Category: Leaders

Born in Hyderabad, Telangana, Mrs. Reddy grew up with an interest in fashion. She nurtured this interest over the years and eventually went on to attain a degree in fashion designing. She is also a graduate in Microbiology. Mrs. Reddy became an active participant in the social and philanthropic spheres after her marriage to prominent industrialist Mr. Megha Krishna Reddy. Over time, she became a connoisseur of art and fashion and was the first Hyderabad-based non-film luminary to attend the prestigious MET Gala event.

EXEMPLARY LEADERSHIP

As the Director of Megha Engineering and Infrastructure Ltd., Ms. Reddy has taken several steps for the inclusive growth of her company. Being a big fan of Lady Diana, she tries to follow in her footsteps of philanthropy and community service and wants to set an example for women. She consistently encourages her team to work towards economic development and personal growth. She also motivates the women in her team to realize their potential and strive towards success and economic independence.

As the Head of the CSR division of MEIL, she has led many social development projects across India. She plays a salient role in the MEIL CSR initiatives, especially their campaigns for the empowerment of young girls. Through their CSR initiatives, MEIL actively participates in providing equitable academic opportunities and healthcare to these young girls and also contributes to charities organised around the welfare of women and children.

Some of its other social welfare drives are the delivery initiative to the New Life Society, an organization supporting children suffering from HIV since 2013, a clean drinking water initiative in a small village of Andhra Pradesh in 2019 and the construction of the oncology wing at Nizam Institute of Medical Sciences, Hyderabad in 2021. During the coronavirus pandemic, Mrs. Reddy initiated the construction of thousands of oxygen beds and oxygen tanks to aid in the government’s efforts in fighting the disease.

Mrs. Reddy’s penchant for social work led her to start her foundation to look after the social welfare of the deprived section of society. Her endeavour contributes to society in many ways. She also collaborated with many famous global personalities for social welfare campaigns and initiatives. An influential and lively personality, Ms. Reddy has taken a keen interest in interior designing and has modeled her home in the classical European style.

COMMITTED TOWARDS GROWTH & WELFARE

Having led MEIL in the role of Director for several years, Mrs. Reddy has always kept collective welfare in mind. As a leader, she has set an example by being humble and democratic, allowing the inputs and suggestions of her employees, and encouraging their active participation in the organization. Mrs. Reddy’s inclusive brand of leadership has inspired hundreds towards excellence at MEIL, and continues to drive productivity and growth on a holistic level.

Ms. Reddy firmly believes that happy employees lead to happy customers. As a philanthropist, humanitarian, and social worker, Ms. Reddy understands the importance of empowering her employees and making them pro-active and capable of taking important decisions for the company. She believes that this will lead to the cumulative growth of the organization. As Mrs. Reddy once quoted, “a company that cares for employee welfare, boosts its image and grows as a brand.” She also believes in motivating employees to generate innovative and sustainable solutions for the company.

She is currently implementing digital mediums to improve transparency and encourage and reform core principles of ethical and sustainable corporate governance of corporate governance procedures. Additionally, she is focusing on being accountable to the shareholders, reviewing the policies made for the employees in the company, and incorporating good working ethics in the organization. Instituting a professional board to overlook shareholder relationships, review internal policies, and improve MEIL’s work culture.

MAKING THE WORLD A BETTER PLACE

Her social approach showcases her benevolent character and has played a significant role in enhancing her organization’s reputation worldwide. She feels proud that a major chunk of her company’s profit goes for social welfare via the Sudha Reddy Foundation and CSR division of MEIL, as she measures the success of a business by its social initiatives towards the betterment of society.

Under her exemplary leadership, Megha Engineering and Infrastructure Ltd. mainly concerns itself the indigenization and innovation of ground breaking technologies to build environment-friendly technological solutions. Currently, they are venturing out into the green energy space which promises to further India’s national mission of cutting on its carbon emissions. Apart from rendering a great amount of community service through MEIL’s CSR initiatives, she often collaborates with several known entities and companies for social welfare. She has collaborated with the famous English actress Elizabeth Hurley in a campaign for the Breast Cancer Research Foundation, Paris. She also came together with popular American actress Eva Longoria to raise founds for underprivileged children suffering from major chronic diseases in the Global Gift Gala Event that took place in 2019.

