India's growth story is being shaped by leaders who are challenging conventions, driving innovation, and creating meaningful impact across industries. From technology and retail to sustainability, communications, entrepreneurship, and design, these visionaries are redefining success through bold ideas, purpose-driven leadership, and a commitment to building a stronger future.
Piyush Lilaramani, Brand, Communications & CSR Head, PVNA Group
Piyush Lilaramani is a brand, sustainability, and communications leader who operates at the intersection of narrative and business strategy, building brand equity that translates directly into market advantage.
As Brand, Communications & CSR Head at PVNA Group, he leads the brand and communications mandate for a Group positioned at the convergence of Mechatronics, Electronics, and Clean Mobility, architecting the narrative for India’s intelligent and clean mobility future. Over a 15+ year career spanning seven sectors, including Automotive, FMCG, Technology, Education, Sports, Entertainment, and Finance, he has built and led brand strategy for some of the world’s most recognised names, across both corporate and agency mandates: Suzuki, Toyota, Ferrari, Maserati, Volvo, Reckitt, adidas, Hong Kong Tourism, Discovery Channel and WNS, among others.
What distinguishes Piyush is his consistent ability to convert brand strategy into measurable business outcomes, driving revenue through customer excellence and go-to-market leadership that few communications professionals are entrusted with. A sought-after speaker and coach, a Business School alumnus, and a keen student of the automotive industry, he is guided by a singular conviction: that enduring brands are built not on campaigns, but on purpose.
Rituu Jai Mehhta, Centre Director – Phoenix Mall of Asia & Director Marketing (South)
Rituu Jai Mehhta is one of the leading voices shaping South India's experiential retail landscape. As Centre Director – Phoenix Mall of Asia & Director Marketing (South) she spearheads marketing and destination strategy across Bengaluru, Chennai, and Pune. With over two decades of experience spanning retail, luxury, and consumer engagement, she has played a key role in advancing experiential retail by transforming shopping destinations into vibrant hubs for fashion, entertainment, gastronomy, beauty, and community experiences. A recipient of many accolades, including the Karnataka Woman Entrepreneurship Award, the CMO Asia Awards for Excellence in Shopping Malls – Women Leadership Award (Retail Industry) and Women Personality of the Year, the Economic Times Inspiring Women Leaders – Excellence in Retail Mall Marketing, as well as The Times of India's Woman Power Award, Rituu has been instrumental in elevating Phoenix Mall of Asia and other Phoenix destinations into benchmarks for destination-led retail, demonstrating how curated experiences can redefine consumer engagement at scale.
Deepa Joshi Sharma: CCMO- Ion Exchange (India) Ltd : Leading with Purpose and Authenticity
In today’s dynamic business landscape, leadership is defined by the ability to inspire, adapt, and create impact. Deepa Joshi Sharma, Chief Customer & Marketing Officer (CCMO) at Ion Exchange (India) Ltd, exemplifies this through her values-driven and people-centric leadership style.
After a distinguished career spanning nearly two decades in healthcare, Deepa successfully transitioned to the water and sustainability sector, showcasing the power of continuous learning and adaptability. Completing a successful year in a new industry, she has demonstrated that true leadership transcends sectors. As a woman leader, she continues to inspire by embracing change with confidence, leading with authenticity, and proving that resilience, empathy, and purpose are powerful drivers of business transformation. Known for her clarity of thought, collaborative approach, and execution excellence, she fosters a culture of trust and empowerment. Deeply rooted in family values and spiritual grounding,
Deepa believes authentic leadership creates lasting impact.
Rohit Manglik, Founder & CEO, InfoBay.AI
Rohit Manglik is India’s preeminent leader in artificial intelligence data and the visionary architect powering the AI data layer for half of the world's frontier labs. His venture, InfoBay.AI, has established a robust footprint across five countries, recently crossing ₹100 crore in turnover while achieving a staggering 10x revenue growth over the last two fiscal years. Stemming from Lucknow, Rohit is actively building a borderless organization driving the global AI revolution, with strategic plans to expand operations from 5 to 20 countries over the next year.
Shreiya Khanna, Founder and CEO, Quirk Head Media Pvt. Ltd
Shreiya Khanna is the Founder and CEO of Quirk Head Media Pvt. Ltd., an integrated marketing and communications agency specialising in the premium and luxury hospitality sector. Headquartered in New Delhi, the agency has expanded its presence across Dubai, Mumbai, Bengaluru, and Goa.
Over the years, Shreiya has carved a distinct niche by helping premium and luxury hotels, resorts, restaurants, and hospitality brands build influential and commercially effective identities. Under her leadership, Quirk Head Media has serviced more than 80 clients, including globally renowned names such as Marriott International, The Leela Palaces, Hotels and Resorts, IHG Hotels & Resorts, and Hilton Hotels & Resorts, among many others.
