Abirami Jotheeswaran is a Dalit women’s rights activist and lawyer from Chennai, Tamil Nadu. She has been a member of the National Campaign on Dalit Human Rights (NCDHR) since 2005. She played a key role in advocating for the amendment of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, leading to its 2015 update, which mandates quicker trials to prevent atrocities against Dalits and Adivasis.

Currently, she is the General Secretary of the All India Dalit Mahila Adhikar Manch (AIDMAM-NCDHR), focusing on empowering young Dalit women to fight caste and gender-based violence. Under her leadership, AIDMAM released the "Dalit Women Rise for Justice" report in 2021, pushing for stronger enforcement of laws protecting Dalit women.

She also advocates globally, representing Dalit women’s issues at forums like the United Nations and the European Union.

Parmesh Shahani is the Head of Godrej DEI Lab. A passionate advocate for LGBTQ inclusion in corporate India, Parmesh guides the country's leading companies on inclusion.

A prolific writer on the subject, his first book, Gay Bombay: Globalisation, Love and (Be)Longing in Contemporary India, (2008), offered rich insights into the LGBTQ movement in India. His second book, Queeristan: LGBTQ Inclusion in the Indian Workplace, was released in August 2020.

Parmesh holds an MS in Comparative Media Studies from MIT. He is a TED Senior Fellow, a Yale World Fellow, and a World Economic Forum Young Global Leader. He is a member of the FICCI task force on diversity and inclusion and a board member of KHOJ International Artists' Association.

Ratnaboli Ray learnt early that people with mental illnesses were treated differently. This inspired her journey as a mental health advocate. She studied Clinical Psychology and trained in Human Rights and Health at Harvard School of Public Health and Hygiene.

In 1999, she started Anjali to advocate for the inclusion of mental illness within the mainstream health paradigm of India and speaks up for marginalised populations and their right to professional, inclusive care. She received an Ashoka Fellowship for the pathbreaking initiative. Today the work spans social inclusion, capacity-building and livelihoods programmes in 4 government mental hospitals among other programmes.

A trainer on gender, sexuality, disability and mental health issues, Ratnaboli has been an invitee member in the drafting of the Mental Health Care Act of 2017, is part of the Rules Framing Committee of the Govt of West Bengal and is now deeply invested in a national campaign called Bridge The Care Gap which advocates for the inclusion of mental health as a health and development priority of all political parties in the country. She was the first Indian woman to receive the Alison Des Forges Award in 2016 for Extraordinary Activism from Human Rights Watch, USA, in 2016.

Sonny Iqbal co-founded Egon Zehnder’s presence in India, jointly leading the firm's Family Business Advisory Practice, advising on succession, founder transition, governance, and family charter development across markets. Sonny also plays a pivotal role in the firm's Health, Consumer, Board and Leadership Advisory practices.

A fellow of the Institute of Coaching, McLean, (an affiliate of the Harvard Medical School), Sonny actively coaches senior professionals.

Previously, Sonny has worked at the Oberoi Group in the U.K., India, and Middle East and  has managed the American Express financial and travel services business in India.

He holds a BA (Honours) from St. Stephen’s College, Delhi University, an MBA from the University of Surrey, U.K., and a Postgraduate Diploma in Hospitality from the Oberoi Centre for Learning and Development. Sonny writes extensively on family businesses. His views have been published internationally, including in the Harvard Business Review.

Sonny is a Trustee at Breakthrough India. His wide experience inspires our work in challenging gender norms.

Sashwati Banerjee has over 30 years of experience in social development, creating organizations, brands, and award-winning programs. She wears many hats.

As Founder-Director of Humanitus Learning Services, she launched Top Parent, a free mobile solution that equips low-income parents to prepare their children for school and for life. As Director at Dalberg Media Asia, she expands the presence of the communications consulting organization across Asia. She is also Co-Lead of Programs at Point of View, a nonprofit that amplifies women’s voices.

As Founding Managing Director of Sesame Workshop India, Sashwati led the organization for 15 years, impacting millions through its flagship project, Galli Galli Sim Sim, the Indian adaptation of Sesame Street.

