With a distinguished educational background, including a Chemical Engineering degree from NIT Trichy and a PGDM from IIM Calcutta, this individual boasts over 35 years of experience as an exceptional leader and transformation specialist. They have been the driving force behind the remarkable evolution of T S Mahalingam & Sons into a highly respected automobile after-market brand in South India, expanding its operations across multiple businesses and locations. As a pioneer, they revolutionized the financial services industry by introducing third-party loan products in collaboration with Citi bank and ventured into real estate, successfully delivering over 100 projects. Notably, they have made a significant impact on various alumni associations, serving as President of REC alumni (RECAL), President of the IIM Calcutta Alumni Chennai, and President of the Madras Management Association (MMA). Additionally, their role on the Chennai Angels’ Executive Committee showcases their dedication to fostering entrepreneurship and supporting budding entrepreneurs through mentorship and investment guidance, solidifying their reputation as a go-to figure in the entrepreneurial ecosystem.
Mr V Shankar an IITM, IIMC graduate who worked briefly then went on to found CAMS (Computer Age Management Services Pvt. Ltd.) in 1988 to provide a Platform and services to the Indian Mutual Fund industry. CAMS was recently listed.
He is involved with several organisations that promote entrepreneurship, as will as with both his alma mater.
Ms Vini Mahajan, IAS assumed the charge as Secretary in the Ministry of Jal Shakti, Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation,Govt of India. Ms. Mahajan is an MBA from Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Calcutta, where she was placed on the Roll of Honour. She did B.A. (Honours) Economics from Lady Shri Ram College (LSR), Delhi University.
Prior to this, she was served as Punjab Chief Secretary, Additional Chief Secretary of the Departments of Housing & Urban Development, Government of Punjab and Industries & Commerce, IT and Investment Promotion. She was ACS/ Principal Secretary of the Department of Health and Family Welfare for 5 years. She also served as Principal Secretary Department of Medical Education and Research, and Principal Secretary Finance, Punjab.
Ms Mahajan served as Joint Secretary to the Prime Minister of India from 2007-2012, and earlier in 2004-05 as Director in the Department of Economic Affairs, Ministry of Finance.
She has served in various capacities in the State of Punjab, as M.D. of the Punjab Infrastructure Development Board, as the first Director Disinvestment in the State, as Secretary, Power and as Special Secretary, Expenditure. She has over 8 years’ experience in cutting edge positions at the field level, including as Deputy Commissioner (the first woman to be posted as such in Punjab in 25 years).
Ms Mahajan received numerous academic awards, including the National Talent Search Scholarship. She was a Hubert Humphrey fellow based at American University in Washington DC in 2000 –2001.
Dr. V. Anantha Nageswaran is the current Chief Economic Advisor to the Government of India.
He has co-authored four books:
(i) The Rise of Finance – Causes, Consequences and Cures
(ii) Derivatives
(iii) Can India Grow?
(iv) The Economics of Derivatives
He was a weekly columnist for Mint from 2007 to February 2022.
He has taught at several business schools and institutes of management in India and in Singapore. He was a Distinguished Visiting Professor of Economics at Krea University.
He was a part-time member of the Economic Advisory Council to the Prime Minister of India from 2019 to 2021. He is an honorary senior advisor to the International Financial Services Authority of India. He also advised the Indicus Foundation on Financial Inclusion and Dvara Research on Financial System Design. He served on the Advisory Boards of TVS Capital and the Global Alliance for Mass Entrepreneurship.
In his corporate career spanning seventeen years from 1994 to 2011, he was a Currency Economist at the Union Bank of Switzerland, Head of Research and Investment Consulting in Credit Suisse Private Banking in Asia, Head of Asia Research and Global Chief Investment Officer at Bank Julius Baer.
He was an Independent Director on the Boards of TVS Supply Chain Solutions, Sundaram Fasteners, TVS Tyres and Delphi-TVS.
He earned his doctoral degree from the University of Massachusetts in Amherst in 1994 for his work on exchange rate behaviour. In 1985, he received a Post-Graduate Diploma in Management from the Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad.
Unnikrishnan starting his career with Grindwell Group which later became a Saint-Gobain Company, Unnikrishnan worked closely with the Saint-Gobain Group in 1997 to develop strategic blueprint for Saint-Gobain’s investment in India in the Glass business.