She has joined hands with several charitable organizations including Action Against Hunger, Fight Hunger Foundation, and The Mother Teresa Foundation. In 2017, the dedicated philanthropist also contributed a huge amount to the ‘Action Contre La Faim.’.

GARNERING AWARDS & RECOGNITION FROM ALL ACROSS THE GLOBE

Ms. Reddy has received several prestigious awards for her notable contributions in the field of business, technology, and social development. She recently received the Young Indian Women Achievers under 45 Award at Young FICCI Ladies Foundation 2021. She was nominated for the Global Gift Empowerment of Women Award. Apart from these awards, she has several other achievements. Being a young, intelligent, and passionate billionaire, she has become the face of many magazines including several editions of ‘You and was the showstopper of 10th anniversary celebration of the show organised by the ‘You and I’ magazine. At the prestigious MET Gala in 2021, she amazed everyone with her Falguni Shane Peacock haute couture outfit inspired by the American Revolution. Conducted by the Metropolitan Museum of Art, The Met Gala is known to be one of the most successful charity events dedicated to art and fashion.

The diligence, dedication, focus, experiences, achievements, and humanitarianism of Ms. Reddy make her an exemplary leader. She is a great example for young women across the globe, who hope to one day balance their professional aspirations with their passions and dreams.

Dr. Bina Modi’s description can’t just be limited to a businesswoman. She is an institution unto herself. She is a leader, an entrepreneur, head of one of Indian industry’s most illustrious business families, and the torchbearer of Modi Enterprises – KK Modi Group’s unparalleled legacy. The Group is among India’s successful business conglomerates with diverse businesses in FMCG, agro-chemicals, retail, fashion, lifestyle, direct-selling, food and hospitality sectors.

Along with being the Chairperson of the Group, Dr. Modi is also the Chairperson and Managing Director of Godfrey Phillips India (GPI) and Indofil – the Group’s flagship companies. In fact, she is one of the few women Chairpersons in the Fortune 500 India companies. But she wishes to be remembered most for the positive impact that her philosophy and efforts have made on society.

FIRST FORAYS IN BUSINESS

Dr. Modi married Mr. KK Modi, the late founder of Modi Enterprises in 1961. While the name Modi was already making huge waves in the Indian industry, the family was rooted in its traditions. Dr. Modi’s creative fire and passion to make a difference was supported and nurtured by her husband. After acing the roles of daughter, wife, daughter-in-law and mother, she began her journey as an entrepreneur rather late at the age of 40. Her first foray into business was in the fashion industry. With Bina Fashions, she brought glory back to the complex and beautiful art of Parsi gara and chikankariwork. With the success of her fashion house, her appetite as an entrepreneur grew stronger.

From fashion, Dr. Modi expanded to the food industry. She brought authentic Italian and Thai cuisines to India’s national capital. Today, Ego is amongst the most popular and sought-after restaurant chains. She further established herself as a successful lifestyle entrepreneur with a luxury beauty salon.

PEOPLE-FIRST PHILOSOPHY

Dr. Modi’s business acumen was appreciated further by Mr. KK Modi. Her partner in life made her his business partner as well by inducting her into Godfrey Phillips India’s Board of Directors, in 2014. Soon after, she also became part of GPI’s Executive Committee, actively participating in strategic business decisions, reconstruction of business processes, and strengthening of the business portfolio. Since her first foray into the world of business, reinforcing the human factor has been as important to her as strategising for building business.

A true leader, Dr. Modi credits her success to her people. Keeping people first is an intrinsic part of her business philosophy. She is determined to empower people for she strongly believes that businesses are successful only when the people involved are confident to do their best and explore their potential. The validation for it comes with the recognition that GPI is one of India’s ‘Great Places to Work’ for four years in a row. With her “people first” philosophy, she also has a strong inclination towards community welfare and sustainability. She takes deep interest in the companies’ corporate social responsibility initiatives too. As GPI strengths its sustainability and ESG efforts, Dr. Modi leads from the front.

