As India stands on the cusp of transformative growth, a fresh generation of leaders is steering its path toward progress and innovation. The Impactful Leaders of 2025 are not merely propelling businesses ahead but are also reshaping leadership values with vision, resilience, and accountability. From nurturing sustainable enterprises to adopting technology and inclusiveness, these leaders are constructing the next India—one that flourishes on purpose, impact, and collective advancement.
Dr. Arti Khosla: Founder & CEO of COAE International
Dr. Arti Khosla is a prominent thought leader in education and a respected Indian voice on the international stage. Honoured with the “Best Woman Entrepreneur in Conformity Assessments in Education” award, she stimulates national and global dialogues on how standards, innovation, and technology can revolutionize learning. A sought-after speaker and mentor, she urges institutions to look beyond rankings and ratings, viewing quality systems as drivers of process excellence, innovation, and expansion. As an entrepreneur, author, and mentor, she also supports many women-led start-ups in aligning their processes and systems with their vision, passion, and purpose from the outset. Her talent for demystifying complex management problems has earned her esteem from policymakers and hundreds of education leaders she has trained across nearly 40 countries. Her passion for innovation is embodied in COAE’s flagship AAAS framework—an AI-enabled, digital-first academic audit tool. The framework, backed by a senior team of experts across India, has steered a nationwide initiative redefining academic excellence for thousands of educators, showing measurable gains in quality education. Visionary, pragmatic, and globally networked, Dr. Khosla ranks among the world’s leading figures advancing education through the force of quality and standards.
Aditya Aggarwal: Founder & CEO of Spaceman Spirits Lab Pvt. Ltd.
Aditya Aggarwal is redefining India’s craft spirits scene with audacious vision and international ambition. As Founder and CEO of Spaceman Spirits Lab (SSL), he has established one of India’s fastest-growing independent alcobev houses, home to award-winning premium labels like SAMSARA Gin, SITARA Rum, and AMARA Vodka. A UCLA alumnus in Business Economics & Entrepreneurship, Aditya started his career in management consulting with PwC Los Angeles, advising marquee clients such as Sony Pictures, Warner Bros., and Snapchat. In 2020, he returned to India to follow his entrepreneurial calling—channeling his fascination with food, bars, and storytelling into spirits that honor Indian craftsmanship while meeting global luxury benchmarks. Under his stewardship, SSL has grown across 12 states and entered markets like the UAE, Canada, UK, Germany, and Poland, with listings in Waitrose. Now a ₹65 crore GMV business selling 360,000 bottles annually, SSL reflects Aditya’s conviction that his brands are cultural expressions blending heritage, design, and innovation.
Anooja Bashir: A Journey of Resilience, Vision, and Entrepreneurial Transformation
Every entrepreneur’s path has turning points, and for Ms. Bashir, the first arrived long before she became a celebrated ecosystem enabler. With a degree in Civil Engineering from Mahatma Gandhi University, she began her career in Dubai’s real estate industry, only to find her true passion in sales and marketing while serving as an Associate Professor. What began as an accidental pivot into entrepreneurship soon became a life’s mission. Initial ventures produced setbacks that tested her resilience, yet each obstacle honed her strategic thinking and fueled her resolve. Using her engineering discipline, branding insights from IIM Bangalore, and strategic marketing training from Wharton, Anooja combined structure with creativity to build ventures that stand out. Through Ourea, she has shaped 1,000+ brands, redefining business expansion. She is also the Co-Founder of FlexiCloud, a startup listed among Forbes Top 200 Startups, which is a PaaS platform transforming cloud management. Today, as entrepreneur, author, mentor, and investor, she continues to enable ecosystems and steer startups.
Asma Kahali: Owner of Rimbaa Oak Global Pte Ltd.
Rimbaa Oak Global Pte Ltd, co-founded by Asma Kahali, has rapidly secured its reputation as a name associated with trust, innovation, and international reach. Guided by Asma’s foresight and perseverance, the company has diversified into trading gold, arms, and ammunition while maintaining principles of quality and sustainability. Beyond her entrepreneurial duties, Asma also functions as a Convenor at BRICS CCI Women Empowerment, where she promotes collaboration and opportunities for women leaders around the world. Her story reflects bravery, adaptability, and purpose, positioning Rimbaa Oak Global as more than a company—it stands as proof of bold leadership and impact-focused vision.
Chandan Sharma: Director of Ultra Flex Pvt Ltd
Chandan Sharma, Director of Ultra Flex Pvt Ltd, continues a 40-year legacy with the aim of shaping a more responsible future. As the third-generation head of one of India’s most trusted packaging manufacturers, Chandan is grounded in ethics and led by the conviction that genuine progress must respect both people and the planet. A trailblazer in sustainable solutions, he is among the few in the nation to introduce biodegradable VCI films, demonstrating that innovation can coexist with responsibility. Today his focus is unambiguous—sustainability as the bedrock of growth. With exports spreading across borders, he now prepares to enter the food segment, launching nutrition-driven, value-added products that give back to society in the most essential way—by nurturing health. For him, leadership is not merely about building business, but about creating balance between legacy and innovation, growth and responsibility, humanity and Mother Earth.
