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NORTH AMERICAN Newsline DECEMBER 12, 2025 | The Indian Eye 20

Board Stewardship Global Summit

2025 Honors Dr. Ram Charan as

Global Board Legend

OUR BUREAU nance, strategy and execution to cre-
ate enduring institutions.”
Mumbai
He stressed that robust boards
he Board Stewardship Global require far more than procedural
Corporate Governance Sum- oversight. “Strong boards are not
Tmit 2025 opened on Wednes- about compliance alone. They are
day, December 3, at the historic Bom- about courage, clarity and steward-
bay Stock Exchange (BSE) with more ship — asking the right questions,
than 400 board leaders, independent taking difficult decisions in the
directors, regulators and governance long-term interest of shareholders,
experts in attendance. The two-day employees, customers and society,”
gathering also honored Dr. Ram he said. Charan added, “My com-
Charan as a Global Board Legend, mitment remains the same: to help
recognizing his decades of influence boards become sharper in judge-
on boardroom practice in India and ment, faster in execution and stron-
around the world. Day One, themed ger in character. Thank you to Board
“Reimagining the Future Board,” set Stewardship and the distinguished
a forward-looking tone for the sum- jury for this honor.”
mit taking place on 2–3 December. Offering a complementary per-
Opening the proceedings, spective on leadership, Ravi Kant,
Vikesh Wallia, Managing Director Former Managing Director & Vice
& Editor, Board Stewardship, em- thy toward climate risks.” ticed is dead—but long live E, S, and Chairman, Tata Motors, said disrup-
phasized the platform’s growing Delivering the Keynote Address, G,” he said, arguing that businesses tion is forcing new behaviors. Citing
reach across newsletters, magazines, Shailesh Haribhakti, Chartered Ac- thrive when they create profitable research linking leadership traits
books and nationwide events. “We countant, Board Icon and Chairman solutions to human and social chal- to AI success, he noted: “The lead-
are delighted with the record turn- Advisory Board, Board Stewardship, lenges. “The future is doing well by ers who make AI work are humble,
out this year, with more than 400 said boards are entering an era de- doing good,” he said. open-minded team players who build
registrations for our conference at fined by volatility and interconnect- A fireside chat with Dr. Ram Cha- trust, collaborate, and pursue big
the Bombay Stock Exchange,” he ed risks. “The future board will not ran — who also received the summit’s goals with an outside-in view.”
said, highlighting the past year’s ex- be remembered for minutes but for highest honor — reinforced India’s The afternoon also featured a
pansion. “Our new Co-Elevate train- the future it shapes,” he said, urging accelerating economic momentum. session on future-fit board composi-
ing program has also filled a critical directors to rethink static agendas. “India is on fire,” he said. “Nowhere tion with Dr. Pramod Solanki, Anita
gap by moving beyond compliance Boards, he argued, must become else in the world do I see this level of Shantaram, Alessandro Giuliani and
and preparing professionals for real “execution stewards and civilization- optimism, growth drivers and confi- Rakesh R. Sony, followed by the re-
board responsibilities. This two-day al advocates” capable of navigating dence. Many companies are program- lease of The Digital Board Member
conference comes at an important climate transitions, demographic ming themselves for 10x growth, and white paper authored by Mita Dixit,
time as boardrooms adapt to global shifts, AI, geopolitics and fragile sup- boards must match that ambition.” Manish Varghese, Amit Narayan,
governance shifts and rising expecta- ply chains. Charan also spoke about being Vikesh Wallia and Raajeev B. Batra.
tions around digital readiness.” In her Special Address, Kamala recognized as a Global Board Leg- A panel on Digital Personal Data
In his Inaugural Address, G. N. Kantharaj, Chief Regulatory Offi- end. “I had the privilege of being Protection (DPDP) brought togeth-
Bajpai, Former Chairman of SEBI & cer, BSE, reflected on the exchange’s honored with a Lifetime Achieve- er Ritesh Bhatia, Uday Bhansali,
LIC, underscored that corporations 150-year legacy. “The Bombay Stock ment Award in Board Stewardship Ketan Dalal and Anand Desai for a
operate within five dominant forc- Exchange has recently completed and recognized as a ‘Global Board detailed look at evolving data gover-
es — sociology, politics, economics, 150 years, a landmark that reflects Legend’ at the Board Stewardship nance responsibilities.
technology and climate. “A corporate how strong structures and good gov- Summit Global Corporate Gov- The day concluded with a Board
never operates in isolation; even the ernance can sustain an institution ernance Summit 2025, held at the Stewardship felicitation ceremony.
most remote enterprise is influenced through changing times,” she said. She Bombay Stock Exchange,” he said. Wrapping up the proceedings, Raa-
by global developments,” he said, added that India’s 2047 Viksit Bharat Accepting the honor, he noted: “I jeev B. Batra, Fellow, Board Stew-
noting how post-COVID cultural goal demands strong governance as accept this recognition with humility. ardship, stressed the need for boards
shifts, transactional geopolitics, and organizations accelerate into a phase It truly belongs to the many chairs, to deepen stewardship, strengthen
emerging information, bio and cos- of rapid growth and uncertainty. board members, CEOs and gover- digital readiness, reinforce ethical
mic economies are reshaping the A spotlight session with Rajeev nance professionals I have worked culture and sharpen leadership clar-
operating environment. “The hab- Peshawaria, CEO, Stewardship Asia with across the world over the last ity as India enters an era of acceler-
itability of Earth is under pressure, Centre, Singapore, sharpened the five decades. They are the ones do- ated growth and heightened global
raising urgent questions about apa- debate on ESG. “ESG as it was prac- ing the hard work of aligning gover- uncertainty.

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