Celebrating Excellence: Outlook Business Spotlight – Achievers Awards 2024

Supported by notable partners such as Nexus, Gamification (Bronze Partner), Duro (Sustainability Partner), Solo and Intellio Germany (Office Stationery Partner), Soulflower (Gifting Partner), SS Group (Real Estate Partner), and FilterPixel🎃 (AI Photo Partner), the awards celebrated achievements across business, education, healthcare, community service and other industries.

ℱThe Achievers Awards have always been a platform to highlight leaders who think beyond conventional boundaries, solve complex challenges, and redefine the rules of business and innovation. This year’s edition was no different, honoring trailblazers whose creativity and determination have left a lasting impact on their industries and communities.

✱Neeraj Thakur, Editor, Outlook Business, delivered an inspiring welcome address that resonated deeply with the evening’s theme of excellence and innovation.

🍎He said, "The people here are shaped by scorching summers, biting winters, and an unrelenting pace of life—experiences that forge toughness, adaptability, and determination. For decades, Outlook Business has been dedicated to bringing stories that inspire change, highlighting the journeys of innovators and achievers. Our vision goes beyond showcasing success; it fosters a culture of growth, resilience, and innovation that resonates across industries and communities. Tonight’s achievers exemplify these values—resilience, creativity, and a commitment to shaping the future. Their stories inspire the next wave of dreamers and innovators. Congratulations to all on your remarkable success."

The event was graced by Shehzad Poonawalla, Spokesperson of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), as the Chief Guest.

The chief guest delivered an inspiring speech, delving into the different meanings and dimensions of the word “Outlook.” He eloquently stated, “Outlook inspires you to look forward and aim higher. It also identifies the path to reach the summit while staying connected to your roots.”

Highlighting the evolution of India’s economy, he emphasized the importance of understanding the country’s changing outlook over the years. “For a long time, our country’s economy and politics were shaped by a particular outlook—marked by corruption, appeasement, and policy paralysis (CAP). Understanding this transformation is essential to appreciate the progress we have made today,” he said.

Reflecting on India’s remarkable economic growth, the chief guest noted that the country is currently the fifth-largest economy in the world. “By 2026-27, India is poised to become the third-largest economy globally,”🎃 he said. He further highlighted key developments that have propelled the nation’s growth, including the doubling of the country’s highway network, which has provided a significant boost to the economy.

ဣHe also underscored the transformative role of metro rail services, which have expanded from just five cities to 21 cities, enhancing urban connectivity and economic productivity. Additionally, the chief guest lauded India’s digital revolution, which has revolutionized businesses and contributed immensely to the country’s economic progress.

The Outlook Business Spotlight – Achievers Awards hosted two engaging panel discussions, each addressing critical aspects of organizational growth and success. Moderated by Neeraj Thakur, Editor of Outlook Business𒆙, these panels brought together industry leaders to share their perspectives on building future-ready organizations and championing diversity and inclusion.

The first panel discussion, "Building Future-Ready Organizations", included insights from Debabrata Sarkar, President-APAC, Alga Energy; Joydeep Chitlangia, Mentor, Duroply; and Manish Kumar Sinha🤪, Founder & CEO, Zamun Marketing Solutions. The session explored the challenges and opportunities in adopting digital transformation to ensure organizations stay ahead in a competitive market.

Neeraj began by asking Debabrata Sarkar about the initial steps required for digital transformation, especially in legacy organizations accustomed to traditional ways of working. Debabrata drew from his experience in the agricultural sector and said, “I handle the agricultural industry, and I can say agriculture is taking shape in India because technology is getting into it as well, and that’s a good sign. While digitalization is taking place, it is very important for future-ready organizations, but at the same time, we need to get into some basic things which will make this digitalization and AI intervention far more impactful in the future.”

The discussion then shifted to Joydeep Chitlangia, with Neeraj asking how organizations can motivate employees to adapt to technological changes. Joydeep shared his personal journey as a first-generation entrepreneur in a family business, saying, “I think I’m the first-generation entrepreneur in a family business. As a business house, I remember in the early 80s, we had computers and other related technological devices, so I had the experience of using computers as early as the mid-80s. We invested in training our people, upgrading our systems, and enhancing skill sets, which ensured that IT and technological changes were never a challenge. Every business has a vision of where they’ll be in 5 or 10 years, and I think the head of the business needs to identify key pain points and then invest time, money, and energy in getting the right technological solutions in place.”

