The scenic Taj Cidade de Goa Heritage provided the perfect backdrop for a significant gathering of India's business and thought leaders on 26th November. The Times Seaboard Summit - Leaders Of Tomorrow 2025, an initiative by The Times of India, successfully convened the nation's leading entrepreneurs, innovators, and policymakers for an afternoon dedicated to shaping the country's future trajectory.
Powerful Conversations on India's Growth
Supported by community partner Womennovator, eyewear partner SIYU, and skincare partner Clensta, the summit emphasized that in a rapidly transforming business landscape, innovation and collaboration are the fundamental drivers of growth. The event kicked off with a networking lunch, followed by an inaugural session led by Master Vani Kabir of Vani Kabir Multiverse. She set an inspiring tone for the day, stating, “The universe doesn’t predict futures. It collaborates with you to create them.”
The first major dialogue was a fireside chat titled “Navigating India’s Next Decade of Economic Leadership,” featuring Tarun Poddar, Founder & CEO of Foxhog Ventures Inc. USA. Poddar highlighted India's immense growth potential and discussed his “VC for Villages” movement. He described it as a mission to provide interest-free debt access for rural India, calling it a crucial time for villages to rise and break free from historical debt traps.
Empowering the Next Generation of Changemakers
A dynamic panel discussion on “Empowering India’s Next-Gen Innovators & Changemakers” followed. Moderated by Tripti Shinghal Somani of Womennovator, the panel featured insights from Anooja Bashir (Ourea), Master Vani Kabir, Vinod Veeramachaneni (Think Mediator), and Kathirvel Perumal (TCS).
Vinod Veeramachaneni announced ThinkMediator's expansion into India, aiming to build the next-generation tech ecosystem by empowering innovators with AI and digital transformation. Kathirvel Perumal from TCS Interactive spoke about harnessing XR, 3D immersive solutions, and the metaverse to transform ideas into experiences and create a more inclusive world.
The summit delved deeper into specific sectors with fireside chats on second homes, real estate leadership, and sustainability-driven entrepreneurship. Himanshu Bhandari, Managing Director of Belvoir Realty, noted that second homes have evolved from luxury items to strategic investment assets driven by lifestyle, rental income, and appreciation. Apoorv Singh, also from Belvoir Realty, advised buyers to thoroughly check land legality, RERA status, and future connectivity.
Devashree Chande, Managing Director of Deepak Builders & Developers, shared her empowering Triple “S” theory: “Show up. Speak up. Smile.” She encouraged attendees to own their ideas and confidence, emphasizing that the journey doesn't have to be perfect.
A Celebration of Excellence and Achievement
The summit also featured a CXO roundtable on “Visionaries of India’s Future” and culminated in a prestigious awards ceremony. The felicitation was graced by renowned Bollywood actor Kunal Kapoor, who presented awards to trailblazers across diverse fields.
The extensive list of awardees recognized excellence in numerous domains:
- Fashion Designer – Ritu Beri
- Excellence in Empowering Rural Entrepreneurs – Tarun Poddar
- Spiritual Leader of the Year 2025 – Master Vani Kabir
- Visionary Entrepreneur in Real Estate – Devashree Chande
- Excellence in Health-Tech Innovation – Dr. Megha Tomar, My Checkup
- Excellence in EdTech Innovation – Kathirvel Perumal, TCS Interactive
- Trusted Real Estate Leader of the Year – Shiwang Suraj & Garvit Tiwari, INFRAMANTRA
- Visionary Leader in Second Homes Development – Himanshu Bhandari, Belvoir Realty
- Excellence in IT Consulting Services – Vinod Veeramachaneni, Think Mediator
Other honorees included Ankit Chadha, Dr. Bakul Chandra, Prof. Dilip K. Prasad, Sumit Agarwal, Aneesh Avirah, Ashwin K.J., CA Avinash Gupta, Amit Chopra, Harmeet Singh Malhotra, Anuj Somani, Shajimon T., Ms. Rafina Shaikh, Ravindranath Yarlagadda, Ankur Kumar, Bharat Gupta, Ketaki Ursekar, Prashant Bora, Pankaj Bansal, Shashank Gupta, and Maitri Ramaiya.
The research for the Times Seaboard Summit 2025 awards involved comprehensive desk research, factual surveys, and multi-channel follow-ups to identify the most inspiring leaders across categories. The event stood as a testament to the vibrant spirit of innovation and leadership driving India forward.