He played a pivotal role in Saint-Gobain Glass India’s journey to market leadership in a short period of time, state of the art manufacturing, impeccable quality and trusted brand building.
With rich experience of over 20 years in the Glass Industry, Unnikrishnan now is the Managing Director of Saint-Gobain India Pvt Ltd (Glass Business).
Apart from his professional role at Saint-Gobain, he is a thought leader across various fora in the areas of Sustainability and Regulations drafting key policy structure frameworks for the Indian Construction Industry. He is the Chairman of Glazing Society of India, Chairman CII TN CEO Forum, Chairing CII SR Task Force on Future of Manufacturing.
He holds a 1994 – 1997 PGDBM in Marketing, Finance @ XLRI Jamshedpur. With a robust skill set that includes Business Strategy, Management, People Development, Business Planning, Business Development and more, Unnikrishnan AR contributes valuable insights to the industry.
A partner in McKinsey’s Delhi office, Soumyadeep leads the firm’s work in manufacturing and supply chain management in India. He specializes in manufacturing and supply chain transformations across sectors, including auto OEM and component manufacturing, pharmaceuticals, consumer, agrochemicals, and textiles. He also provides direction on yield energy, throughput, quality improvement, digital, and end-to-end analytics enablement of the supply chain. In addition to his client work, he serves as managing partner for the Gurugram office.
Soumyadeep’s recent client work include the following:
Spearheading the manufacturing transformation of a large cement company with a presence in five countries in Asia.
Creating next-generation manufacturing systems enabled by IoT and analytics for a leading auto-component manufacturer
Working with the government of India and major industry companies to set up a Innovation & Learning Centers to penetrate smart manufacturing using Industry 4.0 across sectors
Leading the end-to-end supply-chain digitization of a large viscose manufacturer with a global footprint
Rahul Mammen Mappillai serves as Managing Director of the Company. He was Whole-Time Director of MRF Ltd. Mr. Rahul Mammen Mappillai is B.A. (Hons) Economics from St. Stephens College, Delhi. After his graduation, he completed his M.A. in Economics from the University of Madras and subsequently did his Masters in Business Administration (MBA) at the University of Michigan Business School, Ann Arbor, USA. He joined the Company as Corporate Manager – Planning & Development in 2003 and was subsequently promoted as General Manager – Planning & Development in 2005. He became Vice-president – Planning & Development in 2008. He has experience in all departments such as Planning, Production, Finance and project execution of the Company. As Head of the Corporate Planning Department, he had a role in formulating the long term business plan of the Company and other new initiatives such as Balance Score Card and the Performance Management Systems. He is overseeing the finance and project functions. He was instrumental in completing the Ankenpally project at Medak District, Andhra Pradesh in a record time. He is overseeing the automation and process upgradation in all new projects of the Company.
Mr Sriram Viji is the Managing Director and Board Member of Brakes India, he lead the company’s vision, strategy, and operations in the automotive component manufacturing industry. With over 15 years of experience in management, product, and consulting roles, he have a proven track record of delivering innovative and high-quality solutions for complex and safety-critical applications.
His core competencies include strategy development and execution, product management and design, business analysis and optimization, and stakeholder engagement and communication. He is passionate about creating value for the customers, partners, and shareholders, as well as empowering and developing our talented and diverse team of over 5,000 employees. His mission is to position Brakes India as a global leader and a trusted partner in the automotive component sector, with a focus on excellence, sustainability, and social responsibility.
Mr Varun Prakash is currently a Partner of McKinsey & Company. He completed his B.E on Electrical and Electronics Engineering from Nanyang Technological University. Further completed his MBA from University of Michigan – Stephen M.Ross School of Business.
