Board Stewardship’s Delhi Huddle Marks Another Successful Chapter

Corporate purpose, profitability and cross-mentoring took centre stage at the Board Stewardship Huddle in New Delhi on October 7, 2026. Held at Juniper Hall, India Habitat Centre, under the theme ‘Stewardship in Boardrooms’, the event brought together Directors, senior executives and business leaders for discussions on responsible boardroom leadership. It was part of Board Stewardship’s Bumper Huddle series across Mumbai, Delhi and Bengaluru, with Steward Leadership Institute (SLI), Singapore, as Principal Partner; BoardPAC as Knowledge Partner; and Search Value and Crossmentors as Gold Partners.

The programme opened with a Welcome Address by Vikesh Wallia, Managing Director & Editor, Board Stewardship, followed by the Inaugural Address by Shailesh Haribhakti, Chairman, Advisory Board of Board Stewardship.

Setting the context for the series, Vikesh Wallia said, “The Huddles bring the boardroom community together for conversations that address the leadership questions shaping business today.”

Shailesh Haribhakti highlighted the principles underpinning effective stewardship, stating, “Effective stewardship calls for a long-term perspective, thoughtful questioning and a clear focus on value creation.”

A key highlight of the evening was the release and reading of Maximum Purpose, Maximum Profit by Rajeev Peshawaria, CEO, Steward Leadership Institute (SLI), Singapore, followed by a ‘spotlight session’ with the author. The subsequent panel discussion featured Sunil Puri, Senior Vice President, Research & Engagement, SLI, Singapore; Rajeev Peshawaria; Ashwani Bhatia, Former Whole-Time Member, Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI), and Additional (Independent) Director, ICICI Bank; and Gauri Jauhar, Executive Director, Global Energy Transitions & Clean Tech Consulting, S&P Global Commodity Insights.

The conversation examined how businesses can align purpose with profitability and how Boards can ensure that corporate decisions create value beyond immediate financial returns. Sunil Puri highlighted the wider responsibilities of Directors, emphasising that stewardship extends beyond protecting shareholder value to ensuring that corporate power creates value for all stakeholders.

The second major session explored the role of cross-mentoring in leadership development. Titled ‘Cross Mentoring – Leadership Imperative For The Future’, the panel featured Sandeep Bhushan, Board Member, Truecaller AB, Sweden, and Board Member, Traya Health, India; Deepti Gupta, EVP, Jubilant Foodworks Ltd.; R Rajnarayan, Co-Founder & Lead Mentor, Cross Mentors, Former CHRO, The Titan Company, and Independent Director, TeamLease Ltd.; and Alok Bansal, Co-Founder & Executive Vice Chairman, PB Fintech Limited.

The discussion focused on the exchange of knowledge across professional backgrounds and generations and how exposure to different experiences can broaden leadership perspectives and help leaders navigate changing organisational demands. Sharing his feedback on the Delhi Huddle, R Rajnarayan said, “The Board Stewardship Huddle on October 7 in Delhi was an excellent event! The session by Rajeev on his book reiterated many of my personal beliefs. I met many interesting and new people and had many interesting conversations. I look forward to the next huddle!”

The evening concluded with the felicitation of Board Stewardship members, followed by cocktails and dinner, offering participants an opportunity to continue their conversations and build professional connections.

The Delhi Huddle added another chapter to the Bumper Huddle series, which has brought the boardroom community together in Mumbai, Delhi and Bengaluru. Through its sessions on purpose-led business and cross-mentoring, the series has provided a platform for leaders to exchange ideas and engage with the evolving responsibilities of corporate stewardship.