New Delhi | 11 September 2026
The inaugural The CEO Magazine Business Conclave & Leadership Awards 2026 brought together a diverse cross-section of India’s business and professional community on 11 September at Welcomhotel By ITC Hotels, Dwarka, New Delhi.
The gathering saw the participation of 100+ business leaders, entrepreneurs, professionals, industry experts and decision-makers, creating a platform for conversations on leadership, business growth, national development, entrepreneurship and India’s evolving economic landscape.
Organised by The CEO Magazine, part of Indiamanthan Publications & Media Pvt. Ltd., the event extended the publication’s decade-long work in business and leadership storytelling into an evening of live discussions, professional interaction and recognition. The programme also featured 50+ awards celebrating achievements across industries.
Opening the Evening with Strategic Leadership
The event began with the ceremonial lamp lighting by Mr. Shrikant Pandey, Dr. Anil Sethi, Mr. Durga Singh Bhandari and Lt Gen Ashok Bhim Shivane (Retd.).
Lt Gen Ashok Bhim Shivane (Retd.) delivered the inaugural address, bringing his perspective on leadership and strategic thinking to the conclave. His address was followed by remarks from Dr. Anil Sethi.
The first panel, titled “Inc for India,” examined several dimensions of India’s entrepreneurial and growth landscape, including entrepreneurship, trade, artificial intelligence and social entrepreneurship.
The discussion brought together Lt Gen Ashok Bhim Shivane (Retd.), Mahmood Akhter, IRS, Amb. B. Bala Bhaskar and Dr. Kazem Samandari, and was moderated by Malika Pandey, Public Policy Specialist.
Markets, Mandates and India’s Economic Transformation
The second panel, “Markets and Mandates,”, turned the focus towards India’s Economic Transformation, Entrepreneurship & Policy.
The panel featured Dr. Amitabh Ranjan, Amb. Muktesh Pardeshi, Dr. SuvroKamal Dutta, Vani Patel and Shantanu Jugtawat, with Dr. Kamalika Banerjee, Scientist and Former Consultant, PSA, PMO, Government of India, as moderator.
The programme further featured addresses and presentations by Dr. Amarjeet Kaur, Mr. Prateek Golecha, Mr. Sandeep Ahuja and Vani Patel, covering perspectives connected to technology, entrepreneurship, healthcare and business development.
A Wider View of India’s Growth Story
One of the key segments of the evening was the Minister’s Session, featuring His Excellency Shri K. J. Alphons Kannanthanam, Former Union Minister, Former IAS Officer and former Member of Parliament, Rajya Sabha.
The session was followed by an address from Lt Gen Raj Shukla (Retd.). Moderated by Dr. Kamalika Banerjee and Ayanangsha Maitra, PhD, the session considered India’s strategic trajectory, national development, leadership and opportunities emerging from the country’s growing global role.
The programme continued with addresses by Mr. Kaukab Abbas and Dr. Rakesh Kumar before the awards segment.
Recognising Achievement Across the Business Ecosystem
Ms. Dipika Chiklia, Guest of Honour, was welcomed by Mrs. Jyoti Pandey ahead of the awards presentation.
The 50+ awards recognised organisations and individuals across areas including business leadership, entrepreneurship, innovation, transformation and industry excellence.
Among the award categories were Company of the Year, Brand of the Year, CEO of the Year, Founder of the Year, Entrepreneur of the Year, Business Woman of the Year, Industry Leadership, Lifetime Achievement, Startup of the Year and Business Transformation, among others.
The evening also included felicitations for contributors to the conclave. Dr. Shyam Raghunandan, Dr. Anil Sethi and Mr. Durga Singh Bhandari, members of the Grand Jury, felicitated distinguished panellists, generals and ambassadors. Mr. Shrikant Pandey felicitated Chief Guest Shri K. J. Alphons Kannanthanam.
The event was supported by APS Industrial Solutions as Gifting Partner, Business Uttarayani Conclave of Himalayan Entrepreneurs as Outreach Partner and Rudrakshology as Spiritual Partner.
A Decade of Storytelling, Now Recognising Excellence
The conclave represents a continuation of The CEO Magazine’s editorial journey, which began in 2015 with a focus on documenting the stories of entrepreneurs, CEOs, founders and organisations.
The event concluded with a vote of thanks by Mr. Shrikant Pandey, Publisher, The CEO Magazine, who thanked the Chief Guest, Guest of Honour, speakers, jury members, award recipients, partners and attendees.
He said, “Leadership deserves to be recognised, but more importantly, it deserves to be remembered for the impact it creates.”
The inaugural edition brought the publication’s storytelling, leadership and recognition initiatives together on a common platform, reinforcing its focus on creating spaces where business leaders connect, engage and get recognised.
About The CEO Magazine
The CEO Magazine, part of Indiamanthan Publications & Media Pvt. Ltd., is a business media platform covering leadership, entrepreneurship, companies, industries and emerging business trends.
Since 2015, it has documented 7,500+ leadership stories, featuring entrepreneurs, CEOs, founders, professionals and organisations across sectors.
Through its magazine, digital platforms, leadership stories, industry features, events and recognition initiatives, The CEO Magazine continues to build platforms connecting the wider business community.
Media Enquiries:
The CEO Magazine
Indiamanthan Publications & Media Pvt. Ltd.
event@theceo.in | 011-4121-9292