His previous experiences at McKinsey & Company are: –
- Associate Partner from 2018 to 2021 for 3 years
- Engagement Manager from 2015 to 2018 for 3 years
- Associate from 2013 to 2015 for 2 years
His other experiences at various establishments are: –
- Schlumberger for 4 years and 11 months
- Project Manager, Control Systems from Jan 2010 to May 2011
- Product Engineer from Jan 2008 to Dec 2009
- Sustaining Engineer from Jul 2006 to Dec 2007
- Accenture, Intern from Jan 2005 to Jun 2005
Jaideep Sarkar is a Professor of Practice in the Entrepreneurship Area. He is a retired Indian Foreign Service officer with wide experience in Government, including tenures in the Prime Minister’s Office, Ministry of Finance, Ministry of External Affairs and Indian missions abroad. His interests are in the areas of cross-cultural perspectives on innovation, emerging markets, country studies on Japan and Israel and innovations in public policy.
Velusamy R, designated as Chief Of Global Product Development heads the product development for Auto Sector at Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd.
Velu has over 25 years of experience in Vehicle and Powertrain development. He started his career in M&M in the year 1996 in Powertrain development. He is credited as the Brain behind the Mahindra state of Art M-Hawk Engines. He went on to hold various senior level positions at M&M Powertrain division, becoming the head of Vehicle Product development for Automotive Division in the year 2018. Under his leadership in Product Development M&M Has launched various flagship products like Marazzo, XUV300, All New Thar & the recent Blockbuster product, XUV700 which set various Industry Benchmark & marked a new beginning for Mahindra and SUV Segment in India.
He also heads the Component Development & Material Management Division (CDMM) for Auto Sector. He is the Chairperson & Board of Director for Mahindra North America Technical Centre (MNATC) & Director on the Board of Automobili Pininfarina GMBH.
He also contributes to various Industry and academia bodies. He is the Co-Chairman for SIAM Energy & Conservation Group and the Industry Chair for Virginia Tech India Centre.
Velu completed his B.Sc., from University of Madras & B-Tech., Automobile Engg at Anna University, Chennai. He has completed Advance Management Program at Wharton Business School, Mahindra Universe program at Harvard university. He also underwent Global Program for Management Development at Michigan Ross School of Business. He was Part of Mahindra Future Leadership Program (FLP).
Mr. Anurag Sharma is currently serving as the Associate Partner and Leader of the People Supply Chain Practice at McKinsey & Company, a position he has held since April 2022. With a career spanning 7 years and 5 months at McKinsey, Mr. Sharma has demonstrated unwavering dedication and leadership within the renowned consulting firm.
Before assuming his current role, Mr. Sharma served as an Engagement Manager at McKinsey from April 2020 to April 2022, where he showcased his managerial prowess and strategic acumen. Prior to that, he held the position of Associate from July 2018 to April 2020, establishing a strong foundation in his consulting career.
Mr. Sharma’s professional journey commenced at Morgan Stanley Wealth Management, where he contributed for 3 years and 8 months. Starting as an Associate in January 2012, he progressively advanced to roles such as Senior Associate and Manager. During his tenure, he played a pivotal role in developing software to support the Wealth Management business, showcasing his technical expertise and business acumen.
His early professional experiences include internships at Hewlett-Packard Laboratories, where he worked on a research project related to leveraging social networks and smart devices for supporting micro entrepreneurs. Additionally, he completed an internship at Reliance, focusing on a project related to an employee detail entry system.
Mr Viswanath P S is the CEO of Randstad India, one of India’s largest talent company, He bring with more than three decades of diversified expertise and experience in key leadership roles – particularly in areas of finance, strategic planning and business development.
He is a certified Chartered Accountant from the Indian Institute of Chartered Accountants and as Randstad India’s former CFO, he led and championed adaptable process innovation that helped transform the financial structuring and planning processes within the organisation.
As an empathetic and hands-on leader, he driven by questioning and challenging the status quo. He is a passionate about building high-performance teams with a focus on tech and innovation, to enable people to thrive and show how they fit into the larger value of the organisation. Through strategic foresight and his ‘people leadership philosophy’, he help them transition from a fear and change-resistant mindset to a solutions-oriented mindset.
He is a fitness and sports enthusiast. He is also an active member of the board at the Indian Staffing Federation and a certified black belt in Six Sigma.
Ms Poonam Narang have about 25 years of experience in Industrial & Employee Relations, Senior Leadership Development & Assessment Methodologies, and Strategic HR Business Partnering; having worked across domains of FMCG, IT, Financial Services, Pharmaceutical and Oil & Gas sectors.