AWARDS AND RECOGNITIONS

Dr. Modi has been conferred twice with Ph.D, Honoris Causa. Dr. K.N. Modi University presented her with an honorary doctorate for her contribution to the fields of arts, technology, management, commerce, agriculture, fashion and hospitality. More recently, Jharkhand Rai University recognised her iconic and outstanding contribution towards society with an honorary doctorate too. In April 2022, she was awarded as ‘Women Transforming India’ by Indo-American Chambers at the ‘6th Entrepreneur Leadership Awards 2022’.

In 2020, she received an Award for Excellence in Business by the President of Egypt, at the Women Economic Forum 2020. She has also featured in India’s Most Powerful Women, a book by Prem Ahluwalia. She was awarded the prestigious Achiever’s Award in 2019, and has also been recognised among the ‘Women of the Decade in Business & Leadership 2018’ by Women Economic Forum. AsiaOne’s ‘Women Empowerment Principles Leadership Award, Asia, 2023’ adds another feather to her elaborate cap.

MAKING A MARK

In a male-dominated industry, Dr. Bina Modi has made her mark. Along with being an inspiration for women around the world, she actively supports women in her Group of Companies by ensuring equal growth opportunities for them. With an impressive career that spans over three decades, and a philosophy that always puts people first, Dr. Modi is truly an institution.

A WELL-VERSED LEADER

A Harvard Business School alumnus, Dharmesh also has an engineering degree from the highly esteemed VJTI, along with an MBA in Marketing from ICFAI. In addition to being an outstanding maths genius, he has consistently demonstrated good grades throughout his academic career. He has earned numerous accolades at the State Level, including the highly coveted Sir Ratan Tata Scholarship, which speak volumes about his extraordinary abilities.

A SEASONED PROFESSIONAL

A virtuoso in financial planning, Dharmesh has nearly a decade of experience working for some of the most renowned financial services brands in the country, including the HDFC Bank. He honed his management skills through his tenures with illustrious brands such as Purvankara and Adani Realty before joining Hero Realty in 2022. With a wealth of experience in driving business growth, he has successfully managed annual sales of a staggering Rs. 3000 crore.

Dharmesh possesses a formidable arsenal of skills to lead large teams, shape their thinking, foster alliances, and build consensus. His remarkably well-structured career trajectory is a testament to his self-motivation, creativity, and proactivity in pursuing and surpassing his goals. The leader’s brilliance lies in his ability to forge key partnerships and dealer relationships, unlocking new channels of revenue and driving exponential growth. His visionary approach has earned him a reputation as a pioneer in his field, always at the forefront of cutting-edge developments.

Under Dharmesh’s sterling leadership, Hero Realty has been nurturing a flourishing community, by constructing sleek, elegant, modern, and eco-friendly homes that are the talk of the town. Additionally, his strategic vision has enabled the company to expand its operations and venture into plotted spaces in Delhi NCR in 2023, thereby strengthening its presence in the real estate market.

OPTIMISING BUSINESS OUTCOMES

Having amassed over 20 years of stellar achievements in the management of business operations, Dharmesh possesses a remarkable proficiency in conceiving and executing competitive strategies aimed at propelling sales, augmenting market share, and attaining revenue and profitability objectives. With a seasoned approach to generating sales and expanding market presence, he is recognised for his aptitude in conceptualising and implementing winning strategies for optimising business outcomes.

CUSTOMER COMES FIRST

Dharmesh’s business philosophy is perfectly aligned with Hero Realty’s vision, and together, they’re a force to be reckoned with. The real estate company believes that customers deserve nothing but the best, which is why it strives to offer value driven services that are both hassle-free and highly sought after. With Dharmesh at the helm, this mission is set to soar to even greater heights.

The leader tirelessly strives for continuous product innovation, improvement, and streamlining of SMC processes to uphold the “customer first” principle paramount. He works hand-in-hand with the architect, project, finance, legal, and other teams to ensure the organisation’s overarching objectives are achieved. His ultimate objective is to boost the bottom line and EBITA, seizing every opportunity that arises. In a nutshell, he is always on the lookout for ways to go the extra mile and deliver outstanding results. His commitment to excellence and innovation promises to take the company to new heights

Currently, the company has three state-of-the-art workshops of one lac sq. ft. for manufacturing customized FRP tanks and other pollution control equipment. Priya is also one of the founders of Smt. Madibai Sardarmal Dakle School, Sanjan (Gujarat, India) — the CSR wing of Dakle Industrial Plastics. which is a pre and primary school and aims for imparting high-quality education to her employees’ children at a very subsidized cost.

