Leaders to watch in 2026: Visionaries shaping the future

Featuring leaders shaping the future through innovation, bold ideas, and transformative leadership, driving meaningful impact and redefining industries in the rapidly evolving global landscape of 2026.

Albinder Dhindsa, Co-Founder of Blinkit and Group CEO of Eternal Ltd.

Albinder Dhindsa, Co-Founder of Blinkit and Group CEO of Eternal Ltd., the parent company of Zomato and Blinkit, is a leading force in India’s quick-commerce revolution, driving innovation in ultra-fast delivery, technology-led logistics, and redefining digital convenience for millions of consumers across India’s rapidly evolving retail ecosystem.

Amitabh Lal Das, Business Head & Chief Legal Officer at Hyundai Motor India Limited

Amitabh Lal Das, Business Head & Chief Legal Officer at Hyundai Motor India Limited, is setting high standards in legal, compliance, corporate governance, risk management, and public policy through impactful leadership across service and manufacturing sectors.

Guided by the mantra “Enable, Guide, Protect,” he leverages people, processes, technology, and collaboration to build world-class legal functions that support resilient, disruption-free growth.

Vikas Kumar Sardana, Founder & Creative Director Of DELAN

Vikas Kumar Sardana leads DELAN, a women’s westernwear label launched in 2022 to fill India’s gap for elegant, wearable, quiet luxury. Its new narrative, “Suns and Shadows,” brings cinematic contrast through refined silhouettes, fabrics, and subtle detailing built for real transitions - workdays, meetings, evenings out.

With two decades in apparel manufacturing and retail, Sardana champions fit precision, comfort, and wardrobe longevity.

Dr Raghu Narayan, Director of Narayana Specialists Dental and Implant Center

Narayana Dental, based in Bangalore, is a modern multi-specialty dental clinic led by Dr Raghu Narayan and Dr Shwetha Narayan. Known for honest, ethical, and patient-centric dentistry, the clinic combines advanced technology with personalised care, offering treatments including Dental implants, Root canal therapy, Cosmetic dentistry, and Orthodontic Care.

Bhanu Patyal, Founder of Global Consulting Group

Bhanu Patyal, Founder of Global Consulting Group (GCG), with Co-Founder Sanat Goyal, is transforming global transfer pricing through a client-first, technology-driven model. Challenging legacy firms, GCG adopted a B2B approach to scale rapidly. Today it operates across 20+ countries, earning top ITR World Tax rankings for three consecutive years, globally recognised.

Rakesh Arora, Managing Director of Indicore Infrcomm Pvt. Ltd.

Rakesh Arora, Managing Director of Indicore Infocomm Pvt.

Ltd., is emerging as a notable force in India’s fintech landscape. Co-founded in 2017, the Chandigarh and Noida–based company delivers scalable API solutions for BBPS, mobile recharge, bill payments, and money transfers. With revenues up 21%, profits surging 210% in FY2023, and net worth rising 111%, Indicore is expanding digital financial access across underserved markets.

Dr Raj Kumar , CEO of VARIAHBA EdTech LLP

Dr Raj Kumar, CEO of VARIAHBA EdTech LLP – A Monastery for NEET Aspirants, embodies visionary leadership at the intersection of medicine, management, and education.

A Medicine–MBA and former corporate leader, he challenges India’s fear-driven NEET culture by blending Monastery–Ashram–Gurukul wisdom with modern discipline and AI-driven learning to nurture balanced future doctors.

Azhar Qureshi, Director - Business Development (International Business) at Beautyflex Inks

Azhar Qureshi, Director – International Business at Beautyflex Inks, is driving the global expansion of the Indian textile printing industry. With exports to 48+ countries and OEKO-TEX®️ certified products, his innovation-led leadership and focus on sustainable manufacturing have positioned Beautyflex as a trusted, globally competitive Made-in-India brand.

Soumya Kanti Purkayastha, Social Entrepreneur

After over 31 years of leading global corporate teams, IIM Ahmedabad alumnus Soumya Kanti Purkayastha has transitioned into philanthropy and social entrepreneurship. Focusing on Assam's Barak Valley, he leverages his strategic expertise to mentor startups and social service organisations. His dedicated service and community impact have earned him several awards, including the prestigious Udyog Rattan Award.

Akash Garg, Managing Director of RG Fibers Pvt. Ltd.

Akash Garg, Managing Director of RG Fibers Pvt. Ltd., represents the new generation of textile leadership. Educated at the University of Westminster, London, he returned to India to expand his family’s yarn legacy, established in 1981. In 2020, he founded RG Fibers, now a leader in recycled cotton–polyester blended yarn manufacturing, driving innovation and sustainability in the industry.

Acharya Pawan Sharma, Founder of International Medical Astrology Mantra

Acharya Pawan Sharma, Founder of Antarrashtriya Jyotish Chikitsa Mantra Aradhanam LLP, is a distinguished scholar of Vedic sciences, practising since the age of eight.

Integrating Medical Astrology, Vastu, and rare Mantra Siddhi, he provides holistic solutions to complex life challenges. His mission is to harmonise India’s ancient spiritual wisdom with modern scientific understanding for global well-being and transformation.

Nancy Fernandes, Sr.Manager-Vacation Counsellor at Kazaan Lifestyle

Nancy Fernandes is an internationally recognised vacation counsellor with 15+ years of experience in hospitality and lifestyle services. Known for her trustworthiness, professionalism, and customer-centric approach, she specialises in personalised vacation advisory.

Currently associated with Kazaan Lifestyle, she continues to guide clients toward seamless, premium travel experiences with excellence and dedication.

Sweety Chauhan, Partner, C&C Law Chamber, Former Legal Consultant to Directorate of Enforcement

Adv. Sweety Chauhan is a criminal law practitioner with over 10 years of experience, specialising in white-collar crimes, particularly under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) and FEMA. She previously served as a Legal Consultant with the Directorate of Enforcement and received an Appreciation Certificate in 2024–2025.

She is currently a Designated Partner at C&C Law Chambers, South Delhi.

Rajdeep Bhattacharya, Chief Project Officer at Leap India

Visionary infrastructure leader with 30+ years delivering metro, highway, logistics and industrial projects exceeding ₹10,000 crore, currently Chief Project Officer at Leap India. A CEAI National and United Nations-Wasme Awardee and Global Leadership Award 2025 honouree, he is celebrated for transformative leadership, a bright vision, and for creating future leaders through mentoring and ESG-driven execution.

Abhinandan Sharda, Senior Director (North & East India) at Brickwork Rating

Abhinandan Sharda, Senior Director (North & East India) at Brickwork Ratings, is among India’s youngest credit-rating industry veterans under 40. Beginning his career with CRISIL in 2009, he rose through leadership excellence and was recognised by Standard & Poor’s as a Role Model. He now drives strategic growth across North and East India.

Bathula Meghana, Founder & Creative Director of GlowBareSkin

From NIFT to the streets of Hyderabad, Bathula Meghana is redefining what a luxury brand founder looks like. The GlowBareSkin creator rides a black & gold wrapped scooter to personally deliver her science-first skincare, proving premium brands are built with grit, not glamour. A mom and entrepreneur, she is building a global Indian luxury brand and redefining science-led skincare from India. Disclaimer - The above content is non-editorial, and TIL hereby disclaims any and all warranties, expressed or implied, relating to it, and does not guarantee, vouch for or necessarily endorse any of the content.