
India's Visionaries Take the Spotlight at Forttuna Global Excellence Awards 2025 India Edition
Abhilash P V: Young Business Leader of the Year (Finance and Insurance)
Abhilash P V is the Founder and CEO of Vakya, a pioneering skill development organization bridging the gap between education and employability for students across India. Vakya offers AI-powered career guidance, work-integrated learning, and leadership development programs. He also serves as VP of Finance and Strategy at NG-Next Tech, an AI-driven EdTech firm, driving growth, partnerships, and fundraising. A Chartered Accountant and IIM Bangalore MBA graduate, Abhilash blends financial expertise with a deep passion for youth empowerment. His mission-driven approach has helped countless students gain clarity, confidence, and purpose, positioning him as a rising leader in India's education and career landscape.
Yash Sharma: Integrated Supply Chain Service Provider of the Year (SME)
With 48 years of expertise, CCI Group is a leading name in 4PL Integrated Logistics and Supply Chain solutions in India. Operating nationwide, CCI provides comprehensive services, including Transportation, Warehousing, In-Plant Solutions, International Freight Forwarding, and Customs Clearance under one roof. CCI manages all airports and seaports under its CHA licenses, with dedicated Container Freight Stations at key hubs. Expanding globally, it has a strong network in 105+ countries. As the only logistics provider with a portfolio of 7.5 million sq. ft. of Grade A Industrial & Warehousing Parks with EPC capabilities.
Debabrata Sarkar: CEO of the Year (Technology)
Debabrata Sarkar is a renowned TEDx speaker and global business leader with over 27 years in the international agriculture sector. An IIM Kolkata alumnus, he has led strategic global units in top agritech firms and is widely recognized for championing sustainable agriculture. As CEO of a leading Bio-Ag company, he promotes regenerative farming and environmental stewardship. Featured in publications like TIME and Forbes, Sarkar's thought leadership has made a lasting impact on the sector. Winning the Best Bio Ag CEO Award for three consecutive years, he continues to drive innovation and policy advocacy in India and beyond.
Jahnavi Thekkada: Technology Leader of the Year (Technology)
Jahnavi Thekkada is a pioneering leader in Data & AI, celebrated for developing transformative platforms that drive customer engagement and business excellence. With a strong commitment to ethical AI, inclusivity, and continuous learning, she has built high-performing teams and fostered a culture of responsible innovation. Jahnavi's leadership combines deep technical expertise with a human-centric approach, navigating complex challenges while setting new industry benchmarks. Her work not only optimizes outcomes but also inspires the next generation of professionals in the rapidly evolving world of artificial intelligence.
Reethu Theresa George: Career Coach of the Year (Education)
Reethu George, Founder of Clarity Brew, has been recognised as Career Coach of the Year at the Forttuna Global Excellence Awards 2025 for her transformative impact on women's careers worldwide. A former corporate lawyer, she has coached over 100 women across six countries, helping them overcome self-doubt and build purpose-driven careers. Reethu's mission has recently expanded to support women returning from career breaks, equipping them with the confidence and tools to re-enter the workforce. With a blend of empathy, insight, and structured guidance, she is redefining career coaching and driving lasting change in the lives of women worldwide.
Shailesh Saxena: Business Coach of the Year (Education)
Shailesh Saxena is an accomplished business coach whose journey has been characterized by perseverance, innovation, and an unwavering commitment to leadership development. With years of experience in mentoring professionals and guiding organizations, he helped countless individuals harness their potential through actionable strategies and mindset shifts. Known for his results-oriented approach, Shailesh combines real-world insights with academic precision to enable sustainable growth. His Core values, such as integrity, adaptability, and perseverance, shape his methodology, making him a trusted advisor across industries. In a rapidly evolving business landscape, Shailesh remains focused on enabling leaders to create impact, drive transformation, and build resilient.
Renu Arora - Lifetime Achievement Award (Finance and Insurance)
Renu Arora is a beacon of purpose-driven leadership, exemplifying integrity, resilience, and social commitment. A Chartered Accountant and honorary doctorate recipient, she serves as Director at JCBL Group, where her strategic vision has elevated standards in finance, education, and governance. With over two decades of transformative work, Renu has spearheaded educational reforms, championed women's empowerment, and mentored countless young leaders. This Lifetime Achievement Award honours her remarkable journey and the legacy of excellence she continues to build.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Time of India
9 hours ago
- Time of India
He felt like a loser even after cracking IIT Kharagpur. 2 years later, he bagged the highest campus package and still quit the job
At one point, just opening LinkedIn made Tharun Naik feel like he was falling behind in life. A second-year student at IIT Kharagpur , Tharun was constantly bombarded by updates from his peers—one bagging a prestigious internship, another publishing research, someone else winning a medal. And him? 'Nothing to show,' he admits. No internships. No research. No shiny wins to post about. The comparison trap had kicked in hard. 'It truly used to haunt me,' he wrote in a recent viral LinkedIn post. But two years after graduating, with two job resignations behind him, Tharun now has his own office in Bengaluru and works with top brands—all before the age of 25. What changed? Explore courses from Top Institutes in Select a Course Category Technology Product Management MCA Data Science Operations Management PGDM Cybersecurity Management Artificial Intelligence MBA Design Thinking Finance Others Data Analytics healthcare Project Management Degree Data Science CXO Public Policy others Leadership Digital Marketing Healthcare Skills you'll gain: Duration: 12 Weeks MIT xPRO CERT-MIT XPRO Building AI Prod India Starts on undefined Get Details LinkedIn became a source of stress Tharun's story is not uncommon. Many young professionals feel like they're falling behind because of the never-ending scroll of achievements on social media. In Tharun's case, he found himself demotivated, constantly comparing his behind-the-scenes to everyone else's highlight reel. He recalls, 'Every time I saw someone doing something amazing, I felt like a loser.' by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Bargain Prices on Unsold Container Houses in National Capital Region - Check Them Out! Shipping Container Homes | Search Ads Search Now Undo Tharun broke the cycle But what helped him break the cycle was a mindset shift: accepting that not everyone's timeline is the same, and that growth doesn't always show up in public posts. In a span of just six months after his second year, Tharun landed an internship at IIM Bangalore . He then went on to: - Win an Inter-IIT Gold medal in Culturals - Bag two more internships in his third year - Serve as Hall President in his final year - Secure one of the highest packages in his department All this came not from overnight magic, but from sustained, focused hard work. 'Six months of hard work can put you five years ahead,' he wrote—something he learned firsthand. Life post IIT and two resignations Fast-forward two years after graduation. Tharun has tried, tested, and walked away from two jobs—decisions that might terrify most. But they were calculated moves, part of a broader goal to build something of his own. Today, he operates out of his own office in Bengaluru, working with high-profile brands and crafting a career on his own terms. And he's not just an entrepreneur—he's also a TEDx speaker , sharing his journey to inspire others who feel 'stuck' just like he once did.