ON AN EXPANSION SPREE

A perfect combination of ingenuity, foresight, and agility, Priya aims at taking the company to new heights of success with new products and innovative ideas. To expand the manufacturing of high-volume chemical storage tanks, she added the company’s second unit in 2012 with a high tech facility. This was followed by the third expansion in 2018 for manufacturing highly customized pollution control equipment and molding products. Priya further aims at expanding the company’s manufacturing units by building its fourth workshop for high volume FRP tanks catering to the chemical, dyes, and pharmaceutical industries globally. She is a focused leader who believes in going the extra mile to ensure client satisfaction. She has been successfully handling renowned multinational clients such as Bayer, Unilever Corporation, Fosroc & Syngenta, besides handling site services for the last 12 years. Some of her momentous accomplishments include the planning and execution of the prestigious 500 cubic meters of tanks at the new Maldives International Airport, including their installation and commissioning. She also handled the first ocean fish farming project in Sri Lanka, including the supply & installation of fishing tanks. She looks up to her father and father-in-law as her pillars of strength. Their guidance has been the root of her drive and inspiration to become a successful entrepreneur. She credits her success to her husband Mr. Anand Maganlal Dakle, who is her pillar of strength and the main reason behind the success of Dakle Industrial Plastics. Her biggest strength is her son who is a very simple, adjusting and non-demanding child, thereby making her journey as a working mother very easy.

GIVING BACK TO SOCIETY

As a staunch supporter of the Indian Government’s ‘Vocal for Local’ and Atmanirbhar Bharat (self-reliant India) campaigns, Priya encourages the procurement of local products from local suppliers who meet the standards. She also places the health of the planet at the forefront of her agenda and makes concentrated efforts to increase the green cover by planting trees all around the manufacturing units. During the pandemic, she waived off the annual school fees for all children studying in Smt. Madibai Sardarmal Dakle School and full salaries were paid to the schools’ teaching and the non-teaching staff. What’s more, instead of laying-off employees due to the pandemic, she has employed more workers keeping in mind the short-term challenges and the firm’s long-term goals.

GLORIOUS ACHIEVEMENTS

Priya has been honored with prestigious laurels. She was awarded Social Entrepreneur 2020 Award at Women Entrepreneurship Awards 2020 by Startup Vapi on Women’s Day. She was also nominated for the prestigious Vyapaar Jagat Convention & Awards 2020 in the category of Education Hero of the Year 2020. Recently, she has been appointed as Vice President, JITO, Ladies Wing Vapi.

Hersh, who holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree from the University of Melbourne, founded Atisfy in 2018 when he was only 24 years old. At the time of its inception, Atisfy was a gaming consultancy with only two members. Over the course of four years, through his diligent efforts, the company has emerged as a groundbreaking influencer marketing platform that is redefining the industry through its innovative approach to data democratisation. As the world’s first platform of its kind, the company is revolutionising the way businesses engage with influencers and target their audiences.

With its headquarters nestled in the vibrant city-state of Singapore and offices in Australia and India, Atisfy, under Hersh’s leadership, is trailblazing the global market with its innovative solutions and unparalleled expertise.

A GLOBAL OUTLOOK

Born and raised in Singapore, Hersh’s business acumen has taken him beyond its borders, particularly to Australia. His expertise and experience has helped Atisfy solidify its position as a major contender in the data-centric marketing solutions industry by serving clients worldwide. The company has emerged as a cutting-edge influencer marketing platform that has revolutionised the industry with its unique blend of programmatic and AI-based technologies. With a multi-million dollar investment, it has rapidly become the go-to platform for businesses seeking to capitalise on the power of influencer marketing.

A true global citizen, Hersh takes great pride in his Asian values and heritage. Yet, he is equally at home with clients from Europe, Canada, and the United States, a testament to his ability to connect with individuals from all cultures.