A trained performance marketer with a discerning eye for luxury, Shreiya brings together visual appeal, meaningful storytelling, and measurable business outcomes. Her philosophy is rooted in the belief that exceptional creative work should do more than look beautiful—it should strengthen brand positioning, inspire audiences, drive engagement, and ultimately deliver return on investment.
Mihika Aishwarya, Founder & CEO of ConnectStory Communications
While most communications professionals settle into comfortable corporate tracks, Mihika Aishwarya took a different route. In her early thirties, she left an eight-year career at agencies like Value360 and Archetype to start ConnectStory Communications in Bengaluru. The motivation was simple. She noticed getting a brand visible is easy enough, but building a reputation that actually survives is incredibly rare. ConnectStory now directs narrative strategy for companies across Real Estate, Lifestyle, Healthcare, Technology and Travel. The firm ignores transactional publicity and focuses heavily on Founder positioning to secure real market trust. Ultimately, the best brands don't just chase headlines. They leave legacies!
Manish Tewari, CEO, Trusys.ai
Manish Tewari is a serial entrepreneur and technology innovator with a deep passion for coding and solving real-world problems. An IIT Varanasi alumnus, Manish co-founded Trusys.ai, a cutting-edge platform developing robust solutions that ensure AI is safe, transparent, and compliant for enterprise use. He also co-founded Spydra Technologies, leading blockchain innovations in asset tokenization and on-chain workflows.
Earlier in his entrepreneurial journey, Manish co-founded Koovs.com in 2009, an e-commerce platform that disrupted the Indian market, raising over $20M and listing on the UK Stock Exchange with a $100M valuation by 2013. In 2014, he co-founded POKKT Mobile Ads, pioneering mobile app monetization and digital advertising, securing $10M in funding. Driven by impact, in 2019, he launched Piggy Ride, a child-focused transportation platform that expanded to over 15 countries with $3M in funding.
Vikash Gupta, Founder & CEO, Three Sixty
Vikash Gupta is the visionary founder and CEO of Three Sixty, a premium homegrown Indian lifestyle brand and design studio specialising in handcrafted leather furniture and luxury accessories. Leaving a stable corporate career in the United States, Gupta returned to India to pioneer Ranvik Exports in 1993, eventually launching Three Sixty in 2009. Driven by the "Make in India" philosophy, his mission centers on showcasing indigenous craftsmanship globally and empowering local artisans. Under his leadership, the brand manufactures bespoke collections ranging from accent chairs to trunk bars, earning accolades like the Handicrafts Export Award for its commitment to excellence, design innovation, and sustainable practices.
Today, Three Sixty has strong domestic presence with its stores nationwide while Rangik Exports has been exporting to the US, Middle East and Europe.
Sahil Arora, Founder, Consider Done Digital
Sahil Arora is the Founder of Consider Done Digital, a creative-led communications and production company delivering campaigns for premium brands, public institutions, and government bodies across India. Raised in a business family, he developed an early understanding of businesses, entrepreneurship, and long-term value creation.
Known for his ambition from a young age, Sahil earned his first paycheck at the age of 15, selling tickets for some of the world's biggest electronic music acts, including Avicii and Swedish House Mafia. The experience sparked an early fascination with sales, consumer behaviour, and marketing, laying the foundation for a career built around understanding what drives people to engage, buy, and believe.
With a background spanning political communications, campaign strategy, and brand building, Sahil has built his reputation on understanding how narratives shape perception and how ideas move people at scale. Beyond his work in communications, he maintains a keen interest in the startup ecosystem and actively follows emerging businesses and investment opportunities, with a particular curiosity for the intersection of business, culture, communication, and growth.
Manas Pal, Co-Founder, PedalStart
Manas Pal is a visionary entrepreneur and the driving force behind the success of PedalStart, an innovative start up incubator that nurtures and empowers aspiring entrepreneurs to transform their ground breaking ideas into thriving businesses. With a passion for igniting innovation and a strong belief in the potential of budding talents, Manas has become a pivotal figure in the startup ecosystem, guiding and supporting countless innovators on their journey to success.
From a young age, Manas exhibited an entrepreneurial spirit and a fascination with technology. He embarked on his entrepreneurial journey by launching his first venture while still in college, where he quickly learned the ropes of business development, resource management, and team building. These early experiences ignited his ambition to create a platform that would provide aspiring entrepreneurs with the tools and support needed to turn their dreams into reality.
The leaders featured in India's Emerging Power List represent a new generation of changemakers who are influencing industries with innovation, resilience, and vision. As they continue to break new ground and inspire progress, their journeys serve as a testament to the limitless potential of Indian leadership on both national and global stages.