Sashwati has spearheaded global projects and award-winning campaigns like "Goli Ke Hamjoli" and "Bindas Bol" to broaden contraceptive options in India. She has spoken at UNESCO MLE, TED Talks India, Brookings, and serves on the boards of Breakthrough and Katha.

Santosh Desai is well-known as the "brand guru" who connects culture and marketing. A dynamic speaker, he simplifies complex ideas using everyday examples and enjoys engaging with diverse audiences. An alumni of the prestigious IIM-Ahmedabad, Santosh was the CEO of Future Brands and President of McCann-Erickson, where he spent 21 years building iconic brands for Indian and multinational companies.

He has lectured at national and international universities and addressed global management boards. Santosh has served on the boards of ING Vysya Bank and Oxfam India. He presently serves on the boards of multiple organizations, including Think 9 Consumer Technologies and D.B. Corp. He is also a member of the Governing Councils of Mudra Institute of Communication, Ahmedabad, and Praxis Business School, Kolkata. He writes a long-standing weekly column for the Times of India and has authored the bestselling book Mother Pious Lady: Making Sense of Everyday India, in which he traces the evolution of the Indian middle class.

Dr. Lakshmi Lingam is a distinguished social scientist and a prominent figure in gender studies, serving as a Professor at the School of Media and Cultural Studies at Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS), Mumbai. As Deputy Director at TISS Hyderabad from 2011 to 2016, she established key academic programs, recruited faculty, and fostered connections with various governmental, non-governmental, and civil society organizations.

A recognized scholar, Dr. Lingam has been on the International Visitors Leadership program of the USIA and has received numerous prestigious fellowships  including the Fulbright New Century Scholar in 2004-05, Nehru-Fulbright Fellow in 2015, and Indo-Shastri Visiting Scholar at the University of Montreal in 2011. She was also a visiting fellow in the Gender, Sexuality, and Law program at Keele University in the UK in 2007.

Her leadership extends to serving on the Curriculum Advisory Boards, Executive Committees, and Academic Councils of several Indian universities in addition to being a member of Technical and Ethical Advisory Boards and Internal Complaints Committees of several academic, government organisations and NGOs.

Dr. Lingam has contributed immensely to gender equity in government initiatives across various states in India, as General Secretary of the Indian Association for Women Studies from 2000 to 2002 and as a member of the National Resource Group of the Government of India, Mahila Samakhya program for women’s empowerment.

Throughout her career, she has actively engaged in national and international research projects and has contributed significantly to  literature on gender and social sciences. Dr. Lingam’s work continues to inspire scholars, researchers, and policymakers in the fields of gender studies, social justice, and women's empowerment.

Samik Roy is the head of Microsoft Modern Workplace, overseeing key productivity platforms such as Microsoft Office, Windows, and Enterprise Mobility and Security. In his previous role as Country Head of Microsoft Dynamics, he achieved significant success by expertly navigating market segments, industry verticals, and building strong channel partner ecosystems.

In addition to his role at Microsoft, Samik serves on the Board of EmployWise™, a SaaS-based HR software solution that offers integrated Hire-to-Retire management. He plays a key role in guiding the company’s marketing, sales, and channel strategies, helping it achieve its goal of becoming a leader in people management software.

Samik brings nearly 25 years of experience across various industries and geographies. Before joining Microsoft, he spent 11 years at Oracle, where he led various business functions and developed deep expertise in CRM, ERP, collaboration, and digital transformation. His career spans multiple verticals, including BFSI, retail, and distribution, with a focus on building high-performing teams and driving digital transformation.

Known for his strong strategic vision, execution skills, and people management expertise, Samik has made a mark in India, Singapore, and Malaysia by transforming businesses and motivating teams to challenge the status quo. Born and raised in New Delhi, India, in a traditional family with strong values, Samik emphasizes the importance of humanity, humility, and integrity in both personal and professional pursuits. He believes in the significance of the journey as much as the destination and is highly regarded in the professional community for his relationship-building, commitment, and transparency.