integral role in helping business build and deliver, bind, buy and borrow talent to deliver the firm"s growth aspirations. Ratnanjali is currently leading HR Business Partner role for Tax Regulatory Services for North Region comprising 40 ~ Partners and 800 ~ employees. She is skilled in Employee Relations and People Strategy, Leadership Development, Performance Management, Total Rewards and Wellness, Change Management, Coaching and Mentoring, People and Business Analytics, and Diversity.

Sandip Ghose is an experienced Business Leader, who has held a variety of leadership positions in industries such as Consumer Goods (FMCG), Media and Cement. Sandip has worked across India and Nepal and played a transformational role in the organisations he has worked with. As Chief Operating Officer of Birla Corporation, he played a pivotal part in making it one of the best performing Cement companies in the mid-cap segment – a feat that is widely acknowledged in the industry and the investor community. In Hindustan Unilever, he progressed on the fast-track gaining exposure across functions and businesses and went on to become Country Head and Managing Director of Unilever Nepal, making the domestic business self-reliant during a politically turbulent period (1998-2002) in the country’s history.

Dr. Kumar is a versatile business professional with over 25+ years of experience in Sustainable Business Operations, Business Development, Sustainability & LCA, Project Planning, Change Management, Risk Management, Resource Management & Strategy Planning. He is the first advocation partner in India for a global sustainability think tank, promoting target-based sustainability and regenerative economy. 

As a sustainability leader, he has initiated several endeavors for creating value and good business sense, promising to deliver revenue gains, cost savings, and other benefits that lift enterprise value & promote sustainable development. He has extensive experience in directing the research and analysis required to design corporate sustainability strategies to ensure that business practices, goods, and services are environmentally friendly and in compliance with regulatory standards.

Ramesh Jude Thomas President and Chief Knowledge Officer of EQUITOR Value Advisory Pvt. Ltd., the erstwhile Indian partner for Interband. “RJT” to his friends and colleagues, Ramesh is credited with introducing Brand Valuation as a strategic business tool to Indian industry. He led India’s first known strategic Brand Valuation for Titan Industries Ltd. RJT setup EQUITOR almost 20 years ago to drive the agenda of brand value creation through a set of globally certified practice areas. In 2001, EQUITOR partnered with the world's leading brand value consultancy to bring in 30 years of worldwide expertise and thought leadership in leveraging brands as pure business assets. He has worked with some of the top business leaders in the country and abroad including TATA Sons, Infosys Finacle, The Murugappa Group, Titan Industries, Sovereign Governments, and large not for profit organisations.

Over the past 15 years, Nishant has achieved excellence in varied functions across Corporate Strategy, Finance, Operations, Public Policy and Last-mile implementation. Currently He oversees multiple divisions at Jindal Steel and Power. He oversees the Global Businesses spread across Asia (ex India), Australia, Africa and Middle East which includes providing strategic direction to the businesses and taking strategic financial decisions like restructuring, mergers and acquisitions, and divestments across these geographies.

Jaideep Gandhi is the Chairman for Knowledge Seminars at The Advertising Agencies Association of India (AAAI). He is the Consulting Editor at DNA Real Estate and a honorary treasurer at International Advertising Association,India Chapter(IAA). Apart from this, JAideep is the Chairman and Director of Jaya Advertising (P) Ltd.

Manu specializes in building brands and bringing Rapid Revenue Growth to organizations engaged in Consumer & Technology Products. He has expertise in setting up and growing multi-channel, multi-vertical, multi-brand organizations, and delivering outstanding revenue in India and MEA. He has expertise in devising effective Marketing & Customer Experience Strategies and has strong knowledge of content marketing, digital & e-commerce setup, performance marketing & ROI analytics. He has had success in bringing international organizations, brands, and foreign investors to India and building brands, recruiting teams, setting up operations, and building desired revenue. He currently helps both Start-ups & Grown-ups in their quest for Innovation in Strategy, GTM, Course-Correction, Tactical Thinking, Creativity, Higher Revenues, Brand Strengthening and strong Customer Affinity.

Hari wears different hats: Author, Angel Investor, Advisor to Founders/VCs, Mentor at Start-up Accelerators, Columnist, and Former CHRO Bigbasket, among others. He has spent the last 22 years as part of leadership teams of startups like Virtusa, Amba Research, and Taxi4Sure and participated in the growth journeys of 5 startups, in 5 different sectors, and each of these startups saw successful exits. At each of these startups, Hari has been a part of the Management Team and played a key role in shaping their growth and exit. He has been a prolific author and has authored 7 books on different themes, and each of these books has been a category leader. He is working towards helping start-ups build and scale their businesses sustainably through a combination of the right human capital interventions, strategic clarity, story telling, org culture, founder growth & evolution and strategic execution.