Gunjan Ruparelia: Co-founder & CEO of AutoDukan, Driving the Future of India’s Automobile Aftermarket
Gunjan Ruparelia, Co-founder and CEO of AutoDukan, is transforming India’s automobile aftermarket. With a focused vision and profound industry understanding, he has converted one of the country’s most fragmented sectors into a smooth, intelligent, and dependable ecosystem. AutoDukan now supports insurers, workshops, and fleets with speed, transparency, and efficiency, becoming a trusted platform in mobility services. Beyond developing a fast-growing company, Gunjan exemplifies the new wave of Indian leaders leveraging technology to tackle real, large-scale problems. His work demonstrates how indigenous innovation can modernize traditional industries and shape the future of mobility not only in India but across Asia, setting fresh standards for impact and scale.
Hemant Rohera: CEO of Rohera Inc
A Visionary Innovator Shaping the Future of Energy and Healthcare
Hemant Rohera is an innovator whose work connects human needs with sustainable advancement. Holding multiple patents, he has developed solutions that are redefining sectors and enhancing lives. His Hybrid Power Pack improves storage performance while eliminating thermal runaway risks, offering multi-platform energy applications across mobility and renewable domains. His patented Smart Vehicle Console boosts efficiency by drawing energy from several sources, accelerating the shift to cleaner and smarter transportation. Perhaps most notable is eMedica, a patented medical device delivering Voltage, Current, and Frequency (VCF) Therapy to strengthen immunity, enhance medicine absorption, and aid recovery in critical health conditions—already acknowledged in scientific journals. Beyond these landmark innovations, Hemant continues to pursue projects in energy, healthcare, and sustainable living, propelled by the belief that technology must enrich everyday life. His journey motivates the next generation to think beyond limits, proving that innovation can be both futuristic and profoundly humane.
Mahindra Kumar Desai: Founder & CMD of JMC Hotels & Resorts Group
JMC Hotels & Resorts Expanding Across India – A Vision Towards 2030
JMC Hotels & Resorts Group, under the visionary stewardship of Mahindra Kumar Desai (Founder & CMD), is making decisive moves to reshape India’s hospitality map. With 30+ properties across 3 states and over 30 years of sector experience, the group now targets 100+ hotels by 2030, creating opportunities for more than 10,000 families via jobs and partnerships. Expanding further, JMC proudly introduces two new brands:
- Deotel Hotels & Resorts – Affordable excellence for smart travelers
- Mint Tree Hotels – Premium stays with refined luxury
JMC invites hotel/resort owners (25-150 rooms) for management contracts or revenue-sharing partnerships.
Dr. Ravi Gaur
MD Pathology, Chairman Medical Advisory Committee, Oncquest Laboratories Ltd, Founder of DRG Path Labs
My healthcare journey began over four decades ago—an era with no internet, no digital tools, only the wisdom of professors, books, and lessons learned from being with patients. Having worked in the remotest parts of India, from snowbound posts in the north to the farthest east, I have observed healthcare in its most elemental form, driven by human grit and resilience. Today, we stand at a potent crossroads: automation, compassion, technology, advancement, affordability, and quality. What once evolved over fifty years is now being reshaped every five. The next two decades will transform healthcare faster than the last five combined. Yet one truth must never be overlooked: healthcare is about humans. And humans are not machines; they are hearts, emotions, feelings, and ever-shifting dynamics. Every step forward must be adaptable, acceptable, durable, and sincere. AI and tools may assist us, but only clinical excellence wrapped in compassion can truly heal.
Rekha Atri: Founder of iKargos.com
Rekha is shaping the Next India by revolutionizing how MSMEs participate in global trade. Her company empowers small and medium enterprises to achieve their ambitions of seamless imports and exports by using technology and intelligence to simplify intricate logistics and decode shifting geopolitical dynamics. iKargos is created as a women-centric logistics company, advocating diversity and giving women a strong voice in an industry traditionally dominated by men. Under Rekha’s leadership, iKargos is also generating employment in India’s tier-2 cities, ensuring that growth is not confined to metros but reaches deeper into the nation. By building an ecosystem that fuses innovation with inclusivity, she is not only driving efficiency and transparency in supply chains but also enabling equitable development. Through her vision, iKargos is redefining logistics as a catalyst for empowerment, resilience, and India’s global competitiveness.
Shaju Thomas: Founder & CMD of Popees Baby Care
Every great journey begins with tiny steps. From Thiruvali, Kerala, Shaju Thomas took those small steps with a dream that blossomed into Popees Baby Care, a brand trusted by families worldwide. Guided by vision and powered by dedication since 2003, the company has expanded through B2B channels, e-commerce platforms, to over 100 retail stores, including flagship outlets in Sharjah and Abu Dhabi, bringing the essence of Indian baby care products to homes across the globe. Every Popees product goes through more than 30 export-quality checkpoints and follows strict GOTS-certified standards, ensuring safety, comfort, and innovation for babies. With bamboo-based organic cotton, Popees is beloved by 100 million happy babies, with 2,000+ hands weaving care and love into every product. Featured in Forbes Magazine and honoured with numerous business awards, this journey proves that even the smallest steps, taken with passion, can leave a global footprint.
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