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India’s top business leaders gathered at the Jio World Convention Centre for the Forbes India Leadership Awards 2025. Winners included BugWorks, BrowserStack, Ajay Singh, Katrina Kaif, and Supam Maheshwari
The prestigious event celebrated the country’s top leaders, recognising their innovative spirit and significant contributions to their respective industries and the nation’s growth.
India’s brightest business minds gathered at the Jio World Convention Centre in Mumbai for the Forbes India Leadership Awards 2025. The prestigious event celebrated the country’s top leaders, recognising their innovative spirit and significant contributions to their respective industries and the nation’s growth.
The ceremony commenced by recognising breakthrough innovations and outstanding achievements. BugWorks Research, led by Dr Anand Anandkumar, Dr V Balasubramanium, and Dr Santanu Datta, received the Emerging Innovator Award. The trio highlighted the importance of impactful innovation.
BrowserStack, spearheaded by Ritesh Arora and Nakul Aggarwal, was named Outstanding Startup Of The Year. Arora and Aggarwal emphasised their company’s global reach, powering major players in the airline, banking, and technology sectors.
The Icons of Excellence award celebrated industry veterans Ajay Singh of SpiceJet and Katrina Kaif of Kay Beauty. Singh reflected on SpiceJet’s against-all-odds journey, while Kaif stressed the need for uniqueness in the business world.
A highlight of the event was a fireside chat featuring Katrina Kaif in conversation with Forbes India’s Naini Thaker. Kaif shared insights into her transition from Bollywood to the boardroom, emphasizing the vital roles of inclusivity and self-expression in successful branding.
A panel discussion on Business & Economy brought together prominent leaders like KVS Manian, Rajesh Jejurikar, and Madan Sabnavis. The discussion delved into pressing issues such as global trade challenges, India’s economic outlook, growth projections, and the crucial role of MSMEs in generating employment. Rajesh Jejurikar’s powerful statement that the world “needs India more than India needs the world”, resonated deeply with the audience.
The ceremony then moved on to recognise a new wave of exceptional leaders and businesses. The Icons of Excellence award was presented to Jay Shah, Chairman of ICC; veteran banker Shyam Srinivasan; and Mohit Joshi of Tech Mahindra. Minimalist, spearheaded by Rahul Yadav and Mohit Yadav, received the Promising Startup award, while MTR Foods, led by Sunay Bhasin and Sanjay Sharma, was recognised as Regional Goliath.
The Forbes India Leadership Awards 2025 also celebrated impactful contributions beyond the traditional business realm. The Grassroots Philanthropists award was presented to Rizwan Koita and Rekha Koita of Koita Foundation. Indra Water, led by Amrit Om Nayak and Krunal Patel, received the Climate Warrior award for their commitment to environmental sustainability.
A series of awards acknowledged the dynamism and resilience of the Indian business landscape. Puneet Chhatwal received the Turnaround Star award for his leadership at Indian Hotels Co Ltd (IHCL). Varun Jaipuria of Varun Beverages was recognised as the Next-Gen Entrepreneur. Ashish Dhawan received the Institution Builder award for his contributions to Central Square Foundation and Ashoka University.
The evening culminated with the top two awards. Supam Maheshwari of FirstCry was named Entrepreneur of the Year, while Rajesh Jejurikar of Mahindra & Mahindra received the coveted CEO of the Year award.
Suveen Sinha, Editor, Forbes India, aptly summed up the significance of the event: “These are tricky times, when great leaders and transformational leadership are needed more than ever. These are people who seize the day. Today, we have a hall full of people who seize the day, and we are here to raise a toast to them.”
The grand finale, complete with a celebratory toast and a group photo of the winners, captured the spirit of collective success and leadership that defined the Forbes India Leadership Awards 2025. The event received invaluable support from partners Federal Bank, KIA, Indiqube, Rajasthan Tourism, and Reliance Industries, whose contributions played a key role in making the event a resounding success.