AN AMBITIOUS LEADER

Hersh’s exceptional business acumen and vision were instrumental in propelling the company’s exponential growth from a modest 10-member team to a thriving workforce comprising over 50 individuals, dispersed across multiple offices situated in three distinct continents and four nations. He fostered a culture of excellence and imbued the team with a fervent passion for creating substantial value, prioritising it above mere profit generation. His indefatigable efforts have empowered a highly motivated and driven workforce, well-versed in the organisation’s overarching philosophy and committed to realising its full potential.

Hersh believes in delivering exceptional customer service under his leadership. He holds that success is not just measured in terms of financial gain, but also in the ability to foster meaningful relationships with clients and to make a positive impact on the global community. With Atisfy, he has truly achieved both.

Hersh has also implemented ESOP plans to incentivise key team members, recognising their pivotal contributions. He has established a unique approach to identifying and nurturing individuals who possess an exceptional ability to tackle problems in a way that sets them apart from the rest.

DRIVEN BY INNOVATIONS

Hersh is a dynamic entrepreneur with a proven track record of creating innovative solutions that drive positive change in the digital landscape. His brainchild, Atisfyreach – an end-to-end influencer marketing platform – has revolutionised the influencer marketing industry by enabling businesses to launch multiplatform, multi influencer, and global campaigns within 20 minutes or less of set-up time. It boasts of a predictive matchmaking algorithm that maximises ROI, real-time reporting, and measurement systems, and an interest/affinity-based targeting system based on a natural language processing model created in-house.

With a deep understanding of the complexities of the influencer marketing space, Hersh developed Atisfyre, an industry leading platform that leverages cutting-edge technology to offer influencers and creators a seamless path to monetisation. The platform provides creators with a powerful suite of tools enabling them to showcase their creativity and generate revenue on their own terms. Hersh has also devised a simple mathematical formula, subsequently refined by accomplished data scientists at Atisfy, that establishes a nexus between the highly efficacious products, Atisfyreach and Atisfyre, through real-time proprietary algorithms known as Atisfyreact. His pioneering contributions to the field have been hailed as an inspiration to many, and his expertise in this domain is beyond reproach.

CAREER HIGHLIGHT

Hersh has successfully garnered an extensive and engaged user base in over 180 countries, elevating the earning potential of creators and influencers hailing from economically disadvantaged backgrounds and communities, particularly in developing regions spanning Asia, Africa, and Europe. This outstanding feat stands as a testament to his unwavering commitment to promoting inclusivity and creating a more equitable landscape for individuals from all walks of life.

Meanwhile, his personal favourite achievement has been the establishment of a system that harnesses cutting edge efficiencies, enabling businesses to equitably remunerate large numbers of micro-influencers across the globe, facilitating widespread social and economic empowerment.

GARNERING ACCOLADES

Hersh’s outstanding achievements have been recognised through an impressive array of prestigious awards. His innovative prowess has earned him the coveted title of one of the 50 Innovators of the Year 2023, while his inspiring leadership has garnered him a spot among the Top 10 Most Inspiring CEOs in 2020.

Under his visionary guidance, Atisfy has also been showered with accolades, including the Best Game Marketing, Advertising, and PR Firm Award in 2020, as well as being named one of the 30 Most Innovative Companies To Watch, one of the 50 Smartest Companies of the Year 2020, and a Top Martech Provider in 2021.

Amey has established himself as a prominent figure in the Machine Learning industry, owing to his exceptional academic credentials. After his Bachelor’s Degree in Electronics and Communication Engineering from National Institute of Technology, Tiruchirappalli (India), he pursued a Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering at Columbia University, New York.

He began his career in 2011 at Analog Devices in Bengaluru, India, where he honed his skills in developing computer vision-based Advanced Driver Assistance System algorithms for the automotive industry. In 2015, he joined Facebook’s Menlo Park office, where he has since played a pivotal role in advancing the company’s key initiatives. His exceptional technical skills and leadership abilities have been instrumental in driving the overall growth and development of the company.

A VERSATILE LEADER

Amey is a highly respected and valued member of the Meta team. He is an excellent mentor to several Machine Learning engineers and data scientists. He works closely with his team to provide guidance and support in setting the vision, strategy, and direction for executing large cross-functional projects aimed at improving the accuracy and effectiveness of video recommendations. Not only does he lead the Video Recommendations Core Ranking team at Meta (Facebook) but he is also a sought-after expert in the fields of recommender systems and deep learning. He has been invited to serve on the program committee for some of the most prestigious international conferences and journals in respective areas.

