New Delhi | 15 September 2026: The CEO Magazine Business Conclave & Leadership Awards 2026 was successfully held on 11 September 2026 at Welcomhotel By ITC Hotels, Dwarka, New Delhi, bringing together 100+ business leaders, entrepreneurs, professionals, industry experts and decision-makers for an evening of leadership conversations, business interaction, networking and recognition.
Organised by The CEO Magazine, part of Indiamanthan Publications & Media Pvt. Ltd., the inaugural conclave marked a new chapter in the publication’s journey of documenting leadership and business stories since 2015. The event brought together voices from business, entrepreneurship, technology, public policy and other sectors, alongside the presentation of 50+ awards recognising achievements across industries.
From Strategic Leadership to Business Growth
The event opened 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 by Lt Gen Ashok Bhim Shivane (Retd.) set the tone for the conclave, bringing perspectives on leadership, strategic thinking and India’s evolving strategic and entrepreneurial landscape. This was followed by an address by Dr. Anil Sethi.
The first panel, “Inc for India,” brought together perspectives on entrepreneurship, trade, artificial intelligence, social entrepreneurship and India’s future growth. The discussion featured Lt Gen Ashok Bhim Shivane (Retd.), Mahmood Akhter, IRS, Amb. B. Bala Bhaskar, and Dr. Kazem Samandari, moderated by Malika Pandey, Public Policy Specialist.
The second panel, “Markets and Mandates,” focused on India’s Economic Transformation, Entrepreneurship & Policy, with Dr. Amitabh Ranjan, Amb. Muktesh Pardeshi, Dr. SuvroKamal Dutta, Vani Patel and Shantanu Jugtawat, moderated by Dr. Kamalika Banerjee, Scientist and Former Consultant, PSA, PMO , GoI.
The programme continued with presentations and addresses by Dr. Amarjeet Kaur, Mr. Prateek Golecha, Mr. Sandeep Ahuja and Vani Patel, bringing further perspectives on technology, entrepreneurship, healthcare and business development.
Minister’s Session
A key highlight 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, followed 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 the opportunities emerging from India’s growing global role.
The programme then continued with addresses by Mr. Kaukab Abbas and Dr. Rakesh Kumar before moving into the evening’s recognition ceremony.
50+ Awards Celebrate Achievement
Ms. Dipika Chiklia, Guest of Honour, was welcomed by Mrs. Jyoti Pandey before the awards ceremony began.
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 awards included recognitions 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. The recognised organisations and professionals included Adani Realty and several businesses and leaders from diverse sectors.
Felicitations and Partners
Members of the Grand Jury — Dr. Shyam Raghunandan, Dr. Anil Sethi and Mr. Durga Singh Bhandari — felicitated distinguished panelists, 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 Chapter for The CEO Magazine
The conclave brought together the publication’s editorial focus on leadership and business storytelling with a live platform for interaction, ideas 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 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 as it continues to build platforms where business leaders connect, engage and get recognised.