At Dr Reddy’s she lead HR for the exciting portfolio of Emerging Markets. Spread across more than 30 countries, characterized by complexity, volatility and aggressive aspirations; every day brings challenges across people aspects of talent acquisition, retention, management and capability building while keeping in mind the country strategy and table stakes like compliance and operations. In addition to the Emerging Markets business, she also provide HR Leadership to the Innovation organization as well as to SVAAS Wellness Limited – a wholly owned subsidiary of Dr Reddy’s Laboratories.
At Shell, as part of the IT Footprint & Sourcing Strategy she was responsible for the set-up of two large organizational entities. I led the setting up of Shell’s 4th IT hub in Bangalore, growing it from scratch to 4000 strong, probably the most ambitious ramp up Shell had ever seen, before she moved onto to setting up the IT Engineering organization globally for Shell IT – responsible for resourcing and capability building across all IT projects in Shell.
In her initial years with Shell she have been in HR in Country and HR in Business roles in P&T: Shell’s engineering and R&D powerhouse. As a part of Business Leadership Teams for several P&T businesses, the role involved supporting the Business VPs in defining and executing the people agenda. She have also been the global focal for the BUILD program – framework for identifying and grooming talent into Engineering Managers for the future and played a key role in defining the agenda and scoping the program as it evolved. At Shell she have been part of several global and regional projects like the Discipline Engineering Review, Growing Leadership Strategic Theme, One Resourcing, Footprint and Sourcing – most of which involved defining and implementing large scale change agendas.
Prior to joining Shell, she worked with Infosys Technologies and Unilever India. At Infosys, she worked in the areas of Competency frameworks, Assessment and Senior Leadership Learning & Development. At Unilever, she was a part of site leadership teams and led employee relations at three different manufacturing sites cutting across frozen desserts, culinary products and beverages in my 8 year stint.
Outside of work, she love reading and Odissi – a classical Indian dance form from the state of Odisha.
Mr. Sriram Rajagopal, Founder & Director of Diamondpick, based in Chennai, TN, IN, is a seasoned professional with a wealth of experience in talent management, human resources, and strategy. Holding a Master of Arts (MA) in Personnel Management & Industrial Relations from DG Vaishnav College (1992 – 1994), Sriram has carved a distinguished career path that reflects his commitment to driving impactful talent solutions.
With a current tenure of 6 years and 6 months at Diamondpick, Sriram has been instrumental in shaping the company’s vision and direction. As the Founder and Director, he leads the charge in providing top talent on demand, guiding and mentoring Diamondpick for the next phase of growth in the talent solutions and services segment. His focus is on helping customers hire the right talent faster, across geographies, at an optimal price point to positively impact revenue and margins.
Diamondpick is more than a professional endeavor for Sriram; it represents his dream of talent democratization. Drawing on his extensive experience, including 14 years and 6 months at Cognizant, where he served as the Senior Vice President of Human Resources & Global Head of Talent Supply Chain, Sriram understands the complexities of the IT industry and the critical role talent plays in its success.
During his tenure at Cognizant, Sriram managed the Talent Supply Chain processes on a global scale, combining disciplines such as workforce planning, workforce management, hiring, talent procurement, and learning & development. His strategic leadership played a pivotal role in creating sustainable and innovative strategies for optimal use of supply channels to meet business demand. As the Program Leader for the workforce transformation track, Sriram streamlined workforce policies, management guidelines, hiring strategies, and skilling initiatives, contributing to revenue assurance through on-time fulfillment of talent demand.
Before his impactful role at Cognizant, Sriram held positions such as Vice President of Human Resources and Head of Human Resources for India and APAC, where he was responsible for leading the HR function, performance and rewards, acquisition integration, compliance, and employee relations. His global perspective was honed during his time at Arthur Andersen Business Consulting and Cognizant Technology Solutions, where he held roles as an Experienced Senior Consultant and Assistant Manager, respectively.
Throughout his career, Sriram Rajagopal has demonstrated a keen understanding of talent dynamics, workforce strategies, and organizational development. His visionary leadership at Diamondpick continues to shape the future of talent solutions, embodying his commitment to democratizing opportunities and bridging the gap between talent and demand.