But that’s not all! Amey has also lent his expertise to various renowned technology competitions and hackathons as a judge. He has even taken on the role of mentor to early-stage companies in the artificial intelligence and machine learning space, playing a key role in their success. With his diverse skill set and impressive track record, Amey is truly a force to be reckoned with in the tech world.

EMPHASISES TEAMWORK

With Amey at the helm, the team is fueled by a spirit of collaboration and teamwork. The young leader champions the importance of open communication and fosters an inclusive and supportive work environment that prioritises growth and development over short term gains. Because of Amey’s visionary leadership, his team is more energised and their collective efforts yield remarkable results. The positive user experiences they are creating are a testament to the power of a culture that values teamwork, collaboration, and ongoing learning. This culture is built on the constructive feedback of clients and setting achievable milestones. Furthermore, the leader ensures that his team members remain focused on achieving their goals without compromising their personal and professional development. This approach not only helps boost team morale and job satisfaction, but also drives positive outcomes and impacts for the organisation.

GARNERING ACCOLADES

The profound impact that Amey has made in the areas of Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence is nothing short of exceptional. His impressive professional achievements and contributions to the industry have not gone unnoticed. In recognition of his outstanding work, he has been honoured with the prestigious Business Mint Award for “Most Prominent Industry Expert of the Year – 2023” in the Machine Learning Category.

A HUMBLE BEGINNING

Mr. Bhatia commenced his professional journey with modest beginnings at the tender age of 17, engaging in the trade of MS Scrap in Delhi after the untimely demise of his father in 1978. He shouldered the dual responsibility of his family and business with remarkable fortitude, imbued with an unwavering determination to succeed. With sheer grit and resolve, he forged a path for himself and progressively climbed the rungs of success through his diligent and assiduous efforts, emerging as a paragon of perseverance and resilience.

A WELL-VERSED LEADER

With an Honours degree in Economics and over four decades of experience in the steel industry, Mr. Bhatia specialises in sourcing high-quality raw materials at competitive rates. Renowned for his impeccable precision and unwavering commitment to meeting stringent project deadlines, he is known to leave no stone unturned when executing his meticulous approach to project management. His reputation for delivering exceptional results with accuracy is a testament to his unwavering dedication and unrivaled skill set.

AN ASTOUNDING BUSINESS JOURNEY

In 1990, Mr. Bhatia relocated to Chennai, where he established ARS Metals Pvt. Ltd. Subsequently, in 1992, he began manufacturing ingots at Gummidipundi, with the corporate headquarters stationed in Chennai. He diversified his operations into TMT Bars in 2005 and further expanded to billets in 2010. In 2013, he ventured into the power sector by establishing a 60 MW Power Plant at Eguvarpalayam, demonstrating his acumen in identifying lucrative business opportunities and successfully diversifying his portfolio.

In a strategic move, the renowned enterprise ARS Metals Limited underwent a significant demerger in 2013, effectively segregating its steel and energy divisions into two distinct entities – ARS Steels and Alloy International Pvt. Ltd. and ARS Energy Pvt. Ltd., respectively. This restructuring demonstrated Mr. Bhatia’s visionary leadership, which enabled him to optimise the performance and growth of his diverse business interests.

PUTTING CUSTOMERS FIRST

Mr. Bhatia’s unwavering commitment to customer satisfaction has driven him to cultivate a robust and diverse client base, both for procurement and sales. By focusing on the needs and expectations of all stakeholders, he has forged strong and enduring relationships built on a foundation of trust and mutual respect. His unrelenting pursuit of excellence has enabled him to build a reputation for delivering high-quality products and services that exceed the expectations of his customers, ensuring their continued loyalty and satisfaction.

A TALENT NURTURER

A robust team of talented and seasoned professionals has aided Mr. Bhatia’s indomitable spirit and remarkable achievements in managing various facets of the business, including factory operations, accounting, taxation, banking, and sales. This team is a harmonious blend of experienced veterans and dynamic young talent, and ensures that the business runs smoothly without any hindrances. The cohesiveness of the team reflects his ability to nurture and develop talent and his ability to lead.

