Transforming The Board From Governance To Growth: Surendra Sharma Redefines The Board’s Role At India Board Conclave
At the India Board Conclave 2025, hosted by Board Stewardship at the National Stock Exchange (NSE) in Mumbai, under the theme “Enabling Future Boards,” the conclave brought together boardroom leaders, regulators, AI trailblazers, and sustainability advocates for a day of thought-provoking conversations and collaboration.
Surendra Sharma, Managing Director & CEO of DivaCygnet, delivered a powerful and insightful talk that challenged conventional thinking about the role of corporate boards. His session, titled “Transforming the Board from Governance to Growth”, resonated deeply with board professionals and corporate leaders, as it shifted the lens from compliance to value creation.
Drawing on his own journey with Avant Group Corporation—a Tokyo Stock Exchange–listed company—Sharma underscored the extraordinary impact of board transformation on corporate value: “We increased our corporate value by 60x over the past 13 years in Japan—an economy with just 1% average GDP growth. That kind of growth didn’t come from rocket science. It came from doing a few basic things, consistently, diligently, and with a long-term vision. The most powerful lever we had was our strategic focus on transforming the Board.”
In describing the catalyst behind this transformation, Sharma emphasised that most organisations underestimate the role of the board in growth: “The most important thing for any corporate is growth. Yet, if you ask yourself—does your board actively contribute to increasing top line or bottom line—the answer is often unclear. Boards have to move from just oversight to truly empowering themselves with the right data, mindset, and strategic alignment to add tangible value.”
Sharma’s experience also led to the creation of Trinity Board, a software designed to make boards more efficient and value-focused. “We created Trinity Board based on our own journey—because we saw that many companies had no structured vision for 10–15 years ahead. That vision doesn’t always have to come from within. If it’s missing, bring someone in to help shape it. A board cannot drive growth if it doesn’t know where the company is headed.”
Sharma’s clear-eyed message resonated with board professionals: modern Boards must evolve from static governance bodies into agile, strategic platforms that shape long-term value. His speech conveyed the audience that true board transformation begins with a long-term vision, consistent action, and empowering Boards to drive growth—not just ensure governance.