Saurabh is a Global Talent Acquisition Leader experienced in building best in class Talent Acquisition function to meet business outcomes. He has led Talent Acquisition transformation programs elevating teams from meeting hiring delivery targets to create in-addition data-driven insights for business and partner as a talent advisor. As a global leader, Saurabh has led recruiting teams across 4 continents: Asia, Australia, North America and South America. He has also built a Talent Acquisition Center of Excellence and rolled out an end to end RPO program across 11 countries with multiple business units. He has partnered with co-founders and experienced CEOs to design talent acquisition programs to meet accelerated business goals. He has experience in transforming a Talent Acquisition program in a 100+ years matured organisation and also building it from scratch in a fast growth environment across multiple countries / regions. 

Yamini Bhat is the Founder and CEO at Vymo, a Personal Sales Assistant, mobile-first solution that has since been deployed at AXA, Allianz, Citigroup, HDFC Bank, and Generali, among others. Prior to Vymo, she worked at McKinsey, where she specialized in Marketing and Sales strategy. In her experience of over 10 years, she has dedicated over five years working across the United States, S.E. Asia, and India. Yamini's expertise lies in Marketing strategy, Sales, and Distribution across B2B (Banking, Credit, Insurance), B2C (Retail, Telecom), and B2B2C (fragmented distribution). Today, Yamini Bhat is recognized as a thought leader in driving sales transformation for enterprises. Gartner and CB Insights recognize her company, Vymo for innovation in ‘Prescriptive Sales’. Yamini holds a Bachelor’s in Computer Science & Engineering from BITS Pilani and graduated with ‘Director’s Merit List’ honors from IIM, Bangalore. 

Rajni Julka has a rich experience of 16+ years in academic, teaching, training, K12 curriculum design, school expansion and management, corporate education, pedagogy innovation, design thinking, and product strategy for digital learning platforms and web-based solutions. Leadership and Life Soul Transformation coaching is her mastery. As the Director of "UrSoulSoup", she offers an effective non-traditional approach for people to redesign their thoughts, ideas and feelings and help them understand their passion and leadership qualities.

Makarand has 27+ years of work experience with roles at leadership levels, last assignment as Vice President – Learning Solutions, with Berkeley HealthEDU. He has worked with organizations like Johnson & Johnson, Goldshield Group Plc, Lilac Medicare and has led business management roles across Cultures. His Domain Expertise includes Healthcare, Med-tech, Training, Facilitation, Leadership Coaching. He has Masters in Microbiology, Post Graduation in Marketing Management and is an ICF Certified Executive Coach and Ex-Facilitator at The World Business & Executive Coaches Summit. He is a Visiting Faculty at NMIMS Pravin Dalal School for Entrepreneurship & Family Business Management. His specialties are Strategy Coaching & Consulting, Executive Coaching, Leadership Coaching, Sales Coaching, Key Account Management, Business Coaching.

Mr. Bali prefers to introduce himself as a start-up enthusiast and a team player. He has over 27 years of work experience in pre-sales, operations, technology start-up, BPO, Government Relationships, and Business Development with an ability to lead & execute on broader strategies and work with globally connected teams. He is also associated with smart city initiatives in India as a Jury member and has written a detailed policy paper titled 'Smart Cities are not Just About Concrete Jungles'.

This expert is a senior management professional at CarDekho, an online automobile search platform. Prior to this, he was the Regional Sales at XSEED Education where he was responsible for hiring, inducting, training and leading the development of an aggressive and strong sales team across Northern and Eastern parts of the country. He also worked on key projects of data analytics, sales processes and pipeline management to help streamline business processes and maintained several accounts with high-profile customers. He is a passionate business driver from Education sector to Auto, tech and e-commerce.

Achint Setia is the Chief Revenue and Marketing Officer (CRMO) at ZALORA. In his dual roles, he leads ZALORA’s Cluster business across Singapore, Malaysia, Hong Kong and Taiwan in addition to leading the Revenue and Marketing function across the ZALORA group. Dynamic and entrepreneurial, Achint brings with him over 17 years of experience in scaling businesses in consumer tech and media. As an avid speaker and passionate storyteller, he brings bottom-up business building expertise in consumer tech and media with cross-functional experience in analytics, marketing, operations, strategy, content and product development. Prior to joining ZALORA, he took on multiple leadership roles at Indian fashion e-commerce platform, Myntra, where he headed the company's marketing and social commerce business.