Mr. Bhatia wishes to bring his brand closer to the common man. He envisions a world where everyone, regardless of social status, can access the best-in-class steel products that his brand offers. He believes that the common man is not just a consumer but a partner in his journey.

A MAN WITH MYRIAD CAPABILITIES

Mr. Kundu, an Indian army veteran, founded Tiranga Logistics in 2017 to make it the most trusted logistics company in the country. He graduated from Delhi University and, after retirement from the Indian Army, completed an executive MBA programme from IIM Ahmedabad.

After working for nine years in leading companies such as MFive Group, Amazon and Pepsico Bottlers, he decided to start his venture. His primary focus is to provide seamless and streamlined customer service.

STRATEGY “WISE”

Mr. Kundu has unique enterprising skills and management techniques and always comes up with innovative business ideas. One of his most noticeable ideas was the Central Command Centre, wherein he established a separate team to govern and assess all the transport and logistics-related challenges through one single point.

As a first-generation entrepreneur, Mr. Kundu has taken various leadership initiatives to make a special place for his organisation. He is known to provide equal job opportunities to his employees, maintain authentic relationships with the team, reward his employees generously based on their engagement levels, and think about their individual needs.

PRIORITISING TEAM DEVELOPMENT

Mr. Kundu has a great sense of teamwork and inspires his workforce by ensuring that he is always present for them during any adverse situation. He encourages and motivates his team to accomplish all the complex tasks within the time limit.

He does not confine himself within his office cabin and instead gets involved in all the tasks he assigns to his team. There is regular interaction with the team leaders, and Mr. Kundu also conducts weekly reviews for the smooth functioning of his business and maintains a comfortable environment for all his employees.

On the successful completion of five years, he rewarded the team members with cars and bikes as per their performances. All these efforts put in by him make him a charismatic leader.

CHASING THE VISION

Under Mr. Kundu’s leadership, his company, Tiranga Logistics, has seen tremendous success. In the short span of five years, he has generated a revenue of Rs. 250 crores, and today, his organisation is well-recognised in the logistics sector.

His achievements are a result of his reliable and cost effective strategies to operate as India’s most trusted technology-driven logistics service provider. To achieve this, he has incorporated a culture of honesty and dedication in his organisation, aiming to build a solid and mutually beneficial relationship with all his clients. Mr. Kundu is very considerate about his clients’ needs and aspires for Tiranga Logistics to become a one-stop solution for customers’ supply chain and logistics needs.

SOCIAL AND PERSONAL ACHIEVEMENTS

Being a retired army officer, Mr. Kundu knows his responsibility towards the environment and society. So, he collaborated with different clients to plant trees to protect the environment. Today, his organisation participates in various tree plantation drives; the company has planted more than 1,000 saplings. When one works hard, the efforts never go wasted.

In Mr. Kundu’s journey as Managing Director and CEO, he has won several awards. He received the D&B SME and Mid Corporate Business Excellence Award in 2021 and the Indian Achievers Award. Under his leadership, Tiranga Logistics has received several accreditations, such as ISO 9001:2015, TAPA, IBA and FSSAI

Dr. Handigol is an IIT Madras alumnus who went to Stanford University for his PhD. At Stanford, he did some ground breaking work in networking technologies. It is there that he faced several problems like managing large data systems and decided to solve it for himself and others as well. He got together with three other Stanford alumni – David Erickson, Brandon Heller and Peyman Kazemian – and founded Forward Networks in 2013.

Forward Networks has been a strong venture since the very beginning. Under the guidance of 4 brilliant minds, the company gained series-A funding from top notch VCs within a year. With 6 employees, Dr. Handigol and his team set up their first office in Palo Alto in 2015. At Forward Networks, the team has created technology to make the world’s networks more agile, predictable, and secure. This breakthrough technology is called the ‘digital twin’ of the network. According to him, the biggest business achievement for the company has been to use technological innovation to solve a major business problem. In the process, the company has been able to change the practice of building and operating large complex networks that are the lifeblood of modern businesses. In simple words, Dr. Handigol and his team want to automate away the human-error factor that causes network outages and security vulnerabilities.

