Board Stewardship ‘HUDDLE’ Mumbai 2025 Inspires Boardroom Evolution
The Mumbai edition of the Board Stewardship Huddle made a strong return on June 11, 2025, at the elegant Jolie’s Club, bringing together board members, Independent Directors, CXOs, and governance professionals for an engaging evening under the theme ‘The Boardroom Edge: Insights, Safeguards & Influence.’ The evening featured a dynamic mix of keynote addresses, expert sessions, and open-floor discussions. True to the ‘Huddle’ spirit, the conversations were collaborative, focused, and rich in insight—bringing out diverse perspectives on how boards can remain future-ready in an increasingly complex world.
Welcome Address
Vikesh Wallia, Managing Director & Editor, Board Stewardship opened the evening by setting the tone for dialogue—focusing on the evolution of boardroom responsibilities in the face of disruption and shifting stakeholder expectations. Wallia highlighted, “It’s heartening to witness the growing participation at our Board Stewardship Huddles, as reflected in today’s full house. With celebrated speakers and highly relevant themes, the sessions continue to engage and inspire our participants. We look forward to making each edition even more special going forward.”
Keynote Address
Following the welcome address, Shailesh Haribhakti, Chairman of the Advisory Board, Board Stewardship, delivered a powerful Keynote Address on the value of stewardship over mere oversight and the importance of boards embracing transparency and innovation. Haribhakti noted, “We are no longer constrained by the linearity of human effort or the limits of physical infrastructure. With Omniverse-driven Agentic AI, we are entering an era of Sustainable Abundance—where value is created not by extracting more, but by knowing better, earlier, and more ethically. This is not just a technological leap—it’s a civilisational evolution towards intelligence-led prosperity.”
Session 1: Advantages of Director and Officers Insurance (D&O)
Our first guest speaker, Arti Mulik, Chief Technical Officer & Key Management Person, at Universal Sompo General Insurance Co. Ltd., provided clarity on D&O insurance as a vital safeguard for corporate leaders and board members in a volatile regulatory environment. Mulik highlighted, “Directors and Officers (D&O) insurance is a critical component of risk management for Independent Directors, providing crucial protection against personal liability arising from their governance responsibilities. Given their fiduciary duties and lack of operational control, Independent Directors remain vulnerable to litigation, regulatory investigations, and reputational harm. This insurance policy secures legal defense costs and financial compensation, serving as a vital safeguard in attracting, retaining, and protecting qualified independent board members within the current complex and high-stakes corporate landscape.”
Session 2: How to Network for Board Success
Our second guest speaker Manoj Gursahani, Chairman, TIGER 21; Global Strategist & Business Coach delivered the importance of authentic networking and strategic visibility for board aspirants. He stated, “Had a great time sharing thoughts on Networking for Boardroom Success. It’s not about quick wins—it’s about giving, not just taking. I highlighted powerful habits like strong body language, active listening, remembering names, valuing quality over quantity, and staying connected. These small shifts can open doors to magical opportunities.”
Session 3: India Board Report – Status and Opportunities
Our final guest speaker for the day, Ashish Puri, Partner – Board & Advisory, Native, shared current trends from India’s board landscape and laid out emerging opportunities in ESG, digital transformation, and board composition. Puri noted down, “It was a pleasure to present at the Board Stewardship Huddle in Mumbai, where I covered 2024 trends in Independent Director appointments across Consumer, BFSI, Healthcare, and Startups. We highlighted sector-wise preferences in domain background, age, gender diversity, and compensation, along with the evolving traits organisations seek in boardroom leadership.”
The Mumbai huddle was concluded with a Vote of Thanks by Krishna Tewari, Executive Director of Board Stewardship. Tewari closed the evening with gratitude to the partners, speakers, and participants, reaffirming the platform’s mission to empower ethical, inclusive, and future-ready boards.
Adding to the stature of the event, the evening was graced by several dignitaries including Surendra Sharma, MD & CEO, DivaCygnet; Vipin Anand, Former MD of LIC; and Radhakrishnan Nair, Former Member of IRDAI and currently Independent Director at ICICI Bank and ICICI Prudential Life Insurance Company Limited. The Mumbai Huddle was made possible with the support of BoardPAC as the Knowledge Partner and Universal Sompo General Insurance Co. Ltd. as the Corporate Partner, both of whom continue to champion the cause of responsible and future-ready board leadership. The event concluded with networking over dinner and drinks.