With over 25 years of expertise, Shailesh Singh, Director & Chief People Officer at Max Life Insurance, orchestrates top-tier HR strategies fostering organizational evolution. Spearheading Max Life's transformation into a ‘Great Place to Work’, he benchmarks cultural standards and implements pioneering practices. Introducing the Organisation & Talent Review process, he cultivates a robust talent pipeline and succession plans. Under his stewardship, emphasis on supervisory proficiency and accountability amplifies. Shailesh, a harbinger of future work trends, enriches the organization with foresight. His illustrious career encompasses pivotal HR roles at GE Energy, GE Supply-chain, GE Capital, SRF Finance, Eicher Tractors, and the National Dairy Development Board (NDDB). Shailesh's dedication epitomizes a commitment to nurturing talent and fostering a dynamic workplace culture.

A pioneer in the e-commerce industry of India, Deep has disrupted the traditional concept of travel as the founder and CEO of MakeMyTrip, India's largest travel services company and one of the most valuable players in the global travel industry. Since the founding of the company, he has steered the company through multiple challenging environments such as the Dot.com bust, 9/11, and Covid showcasing the focus on the right metrics and company management fundamentals. One of India's most popular entrepreneurs, Deep speaks about what it takes to build a business based on e-commerce in a dynamic market like India. By the end of his talk, Deep promises to leave the audience thinking out of the box and brave enough to risk pursuing the idea they believe in.

With 53 years of corporate leadership under his belt, R Gopalakrishnan's career spans significant roles in Unilever and Tata. From leading Unilever Arabia in Jeddah to serving as Managing Director of Brooke Bond Lipton and Vice Chairman of Hindustan Lever in Bangalore, his journey reflects a rich tapestry of experiences. As a director on Tata Sons' board and an independent director for companies like Castrol India and Press Trust of India (PTI), he continues to contribute his expertise. Gopalakrishnan is also a prolific author, with twelve books to his credit. Notably, he brings a unique approach to teaching, emphasizing practical examples and anecdotes over theoretical frameworks, evident in his course "LWNT - Learning What Nobody Teaches" at B-schools.

Suraj Moraje is a dynamic business and social sector leader, driven by a passion for driving purposeful change in a rapidly morphing world through ethical leadership. Suraj is sought after for his views on topics like megatrends, the strategy to execution journey, and mid-career transitions! A gold medalist from NIT Surat and Young Alumni Achiever from IIM Ahmadabad, Suraj is a former Senior Partner at McKinsey & Company and the former Managing Director of India's largest employer, Quess Corp. Suraj is currently building The Eka Fellowship and piloting two business venture ideas. Formerly, as Group CEO & Managing Director of Quess Corp Limited, Suraj orchestrated a comprehensive transformation, leading to significant growth and digital advancement. With over two decades at McKinsey & Company, he played key roles in tech-led transformations across Asia and EMEA. Suraj holds an educational background from the esteemed Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad. 

Priya Kumar is an Internationally Acclaimed Motivational Speaker with 28 years of Corporate Training Experience. She has worked with over 2000 Multi-National Corporates across 50 countries and has touched the lives of over 3 million people through her workshops and books. Priya has written 16 inspirational books which have won 44 International Book Awards making her the FIRST Indian Author to have done so. Her books have been translated into 11 foreign and regional languages with #1 bestseller status in all countries of release. Priya was awarded the Times of India, Speaking Tree, Good Karma Award, as India’s BEST Inspirational Author. The French Media described her as the Paulo Coelho from India. Priya is India’s first certified Fire walk Instructor and has conducted over 2000 fire walks across the globe.

Jyoti is a seasoned business leader with extensive experience in the service industry, having navigated various functions, regions, and consumer segments. An effective strategist, she excels in identifying upcoming trends, introducing innovative concepts to the market, and ensuring optimal returns on investment. In her role as Chief Operating Officer at Taj Hotels, Resorts & Palaces India, and as a member of the management board, Jyoti garnered recognition as one of the most influential women in the global travel sector. Her dedication to promoting tourism spurred her involvement in co-creating the Incredible India campaign, marking the first private sector initiative to showcase India on a global scale. She founded the Indian chapter of Women Corporate Directors and is a speaker on corporate governance at international forums. Presently, Jyoti leverages her expertise as an independent director on numerous boards while also offering advisory services to startups across diverse industries.