Manish Kumar Sinha addressed the financial considerations of digital transformation when asked about the monetary aspect. He explained, “I believe that if we have to look from the revenue side, I don’t know what to say, but from the cost side, the overall spend towards going digital across all functions should be somewhere in the range of 2-8 percent. It depends basically on how much transformation you’re going through—whether you’re going digital in operations, R&D, marketing, or anything else.”

Nearing to the end of the discussion, Neeraj sought Debabrata Sarkar’s perspective on the challenges of convincing farmers to embrace digital tools. Debabrata highlighted the environmental crisis tied to agriculture, stating, “Forget about farmers. We lose 30 soccer fields of topsoil every single minute, and if we don’t do anything, by 2050, two-thirds of the soil that grows food will not be there.”♈ His response emphasized the urgency of addressing sustainability alongside digital advancements.

Panellists - (from Left to Right) Debabrata Sarkar-President-APAC-Alga Energy, Jaydeep Chitlangia – Mentor – Duroply , Manish Kumar Sinha-Founder & CEO - Zamun Marketing Solutions. 

The second panel discussion focused on the critical role of diversity and inclusion in achieving business success. The panel featured Jyoti Prakash Lakhotia, VP - Operations, Mallcom; Bharat Bhatia, CSO, Conscient; and Amit Sarda⛦, Co-Founder & CEO, Soulflower. Neeraj Thakur once again moderated the session, fostering a lively exchange of ideas.

Jyoti began by redefining diversity, moving beyond the traditional understanding of gender inclusion. He said, “Diversity is not about having females in the organization. It’s changed over a period. Now diversity means having people, leaders, or colleagues from diverse backgrounds, which means they can be from different regions of India with different languages and different cultures. Once you have those types of people in your organization, they bring new ideas, thought processes, and different ways of thinking about a problem. This helps the organization have better decision-making capabilities.”

Bharat Bhatia added to the discussion by emphasizing the unique perspectives that diversity brings. He stated, “God made humans all similar, but he made all minds different. I think culture and values come from birth. Diversity benefits a company or organization because you have so many minds contributing. There was a survey conducted—a decision-making task was given to two groups. One group consisted of homogeneous people, and the other group consisted of people from diversified backgrounds who were putting their brains together in different ways. The group with diverse members performed significantly better.”

Amit Sarda took a different approach, describing diversity as an opportunity to challenge norms and drive innovation. He said, “For us, diversity is about questioning the status quo. Jo chal raha hai, woh chalta rahe ya use hamein badalna hai (Should we let things go on as they are, or should we change them?). It’s also about evolving mindsets.”

Neeraj then asked Jyoti how organizations can actively diversify their teams and create an inclusive environment. Jyoti emphasized the role of leadership, saying, “Diversity has to come from the leaders. Leaders must have an open mindset where they can absorb people from different backgrounds, cultures, or places. If you bring in people with different mindsets, it will naturally lead to more ideas and innovation.”

⛄The panelists collectively highlighted that diversity and inclusion are not just buzzwords but essential components of a thriving organization. By fostering an environment where individuals from varied backgrounds feel valued, companies can unlock creativity, improve decision-making, and drive long-term success.

𝓰Whether through technological transformation or fostering diversity, the common theme was the role of leadership in driving change. Leaders must invest in the right tools, strategies, and mindsets to build organizations that can thrive in a rapidly evolving world.

💮These discussions provided valuable insights into the challenges and opportunities faced by businesses today, offering actionable takeaways for organizations aiming to innovate and succeed in the years ahead. The event truly celebrated the spirit of progress, collaboration, and excellence in the business community.

Panellists - (from Left to Right) Jyoti Prakash Lakhotia- VP - Operations -Mallcom, Bharat Bhatia -CSO- Conscient , Amit Sarda - Cofounder & MD - Soulflower.

♏The event concluded with a resounding acknowledgment of India’s entrepreneurial spirit and its critical role in shaping a dynamic and progressive nation. The Outlook Business Spotlight Achievers Awards continues to serve as a platform to celebrate and inspire those driving India’s growth and innovation. It was evident that the event had not only celebrated achievements but also sparked meaningful conversations around the future of business, leadership, and sustainability. It stood as a testament to the power of collaboration, resilience, and forward-thinking that continues to shape the nation’s journey toward global excellence.

Outlook Business Spotlight Achievers Awards Winners List