Maheshwari of FirstCry is Entrepreneur of the Year
Leaders across sectors celebrated for their contribution to India’s economic and social development
The Forbes India Leadership Awards 2025 culminated in a grand ceremony at the Jio World Convention Centre, Mumbai, where the country’s top leaders were honoured for their innovative and transformative leadership and contributions to their industries and the nation.
The first awards of the evening celebrated breakthrough innovations and stellar achievements:
● Emerging Innovator Award: BugWorks Research, with Dr Anand Anandkumar, Dr V Balasubramanium and Dr Santanu Datta remarking, “Innovation isn’t just discovery; it’s impact.”
● Outstanding Startup Award: BrowserStack. Recipients Ritesh Arora and Nakul Aggarwal noted, “We power half the world’s airlines, banks, and tech firms.”
● Icons of Excellence: Ajay Singh of SpiceJet and Katrina Kaif of Kay Beauty were honoured, with Singh saying, “We started SpiceJet against all odds,” and Kaif emphasising, “If you enter business, you must have something unique to say.”
Fireside Chat – Katrina Kaif on Business and Branding: Katrina Kaif, in conversation with Naini Thaker of Forbes India, talked about her journey from Bollywood to the boardroom, underscoring the importance of inclusivity and self-expression in branding.
Business & Economy Panel: This segment featured robust discussions on the economic outlook and key business strategies:
● Leaders like KVS Manian, Rajesh Jejurikar, and Madan Sabnavis explored topics ranging from global trade challenges to growth projections and the role of MSMEs in job creation.
● A standout quote from Rajesh Jejurikar: “The world needs India more than India needs the world.”
Final Set of Awards and Closing Highlights: The ceremony recognised outstanding leaders:
● Icons of Excellence: Jay Shah, Chairman of ICC; Shyam Srinivasan, Veteran Banker; and Mohit Joshi of Tech Mahindra were honoured.
● Promising Startup: Presented to Minimalist, received by Rahul Yadav and Mohit Yadav.
● Regional Goliath: Presented to MTR Foods, received by Sunay Bhasin and Sanjay Sharma.
● Grassroots Philanthropists: Rizwan Koita and Rekha Koita of Koita Foundation.
● Climate Warrior: Presented to Indra Water, received by Amrit Om Nayak and Krunal Patel.
● Turnaround Star: Presented to Indian Hotels Co Ltd (IHCL), received by Puneet Chhatwal.
● Next-Gen Entrepreneur: Varun Jaipuria of Varun Beverages.
● Institution Builder: Ashish Dhawan of Central Square Foundation and Ashoka University.
● Entrepreneur of the Year: Supam Maheshwari of FirstCry.
● CEO of the Year: Rajesh Jejurikar of Mahindra & Mahindra.
“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,” said Suveen Sinha, Editor, Forbes India.
The event concluded with a grand finale that included a celebratory toast and a group photo of all the winners, embodying the spirit of collaborative success and leadership.
Special thanks were extended to partners Federal Bank, KIA, Indiqube, Rajasthan Tourism, and Reliance Industries for their support in making the event a success.