Asia Leadership Summit 2026 in Bengaluru Explores a New Leadership Paradigm
Discover the key takeaways and award winners from the Asia Leadership Summit 2026 in Bengaluru, focused on the new "Whole Leader" paradigm.
The Asia Leadership Summit 2026 recently concluded in Bengaluru, marking a significant shift in how corporate excellence is defined. Organized by TimesAspire Unicom Network Pvt. Ltd., the summit gathered a powerhouse of CEOs, CXOs, HR professionals, entrepreneurs, and industry experts at the Fairfield by Marriott to discuss a transformative concept: “The Whole Leader, Not More… WHOLE.”
Moving away from the traditional obsession with constant agility, influence, and relentless productivity, the summit delved into the necessity of a more balanced leadership approach. The core discussions focused on navigating the delicate intersections of growth versus resilience, ambition versus purpose, and the integration of advanced technology with genuine human connection.
Redefining the Modern Executive
The event featured high-level insights from industry stalwarts. Key speakers included Rajesh Mishra, Partner at KPMG in India; Raghuram Krishnan, CFO of Adobe; Nishant Banthia, Vice President at Dell Technologies; and Mansij Majumdar, Head of Corporate HR at Manipal Education.
The sessions were designed to challenge conventional wisdom through provocative themes. Led by Executive & Leadership Coach Sushma Banthia, sessions such as “The Leadership Contradiction” and “The Uncomfortable Table” forced attendees to reconsider their roles. Another critical debate, moderated by Rajesh Mishra, tackled the pressing question: “Growth vs. Resilience: What Should Leaders Optimise For Now?”
Celebrating Excellence: Asia’s Leadership Awards
A major highlight of the summit was the Asia’s Leadership Excellence Awards, which honored outstanding contributions across various sectors including finance, marketing, hospitality, technology, and social impact.
Human Resources and People Leadership
The summit recognized several individuals for their impact on workplace culture and talent management. Notable winners in the Great HR Leader to Work With category included:
- Neha Kapoor (Vodafone Idea)
- Buravalli Swarna Latha (Skyroot Aerospace)
- Gagan Jyot (RMSI)
- Manas Kaviraj (Advanced Weapons & Equipment India)
- Sonu Gupta (Coders Brain Technology)
- Dr. Balaji M. S. (Critical Facility Group)
In the realm of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DE&I), Equiniti India was celebrated for its excellence in fostering inclusive environments.
Empowering Women in Leadership
The Asia’s Women Leadership Excellence awards highlighted the vital role of women shaping the future of business. Honorees included:
- Sushma Banthia (Executive & Leadership Coach)
- Chiragi Thakor (Idex Corporation)
- Preeti Pallepati (Raghu Vamsi Machine Tools Private Limited)
- Aditi Mukherjee (NCDEX Limited)
- Manjula Rao (FirstCry)
- Namita Vyas (Boeing)
- Namrata Goyal (Filmstoc and Secretary, Mijwan Welfare Society)
- Shalini Naagar (Baxter India Private Limited)
- Dr. Sameena Shaikh
Finance, Marketing, and Business Honors
The summit also paid tribute to the architects of financial and market strategy. The Influential CFO Award was presented to leaders such as Jayesh Sanghrajka (Infosys) and Pramod Agarwal (ERGO Technology), among others. Marketing excellence was recognized through winners like Krunal P. Patel (NSE India) and Naveen Malhotra (EdgeVerve / Infosys).
In the C-Suite category, the Influential CEO Award was bestowed upon Alok Rungta (Generali Central Life Insurance Company Limited), Swati Saxena (4Thoughts Finance), and Virender Pankaj (Aseem Infrastructure Finance Ltd.), acknowledging their visionary leadership in a rapidly evolving global economy.
The summit, executed under the strategic vision of CEO Fiza Bi Ameen and Program Director Zaheer Samnani, stands as a landmark event in Bengaluru, setting a new benchmark for holistic leadership in Asia.