Vikesh Wallia: Bridging The Gap In Corporate Governance With Board Stewardship
In the evolving ecosystem of Corporate Governance, Board Stewardship, founded by Vikesh Wallia (Managing Director & Editor), has steadily positioned itself as a transformative force for India’s board community. At the recently held India Boards Conclave at the National Stock Exchange (NSE), the platform marked several key milestones—including the fourth anniversary of Board Stewardship and the second anniversary of its monthly magazine and daily newsletter.
“This isn’t just a publication; it’s a purpose-led platform that supports board leaders with curated insights, learning, and connections,” said Vikesh Wallia, while opening the conclave. “Our journey began with a single newsletter and has grown into a trusted knowledge hub for boardrooms across geographies.” Wallia was joined on the keynote roster by Ashishkumar Chauhan, Managing Director & CEO of the NSE; Shailesh Haribhakti, Non-Executive Chairman & Independent Director on Multiple Boards; and Imtaiyazur Rahman, MD & CEO, UTI AMC. Together, they brought a multidimensional perspective on the evolution of boardroom leadership in India and beyond.
The conclave aimed to bridge essential knowledge and communication gaps at the Board level and highlighted how Board Stewardship has turned into a complete knowledge and networking ecosystem. From publishing daily and monthly content intended for Board leaders to hosting global networking events in India, Dubai, and Singapore, Board Stewardship has become a thriving community of Directors, compliance professionals, and governance experts.
The inception of Board Stewardship was rooted in a fundamental question: How do board members begin their day? Wallia, reflecting on the knowledge gap he identified in the corporate world, shared his realisation that while business leaders and citizens had access to dedicated publications, Board Directors lacked a similar resource.
“We realised that there is no such publication or newsletter available to the Board of Directors not only in India but globally,” MD & Editor of Board Stewardship explained. This discovery prompted him to seek mentorship from industry stalwart Shailesh Haribhakti (Non-Executive Chairman and Independent Director on multiple Boards), who guided him in shaping the idea into what would become Board Stewardship.
“What began as a question evolved into a much bigger purpose—enabling future Boards,” he said, emphasising the core mission of the initiative. What started with a single newsletter quickly expanded into a comprehensive platform offering not only information but also continuous learning, networking opportunities, and a robust data-sharing ecosystem.
The vision took shape with the regular delivery of the newsletter and the monthly publication of the magazine, with 25 issues released to date. “A simple thing like daily information relating to Boards was not being made available to the Board Of Directors by anyone. So, we chose to do this,” he reflected.
Success in Board Stewardship is also due to its determination to promote community-building events. From networking events in India, Dubai, and Singapore, to providing learning platforms to its members, Board Stewardship has effectively matured into a community-based initiative.
“A community cannot be built without continuous learning together, without having data for opportunities together, without having the network together,” he stated, recognising the importance of collaboration in the organisation’s growth.
The overwhelming response to the conclave, with numerous registrations and a full attendance despite traffic issues, reflected the growing influence of the organisation. “We are so very happy that today also we have huge registrations. The hall filled up, and some people had to wait,” he said, expressing his gratitude for the support from the Board community.
Board Stewardship’s impressive advisory board, comprising esteemed global and national leaders such as Shailesh Haribhakti, Helle Bank Jørgensen (Author, Corporate Advisor & CEO Competent Boards), K.V. Rao (Chairman & Director, Tata International Singapore Pte Ltd & TML Holdings Pte Ltd), and Deena Mehta (Former President (MD) BSE & Independent Director on several Boards), lends further credibility to its mission. “Such illustrious people guiding us, we are confident that we are going to be serving the board community the right way,” Wallia remarked, underscoring the strength of the organisation’s leadership.
With no annual membership plans, Board Stewardship offers lifetime memberships for board members, compliance professionals, and executives, reflecting the deep commitment needed to engage with the community. “The people who commit, they commit for life, for Board learning, for learning of compliance,” he noted.
Roshni Wadhwa (HR Transformation Director of L’Oreal SAPMENA), from Singapore, and Dr Ish Anand (Founder & CEO of Relia Smart Global Advisory, UAE), from Dubai, were among the prominent speakers and panellists at the India Boards Conclave, along with several other distinguished luminaries, and Wallia reassured attendees that great value would be derived from the conclave, stating. “These are going to be very, very memorable moments for you.”
As Board Stewardship looks ahead, it is clear that the initiative is more than just a publication or a platform—it is a movement that is reimagining how Boards think, learn, and lead. By bringing together a community that believes in lifelong learning and purposeful engagement, Wallia is steadily shaping a new era in Corporate Governance—one defined by preparedness, inclusion, and integrity at the highest levels. The conclave’s high-calibre audience—comprising Independent Directors, CXOs, governance professionals, sustainability experts, and next-gen board aspirants—ensured that the message found thoughtful and influential ears.
