Connect, Collaborate, Celebrate: Board Stewardship Huddle Bengaluru Sparks Powerful Conversations on the Future of Governance
The Board Stewardship Huddle returned to Bengaluru on 9th May 2025, at the iconic Taj West End, reaffirming its reputation as a premier platform for forward-looking board leadership. With its focus on Enabling Future Boards and reinforcing Stewardship Values, this exclusive, invite-only evening brought together an exceptional gathering of Board Members, Independent Directors, and corporate leaders for an evening of compelling conversations, deep insights, and purposeful networking.
With the theme “Connect, Collaborate, Celebrate,” the Huddle provided a dynamic space for engaging conversations and strategic networking. Vikesh Wallia, Managing Director & Editor at Board Stewardship, opened the evening by sharing the vision behind the Huddle series and setting the tone for an engaging exchange of ideas. Wallia highlighted, “The second Board Stewardship Huddle at Bengaluru was full of warmth and fellowship bonhomie! Celebrity speakers, topical themes, insightful sessions and participative members made it a huge success followed by exquisite cuisines and drinks! Over 15 new members joined as Knowledge Partners, Fellow Members and Elite Members! It was in perfect spirit of Connect, Collaborate and Celebrate!”
Ajay Nanavati, former Chairman of Syndicate Bank and current Chairman at Quantum Advisors, delivered the Inaugural Address, reflecting on the evolving role of Boards in a complex, disruptive environment and the enduring need for resilience and relevance. Speaking about the Huddle, Nanavati said, “I had the privilege of attending this exceptional event hosted by Board Stewardship. The quality of participants and panelists was truly remarkable—engaged, knowledgeable, and eager to learn. This is an event I would wholeheartedly recommend. It delivers immense value to anyone seeking to elevate board effectiveness.”
Lessons in Corporate Governance from the Gensol Engineering Case
One of the evening’s most talked-about sessions was a fireside chat between Shriram Subramanian, Founder of InGovern, and Jyotsna Belliappa of BlueSky Sustainable Business. Using the Gensol Engineering case as a lens, the discussion explored real-world governance challenges and underscored the crucial role of proactive board oversight.
Subramanian remarked, “I commend Board Stewardship for curating such a meaningful session. The depth and seniority of the audience brought real richness to the discussion. We explored governance through multiple stakeholder lenses—those of the independent director, regulator, investor, lender, and customer. The Gensol case helped underline critical governance markers, red flags, and accountability frameworks that board members, especially independent directors, must remain vigilant about.”
Adding a personal reflection, Belliappa shared, “Becoming an independent director is an aspiration for many of us—but it also comes with considerable responsibility and risk. What I value most about the Board Stewardship Huddles is that they surface those hidden risks and arm you with the knowledge to contribute meaningfully. These sessions are consistently educational, insightful, and refreshingly honest—I make it a point to attend whenever I’m in Bengaluru.”
The audience was then treated to a Special Address by Shailesh Haribhakti, who emphasised the power of values-based leadership and the stewardship mindset needed to navigate today’s volatile landscape. Haribhakti stated, “We must ask — what are we sacrificing at this altar, and what do we hope to invoke? We must sacrifice inequality, gatekeeping, and digital colonialism. And we must invoke a world where every human is augmented — not replaced — by artificial intelligence. Where every school-going child has a digital guru who teaches in her language, at her pace, with love and rigor. Where every patient has an AI healer monitoring health in real time. Where every farmer speaks to a personal AI that recommends best practices based on weather, soil, and market — not hearsay. We must stop treating these technologies as profit engines and start treating them as liberation instruments.”
This was followed by an illuminating presentation by Madhwesh Kulkarni from Gartner on Agentic AI and the role of Boards in governing transformative technologies. His talk sparked thought-provoking discussion on the ethical and strategic dimensions of AI adoption. Kulkarni highlighted, “Boards today stand at a critical crossroads — where they must champion AI-driven innovation while also being the custodians of its ethical use. Driving AI ambition, nurturing AI culture and talent, and ensuring robust governance aren’t optional anymore — they’re Board imperatives.”
The conversation deepened in a dynamic fireside chat between Haribhakti and Kulkarni, offering insights into how AI is reshaping boardroom stewardship—from decision-making to long-term value alignment.
The evening concluded on a high note with Vikesh Wallia’s interactive session, Master the Art of Network, where leaders explored the importance of building trust-based professional relationships that extend beyond transactional exchanges.
Neeta Surti, General Manager – Board Engagement, delivered the vote of thanks, followed by an evening of dinner, drinks, and networking.
Supported by BoardPAC as the Knowledge Partner, the Bengaluru edition of the Board Stewardship Huddle once again reinforced its commitment to cultivating ethical leadership, digital foresight, and long-term boardroom impact.