Ram has over 37 years of experience in Strategic marketing, P&L management, Business strategy, and sales. Currently, a Senior advisor to Mckinsey's, he is an independent consultant advising companies across the world on growth, strategic marketing, new market entries and Strategic customer management. His last corporate role was as Global CMO and VP of Strategic Customers for Castrol. He has served in India, Asia Pacific region and UK and now divides his time between Singapore, India and the UK.
His key skills and areas of expertise are Strategic Marketing and Brand management, P&L leadership, Business Strategy, Strategic Partnerships and Sustainability leadership.
Ram has in depth experience in several geographies and has worked in national, regional, and global roles. He has a unique blend of B2C, B2B and B2B2C experience.
Ram has a degree in Chemical engineering, and an MBA from the Indian Institute of management, Bangalore.
 

Ravi, a seasoned Entrepreneurship Evangelist, Startup Expert, and Govt. Advisor, curated and advised for Shark Tank India's launch. As a 2x TEDx Speaker and an alumnus of the prestigious International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP), he's a beacon in the entrepreneurial landscape. Ravi champions Indian entrepreneurship globally, sharing insights at top startup events and academic institutions like IITs and IIMs. With over a decade of experience, he's trained over 2,00,000 aspiring entrepreneurs and influenced policies through his expertise in sectors like Angel Investment, Venture Capital, and Government Relations. Ravi's journey from a Jharkhand village to entrepreneurship embodies resilience, fostering innovation and change in society and business.

Jagdish Mitra is an entrepreneur, focussing on Gen AI services coupled with Industry domain use-cases. Till Jan'24, Jagdish was heading the India business unit and Global Corporate Affairs at Tech Mahindra. He is passionate about skilling, scaling SMEs, SMBs and startups with a focused interest in Deeptech and Innovation, as well as driving positive change through social empowerment. Prior to his current role, he was Chief Strategy Officer and Head of Growth at Tech Mahindra. He has also served as CEO of CanvasM (a JV between Tech Mahindra and Motorola). He currently is a member of the NASSCOM Executive Council and also chairs the Science, Technology, and Innovation Committee at FICCI. He is also a Director on the Board of the National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC). IHe has opened new markets in North America, UK, Middle East, Australia New Zealand, and Southeast Asia apart from India.

Aman is a thought leader and speaker on key domains at the intersection of government policy, emerging technology, Innovation, cognitive intelligence, ethics and impact. He convenes and contributes to the working groups of (1) The Democracy Dialogues Roundtable and (2) AI - The Nested Wolf, roundtable on ethics, purpose and responsible tech. He is an experienced professional advisor for growth strategies, building brands, perception management, and public affairs. He advises organisations to unlock value from innovation and emerging technology to solve grand challenges. He adds value to companies - both national and international - in maintaining impeccable relations with their key audiences; In advocating policy issues, in understanding existing policy nuances nationally; in advising on government affairs; in ensuring a high level of trust among the business ecosystems; in maintaining a positive trust index and in designing purpose-driven initiatives that conform to the broad vision of the board.


 

Rajasekhar Jamalamadaka is a well-known neuroscience-leadership coach and widely regarded as one of industry’s best mentors. Harvard Business School educated Raja is a respected industry voice whose views on leadership have helped focus the attention of the entrepreneurial ecosystem on organization culture and founding team’s leadership skills.  For his mentorship work with several startups culminating in several successful exits, Raja was felicitated with the prestigious “Marshall Goldmsith award for coaching excellence” for being one of the world’s top 100 coaches for the year 2017. Raja is also a corporate/Ted speaker and his influential talks and articles analyze leadership on various dimensions – product, personal, organizational and industry ecosystem. LinkedIn ranks him as India No 5 and one of the worlds top 200 influencers out of the 500 million people that use LinkedIn worldwide. 

An author & mentor affiliated with prominent organizations such as the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), National Entrepreneurship Network (NEN), Atal Innovation Mission (AIM), Indian Institute of Corporate Affairs (IICA), Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI), and Maharashtra State Innovation Society (MSINS). Since 2010, Umesh has leveraged his extensive experience in the tech industry to guide and empower 4.5 lacs aspiring entrepreneurs, startups, and professionals. He plays a pivotal role in fostering innovation, promoting entrepreneurship, and driving sustainable growth initiatives within these esteemed institutions. Umesh's dedication to nurturing talent and fostering a culture of innovation underscores his commitment to shaping the future of the tech landscape in India and beyond.

