The CEO Magazine Business Conclave & Leadership Awards 2026 Brings Together 100+ Business Leaders in New Delhi

New Delhi | 11 September 2026

The CEO Magazine Business Conclave & Leadership Awards 2026 was held on 11 September 2026 at Welcomhotel By ITC Hotels, Dwarka, New Delhi, bringing together more than 100 business leaders, entrepreneurs, professionals, industry experts and decision-makers for an evening centred on leadership, business interaction, strategic conversations, networking and recognition.

Organised by The CEO Magazine, part of Indiamanthan Publications & Media Pvt. Ltd., the inaugural conclave marked a significant new chapter in the publication’s journey of documenting business and leadership stories since 2015.

The programme brought together voices representing business, entrepreneurship, technology, public policy and other sectors, while the evening also witnessed the presentation of 50+ awards recognising achievements across industries and areas of business excellence.

Leadership, Strategy and India's Growth Landscape

The evening commenced with the ceremonial lamp lighting by Mr. Shrikant Pandey, Dr. Anil Sethi, Mr. Durga Singh Bhandari and Lt Gen Ashok Bhim Shivane (Retd.).

The inaugural address was delivered by Lt Gen Ashok Bhim Shivane (Retd.), who brought perspectives on leadership, strategic thinking and India's evolving strategic and entrepreneurial landscape. The programme was followed by an address by Dr. Anil Sethi.

The first panel discussion, “Inc for India,” brought together perspectives on entrepreneurship, trade, artificial intelligence, social entrepreneurship and India's future growth. The panel featured 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.

The second panel, “Markets and Mandates,” examined India's Economic Transformation, Entrepreneurship & Policy. The discussion featured Dr. Amitabh Ranjan, Amb. Muktesh Pardeshi, Dr. SuvroKamal Dutta, Vani Patel and Shantanu Jugtawat, and was moderated by Dr. Kamalika Banerjee, Scientist and Former Consultant, PSA, PMO, Government of India.

The programme also included presentations and addresses by Dr. Amarjeet Kaur, Mr. Prateek Golecha, Mr. Sandeep Ahuja and Vani Patel, adding perspectives on technology, entrepreneurship, healthcare and business development.

Minister's Session Brings Policy and Strategic Perspectives

A key segment of the conclave 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 programme was followed by an address by Lt Gen Raj Shukla (Retd.). The session, moderated by Dr. Kamalika Banerjee and Ayanangsha Maitra, PhD, explored India's strategic trajectory, national development, leadership and opportunities emerging from India's growing global role.

The programme subsequently continued with addresses by Mr. Kaukab Abbas and Dr. Rakesh Kumar, before moving into the evening's recognition ceremony.

50+ Awards Recognise Excellence Across Sectors

Ms. Dipika Chiklia, Guest of Honour, was welcomed by Mrs. Jyoti Pandey before the awards ceremony.

The CEO Magazine Business Conclave & Leadership Awards 2026 recognised organisations, entrepreneurs, business leaders and professionals across categories covering business leadership, entrepreneurship, innovation, transformation and industry excellence.

The recognitions included categories such as 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.

Members of the Grand Jury — Dr. Shyam Raghunandan, Dr. Anil Sethi and Mr. Durga Singh Bhandari — felicitated distinguished panellists, generals and ambassadors who contributed to the conclave. Mr. Shrikant Pandey felicitated 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 New Platform for Leadership and Business Interaction

The inaugural conclave brought together The CEO Magazine's editorial focus on leadership and business storytelling with a live platform for interaction, ideas, networking and recognition.

The event concluded with a vote of thanks by Mr. Shrikant Pandey, Publisher, The CEO Magazine, who expressed his appreciation to the Chief Guest, Guest of Honour, speakers, jury members, award recipients, partners and guests.

He said, “Leadership deserves to be recognised, but more importantly, it deserves to be remembered for the impact it creates.”

He also thanked everyone for being part of the inaugural edition and for their continued support as The CEO Magazine continues to create platforms that bring business leaders together.

The inaugural edition marked an important milestone for The CEO Magazine and its continuing efforts to build platforms 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 focused on leadership, entrepreneurship, companies, industries and emerging business trends.

Since 2015, the publication 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 create platforms where business leaders connect, engage and get recognised.

Media Enquiries:
The CEO Magazine
Indiamanthan Publications & Media Pvt. Ltd.
Email: event@theceo.in
Phone: 011-4121-9292