Mr Seetharaman Sankaranarayanan is the Chairman of Super Auto Forge Private Limited, a registered company with the Ministry of Corporate Affairs. Currently, he is associated with two companies, serving as the director of Saf Solar Renewables Private Limited and Super Auto Forge Private Limited.
Previously, Seetharaman Sankaranarayanan was involved with three companies: Rasaii Flow Lines Private Limited, Association Of Indian Forging Industry, and Thirumudivakkam Industrial Estate Manufacturers’ Association.
Dr. Santrupt B. Misra is the Chief Executive Officer, Birla Carbon, Director, Chemicals; & Director, Group Human Resources of the Aditya Birla Group.
Dr. Misra is a Director on the Aditya Birla Management Corporation Private Limited Board, the apex think tank of the US $48.3 billion Aditya Birla Group. In addition, he is a Director on the Board of Birla Carbon Egypt SAE; Birla Carbon (Thailand) Public Co. Ltd., and on the Board of Aditya Birla Capital – all of which are part of the Aditya Birla Group.
He also holds several key positions including Chairman of the Board of the National Institute of Technology, Rourkela and Independent Director on the Board of the Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC).
Under his leadership Birla Carbon has emerged as a global leader in the carbon black space from its beginnings as a regionally focused carbon black supplier. He has been instrumental in developing a strong employer brand for the Aditya Birla Group, which was named the Best Employer in India, Great Place for Leaders to Work, and Top Company for Leaders by Aon Hewitt, Fortune Magazine, and RBL Group respectively.
An HR professional and business leader, Dr. Misra has over 30 years of experience in Business Operations, Strategy, Organization Development, Transformation, and Change Management, Business Consulting, and HR Management.
He holds two postgraduate degrees – in Political Science and Personnel Management & Industrial Relations. He has two PhDs from India and the UK in Public Administration and Industrial Relations, respectively. He was also conferred an honorary D.Sc. by his alma mater – Aston University, UK. He is an Eisenhower Fellow, an Aston Business School Fellow, an AIMA Fellow, and a Commonwealth Scholar.
In addition, he was awarded NIPM Ratna Award by the National Institute of Personnel Management, the Ravi J Mathai National Fellow Award by the Association of Indian Management Schools. He was named 2014 CEO of the Year by CEO Magazine, and was listed as one of India’s Most Trusted CEOs 2017 by the World Consulting and Research Corporation.
Gp Capt R Vijayakumar (Retd), VSM, is a highly accomplished individual with a distinguished career in the Indian Air Force and currently serves as the Executive Director of the Madras Management Association (MMA) since April 2007. Throughout his tenure, he has significantly contributed to the growth and reputation of MMA.
During his three-decade-long service in the Indian Air Force, Gp Capt Vijayakumar held various pivotal positions, including Director of Financial Planning and Financial Advisor to the Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief of Western Air Command. His exceptional service and dedication were recognized through several prestigious awards. He was honored with the Vishisht Seva Medal by the President of India for his outstanding and meritorious service. Additionally, he received the Commendation Medallion on four occasions from the Chief of Air Staff and Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief for his commendable contributions.
Gp Capt Vijayakumar is an alumnus of Loyola, Chennai, and holds a diverse range of educational qualifications. He has obtained an LLB degree and pursued his studies further to earn a Master’s degree in Industrial Relations & Personnel Management from Nagpur University. He has also earned a Master’s degree in Management Studies from Osmania University.
Under Gp Capt Vijayakumar’s dynamic leadership, MMA has become a prominent and highly respected management association in India, particularly in Tamil Nadu. The organization consistently attracts top industry leaders and policy makers, solidifying its status as the recognized face of Indian industry in the state. Thanks to his exceptional leadership skills, MMA has been honored with the Best Management Association in India award by AIMA for fourteen consecutive years, including the year 2022-23.
Apart from his professional pursuits, Gp Capt Vijayakumar is an avid golfer and has represented the Indian golf team in various international tournaments. He is actively involved in various philanthropic endeavors as well. Currently, he serves as a member of the Executive Committee of St. John Ambulance Association and P S Educational Society. Additionally, he holds the position of President at P S Matriculation School, North (SRKM, Mylapore).
