Board Stewardship Hosts June 2026 Webinar on Stakeholder Engagement and Board Succession Planning
Board Stewardship hosted the June 2026 edition of its flagship Monthly Live Webinar Series on 12 June 2026, bringing together Board members, business leaders, governance professionals and human capital experts for discussions on two critical Boardroom priorities — stakeholder engagement and succession planning.
Welcoming participants, Vikesh Wallia, Managing Director & Editor, Board Stewardship, set the context for the session by highlighting the increasing importance of strategic leadership and long-term continuity in an evolving business environment. He noted that succession planning is not merely about replacing leaders but about building organisational resilience, ensuring continuity and strengthening stakeholder confidence through a sustainable leadership pipeline.
Delivering the keynote address, Shailesh Haribhakti,Non-Executive Chairman & Independent Director on multiple Boards reflected on the profound transformation underway in Boardrooms across the world. He observed that forces such as artificial intelligence, climate change, geopolitical uncertainty and changing societal expectations are reshaping the foundations of business. He emphasised that stewardship today extends beyond governance and oversight to building trust, and that future-ready Boards must balance long-term value creation with the expectations of all stakeholders.
The first panel discussion, “Successful Board Engagement with Stakeholders,” explored how Boards can strengthen trust, enhance transparency and create long-term value through meaningful stakeholder relationships. The panel featured Amrita Chowdhury, Co-Founder & CEO, Gaia and Independent Director on multiple Boards; Tushar Gunderia, SVP, Head (Legal & Compliance) & Company Secretary; and Vipul Agarwal, Finance Leader & CFO.
The discussion examined the Board’s role in balancing stakeholder expectations with governance priorities and business objectives. Panellists highlighted the growing importance of stakeholder governance, transparent communication, effective feedback mechanisms and proactive oversight of emerging risks such as cybersecurity and data privacy.
Amrita Chowdhury remarked, “The webinar was superbly planned and executed with strong participation and interaction. The discussions offered valuable insights for practitioners, existing directors and aspiring Board members alike, while reinforcing the importance of strong governance practices.”
Vipul Agarwal noted, “Successful Boards build trust by ensuring stakeholder concerns are reflected in strategy, risk management and long-term value creation. They monitor culture, strengthen feedback mechanisms and leverage stakeholder engagement as an important input for sustainable and responsible business performance.”
Tushar Gunderia added, “Boards today must adopt a broader stakeholder-centric perspective that includes employees, customers, regulators, business partners and society at large. Strong governance is about creating robust systems, fostering a culture of compliance and ensuring transparent communication, particularly during times of uncertainty.”
The second panel discussion, “Succession Planning for Boards – Passing the Baton,” focused on building future-ready leadership pipelines and ensuring continuity in Board effectiveness. The panel featured Roshni Wadhwa, HR Transformation Director, L’Oréal SAPMENA; Pankaj Raj, Co-Founder & Director, Search Value Executive Search Firm; Ajay Baliga, Independent Director on multiple Boards; and Deepak Deshpande, Business Excellence & HR Expert, TEDx Speaker and Executive Coach.
The panellists discussed succession planning as a strategic imperative and examined how organisations can prepare Boards and leadership teams for future challenges while preserving institutional knowledge and governance continuity.
Roshni Wadhwa observed, “Board succession planning today is about identifying the capabilities required to navigate AI, cybersecurity, regulatory complexity and rapid disruption. As expectations from Boards evolve from oversight to value creation, building a future-ready leadership pipeline has become one of the most important responsibilities of the Nomination and Remuneration Committee.”
Pankaj Raj stated, “Leadership transitions are among the most defining moments in an organisation’s journey. Effective succession planning is not simply about replacing leaders; it is about preserving institutional wisdom, nurturing future talent and strengthening long-term stakeholder confidence.”
Ajay Baliga highlighted that succession planning has become increasingly important amid shifting geopolitical dynamics and the global ambitions of Indian companies. He noted that robust succession frameworks strengthen governance, support sustainability and help ensure that Boards possess the expertise required to guide future growth.
Deepak Deshpande emphasised the need for Boards to adopt a forward-looking perspective. He remarked, “Too often, succession planning is treated as succession substitution. True succession planning begins by understanding what the organisation and its Board will require in the years ahead. Future-ready Boards prepare for what is coming next, not simply for who is leaving.”
With BoardPAC as the Knowledge Partner, the webinar provided a valuable platform for the exchange of ideas, practical insights and diverse perspectives on two issues central to Board effectiveness. The discussions reinforced the importance of stakeholder stewardship, leadership continuity and future-focused governance in enabling organisations to navigate complexity and create sustainable long-term value. The session concluded with closing remarks and a Vote of Thanks by Vinita Shahani, Director – Global Board Engagement, Board Stewardship.