&w=3840&q=100)

Business Standard
a day ago
- Business Standard
Theobroma set for ownership change as ChrysCapital nears 90% stake buy
Three private equity firms — Aqua Investments Ltd, Infinity Partners, and Atreides Investments BV — have approached the Competition Commission of India (CCI) to acquire a stake in Mumbai-based bakery chain Theobroma Foods, according to a PTI report. Infinity Partners and Atreides Investments are affiliated with ChrysCapital. The development comes amid reports that ChrysCapital is set to acquire a 90 per cent stake in Theobroma for approximately ₹2,410 crore. The deal involves purchasing shares from both the company's promoters and current investor ICICI Venture. However, the founding family is expected to retain a 10 per cent stake post-transaction. Theobroma stake sale: Details of CCI filing In their submission to the CCI, the three firms stated: 'The proposed transaction pertains to the acquisition by the acquirers (Aqua Investments Ltd, Infinity Partners, and Atreides Investments BV) collectively, of certain equity shareholding of Theobroma.' Theobroma operates in the bakery and confectionery segment, offering products through patisseries and retail outlets across more than 30 Indian cities. It also distributes via its online platform and through third-party e-commerce channels. The applicants noted that there is no direct operational overlap between their existing businesses and Theobroma. 'The parties... do not have any direct horizontal overlaps, vertical or complementary relationships. One of the affiliates of the group to which the acquirers belong is engaged in the market for the provision of logistics services in India,' the filing said. ICICI Venture's exit ICICI Venture, which invested around $20 million in Theobroma in 2017, currently owns close to 42 per cent of the company. The current deal will result in its full exit from the business. Theobroma was founded in Mumbai in 2004 by Kainaz Messman, a former pastry chef at Oberoi Hotels. It began as a single-store bakery and has since grown into a nationwide chain of 194 outlets known for its signature brownies, cookies, crackers, pastries, and sandwiches. Before the Covid-19 pandemic, Theobroma operated just 50 stores, primarily in Mumbai and Delhi. Since then, it has significantly scaled its presence across cities such as Pune, Hyderabad, Bengaluru, Chandigarh-Mohali, Chennai, and Surat.


India Gazette
7 days ago
- India Gazette
"Meaningful discussion": Parliamentary Standing Committee on Finance Chairperson meets RBI Guv
New Delhi [India], July 10 (ANI): Bharatiya Janata Party MP and the Chairperson of the Parliamentary Standing Committee for Finance, Bhartruhari Mahtab, met Reserve Bank of India Governor Sanjay Malhotra on Thursday. Stating that he had a very 'meaningful' discussion with the RBI Governor, Mahtab informed that a wide range of information on the economic situation and the financial system of the country was discussed during the meeting. The BJP MP stated that the next meeting will be held on July 23 or 24, with the main agenda being a discussion of the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC). 'It has been a very meaningful discussion today with the Governor of the RBI. He gave us a wide range of information related to the economic situation and the financial system of our country. Members also had queries, and I believe most of the queries were quite convincing. Next meeting will be perhaps on the 23rd or 24th of this month with the RBI Governor relating to the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code. The economy is doing very well despite global headwinds, so that is the way in which he has explained', Bhartruhari Mahtab told ANI. Meanwhile, the Central government is likely to bring an amendment in the IBC in the upcoming monsoon session of Parliament, sources told ANI. The amendment in Section 31(4) of IBC will be made. This particular section mandates prior approval from the CCI for any resolution plan. Sources said the amendment in the IBC will reduce the load on the Competition Commission of India (CCI). Once the new amendment is adopted, approval from CCI would not be needed for a company planning resolution under the IBC route, they added. The plan to amend the IBC comes in the wake of the Supreme Court's latest observation during the hearing of the resolution plan of AGI Greenpac. The apex court had noted that the resolution was unsustainable without CCI approval. (ANI)