Sonal is the former Chief Creative Officer of Ogilvy South and Southeast Asia. He recently went independent to pursue his love for writing and film direction. Over a 30-year career, Sonal led agencies to creative glory in three different markets. At Ogilvy Mumbai in the ‘90s, he helped drive the agency to become India’s No.1 creative agency. He did the same with Ogilvy Kuala Lumpur, leading the office to become the most awarded in Malaysia. Ogilvy Singapore was next, where he led his team to become No.1 in the Creative Rankings in Asia, and the third most awarded office in the world at Cannes Lions 2007 – a first for an Asian agency. He returned to India in 2011 to head Bates, followed by a stint at DDB Mudra. Sonal is also passionate about teaching and mentoring young creative talent and is a visiting faculty at some of the top institutes in India. 

Amit is an AI Consultant, Author, Speaker, Business Trainer, Faculty, and Swimming Coach, currently serving as Digital Transformation Lead at Accenture. Consulting clients globally on AI, data, and cloud, Amit has authored two books: Digital Strategy Framework and Digital Leadership Framework. A regular speaker at global business events, Amit provides business training in AI, generative AI, data, cloud, strategy, and leadership. As an adjunct faculty member at the Alfred Ford School of Management in Belgium, Amit imparts academic knowledge while fostering innovation and strategic thinking.

Dr. Shreyas Srivatsan is a distinguished professional dedicated to advancing business excellence within the Tata Group, one of the most prestigious and globally recognized conglomerates. With a robust academic background and extensive industry experience, Dr. Shreyas plays a pivotal role in driving organizational excellence and fostering a culture of continuous improvement across the Tata Group’s diverse portfolio. Dr. Shreyas brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to his role. His career is marked by a deep commitment to Business Management, Business Excellence, Business Strategy, Business Analytics. At Tata Group Dr. Shreyas is instrumental in designing and implementing frameworks that enhance operational efficiency, drive performance, and ensure sustainable growth. An active participant in global forums and conferences, where he shares his expertise and perspectives on business excellence and organizational transformation. His thought leadership and innovative approaches continue to inspire business leaders and professionals around the world.

As the Head of Corporate Strategy & Business Development at Jindal Steel & Power Ltd Group, Kapil oversees corporate strategy, business planning, acquisitions, divestments, equity raises, policy advocacy, and strategic legal matters. Known for their passion for connecting with people, negotiating deals, and executing high-impact transactions, Kapil is also involved in policy advocacy and regulatory affairs. He is a sought-after speaker at conferences on topics related to steel, power, and coal.

Recently, Kapil has led several significant assignments: Orchestrated India’s largest Qualified Institutional Placement (QIP) in the steel sector, raising approximately ₹1200 crores, Managed the divestment of oxygen plants for ₹1121 crores, arranging leasebacks for continued operations and using the proceeds to clear banking dues, Raised additional funds through the divestment of non-core assets, Developed a restructuring plan aimed at unlocking shareholder value and mitigating risks.

The expert is a Senior Risk Management and Audit Professional at Metro Brands which is an expanding retail chain. He has improved the internal audit department by aligning it more closely with professional standards and management expectations. He has also improved business processes by raising control awareness at the lowest levels, aligning the approval matrix to speed up decision-making, identifying fraud and unethical practices and improving information governance and security.

Shalini is an accomplished business professional with over 15 years of experience in translating business initiatives and marketing strategies into bottom-line results. As a Shopper Engagement Leader, she has consistently driven category growth with a strong track record of monetizing consumer engagement investments. Her expertise spans modern trade and sales performance, where she has successfully led cross-functional collaborations to enhance channel growth. Shalini's proven ability to create and implement category growth strategies is driven by her consumer-centric approach, making her a passionate and results-oriented leader in the field.

Kshitij Kaul is a seasoned marketing leader with over 15 years of experience in advertising, brand strategy, and digital transformation. As the Director of Outlook Media India, he has driven innovative, data-driven marketing strategies that have led to significant brand growth and audience engagement. Kshitij is known for his creative storytelling, leadership development, and ability to spearhead successful campaigns that set industry standards. A two-time award winner at the Excellency Iconic Awards, he was named "Best Leader of the Year" and led Outlook Media to be recognized as the "Emerging Company of the Year." Outside of his professional work, Kshitij is a passionate orator, motivational speaker, and mentor, dedicated to inspiring future leaders in the marketing field. With his visionary approach and commitment to excellence, Kshitij continues to shape the marketing landscape and empower businesses to thrive.