TRUST IS KEY

Dr. Handigol likes to run a tight ship but one that is transparent. His method of leading a venture is to trust his teammates. A firm believer in the adage ‘trust and delegate,’ he puts his energy into hiring the best team members, training them diligently and then trusting them to work with autonomy. He prefers to have an open interaction-based ecosystem that is honest and respectful. It is tricky for any leader to consider everyone’s point of view during any discussion and move forward. Dr. Handigol usually tackles this by leading discussions and keeping them centred around the agenda. Sometimes people’s personalities get in the way, and these discussions can take unproductive turns. Dr. Handigol prefers to keep the discussions focused on data, a tactic which naturally leads to efficient discussions and the right outcomes. He has tried to build this culture of open communication all throughout Forward Networks.

IRREPLACEABLE TECHNOLOGY

Technology is an integral part of everything today. As a society, we are heavily dependent on technology for our day-to-day routines. Dr. Handigol echoes this sentiment and feels inspired when he sees technology improving society. In particular, the entrepreneur has been inspired by the role that the Internet has played in connecting people and businesses across the globe. It is nothing short of a miracle that despite a raging global pandemic that forced people to stay home, the world largely continued to function. He feels it is only because of the internet that employees could work from home, students could attend classes virtually, and friends and family could stay in touch and support each other. This irreplaceable role of technology is what drove him in the first place to pursue a PhD with a research focus on computer networking. It helped him to eventually co-found a company to make the networks of the world more agile, predictable, and secure to meet the needs of the future. Dr. Handigol has a clear vision regarding his firm. He wants to be what Google is to the internet. The leader envisions Forward Networks to be an indispensable part of networking and hopes to see a world where robust and secure networks enable a better society.

An alumna of Harvard Business School, Aishwarya co-founded Smartworld Developers in 2021 in Gurugram with a vision to deliver unparalleled excellence in the real estate industry. She used her comprehensive understanding of global markets, her family’s rich and proven experience to achieve milestones that are praiseworthy. The company’s flagship projects in Gurugram, Smartworld Orchard and Smartworld Gems, were a big hit in the first year of their inception. Aishwarya works with a futuristic approach and is determined to provide customers with a luxurious and comfortable living space with a touch of innovation. Aishwarya’s dedication, enthusiasm and passion for her profession gave her the taste of success when her organisation sold homes worth ₹4,000 crore within just 5 months post launch of the projects.

AN AMBITIOUS SHERO

Real estate is still a male-dominated industry. However, with relentless efforts and her family’s support, Aishwarya optimistically entered the industry and created a unique space for herself. She believes in empowering women and that nothing is impossible for a courageous heart. A supporter of equal opportunities for all genders, Aishwarya ensures that her company maintains a healthy gender ratio and all women employees have an equal say in the company’s decisions. Women aspiring to become a realtor can learn a lot from her professional journey. She is already an icon to many women.

MAKING A MARK

Aishwarya guides her team to provide the most innovative and luxurious home designs to the consumer. She studies customers’ needs and aspirations thoroughly before finalising any project and targets use of advanced and smart technologies to set new benchmarks in construction, operations, customer service, unmatched delivery schedules at friendly customer-price points.

The team of dedicated professionals in the organisation ensure that customers get the property at the best price, location, and amenities that suit their lifestyle.

A WOMAN WITH A HEART OF GOLD

Aishwarya’s philanthropic nature is one significant asset of her character. She participates enthusiastically in various humanitarian programmes and social initiatives. She believes that a leader must give back to society. To fulfil this idea, she helps the underprivileged by donating money and food, and distributing blankets and clothes to the labourers. Her name was also highlighted when along with Dainik Jagran, she supported Arpan, a social initiative to share some warmth and help the needy people in the cold weather of Delhi NCR.

A REWARDING JOURNEY

Aishwarya’s contribution to the world of real estate and the betterment of the people and society helped her achieve many awards. She has received the Inspiring Women Award by the Economic Times and the 40 Under 40 Business Tycoons Award 2022, and the Marketing Meister Award by Prestigious Brands of India amongst others. Nirbhaya Jyoti Trust appreciated and felicitated her for her humane endeavours. Under her leadership, her company also bagged many awards, for instance, the Iconic Real Estate Brand-Delhi NCR, Residential Project of the Year Award and many more.