The Trailblazers 2026
The Trailblazers 2026 celebrates the visionaries who are shaping India's future by pairing purpose with possibility. Across wellness, spirituality, behavioural health, literature, fashion, entrepreneurship and sustainable infrastructure, these pioneers demonstrate that meaningful impact can take many forms. Their journeys are rooted in deep expertise, personal conviction and a willingness to challenge conventional boundaries.
From transforming inherited traditions into contemporary brands and building greener infrastructure to advancing conversations around mental health, self-awareness and human potential, each leader featured here brings a distinct perspective to progress. Some draw from time-honoured systems of knowledge; others use technology, clinical insight, creative expression or enterprise to create change at scale. What connects them is a shared commitment to building stronger communities, expanding opportunity and inspiring more purposeful choices.
This edition shines a light on people who are not merely succeeding in their respective fields, but also redefining what leadership looks like today: empathetic, innovative, courageous and deeply connected to impact. The Trailblazers 2026 is a tribute to their ideas, their resilience and the lasting difference they are creating across industries. Together, their stories show that progress is strongest when ambition is matched by responsibility, imagination, collaboration and an unwavering belief in people and shared purpose.
Dr. Meenakshi Sundaram
Dr. Meenakshi Sundaram, Founder of Oorja Potentials, is the creator of U-Turn, a transformation methodology rooted in Karmic Astro Psychology. She works with accomplished individuals whose lives are successful, a relationship remains stuck with a child, partner, or authority figure. When communication, effort and solutions fail, U-Turn shifts inquiry from changing the person to discovering what remains unresolved within. Drawing on four decades of Karmic Astro Psychology and family field healing, she integrates astrology, psychology, philosophy and transformation to reshape identity, expand capacity and restore agency. She holds a PhD in English, spent 36 years in Rajasthan Higher Education, and is an IPHM-accredited HeartMath Coach.
Mr. Daksh Kakkar
Daksh Kakkar, known as Psychic Medium Daksh, is Asia's best Akashic Records Reader and Evidential Psychic Medium, specialising in Akashic Records Reading, past-life readings, spirit communication, ancestral patterns and karmic guidance. With 10+ years of professional experience, he has worked confidentially and extensively with individuals, including UHNI families, celebrities and business leaders. A two-time TEDx speaker, Daksh has publicly discussed consciousness, spirituality, spirit communication, Karmic past lives and recurring patterns. His practice focuses on helping individuals explore soul-level clarity, emotional closure, karmic patterns and ancestral influences through Akashic Records readings, evidential mediumship, psychic guidance and Life Soul Path sessions. He has been featured in Forbes, Times of India and Pinkvilla and many more.
Mr. Kirti Shekhar Pathak
Kirti Shekhar Pathak is the driving force behind Badgers Infrastructure Private Limited, an emerging Engineering, Procurement & Construction (EPC) company focused on green energy and sustainable infrastructure. As the company's entrepreneurial leader, he is working towards building reliable infrastructure solutions across renewable energy, pumped storage projects, water resources, solar, wind, hydropower and related civil works. Under his leadership, Badgers Infrastructure combines engineering expertise, modern construction practices and sustainability-focused project execution. The company also works across areas including carbon footprint reduction, wasteland conversion, earthwork rehabilitation, water harvesting and conservation, and river rejuvenation. With a focus on innovation, safety, quality and long-term value, Kirti Shekhar aims to contribute to India's transition towards sustainable infrastructure.
Ms. Vaishnavi Kumari Ranawat
House of Bera by Vaishnavi Kumari Ranawat is a celebration of heritage, craftsmanship and timeless elegance. Rooted in the Bera family's generations-old tradition of handcrafted quilting, the House reimagines the classic quilted silhouette for the modern connoisseur. From luxurious velvet and corduroy jackets to elegant long coats, phulgars and traditional razais, each creation blends warmth, comfort and individuality with refined craftsmanship. Inspired by her family's legacy and guided by a contemporary vision, Vaishnavi brings together tradition and modernity in pieces designed to transcend seasons. House of Bera is more than a label, it is a story of family, craftsmanship and heritage, thoughtfully carried forward for a new generation.
Dr. Shradha Malik
Dr. Shradha Malik is a Mental Health Leader and Behavioral Healthcare Entrepreneur with 20+ years of experience. As Founder & CEO of Athena Behavioral Health, she is building an integrated approach to recovery that brings together clinical treatment, rehabilitation, family participation and long-term support. Shaped by experience with mental illness and addiction in her family, she brings an understanding of their impact on individuals and loved ones.
Her work extends beyond care to building stronger behavioral healthcare institutions and systems. A TEDx Speaker, she has been featured on NDTV and CNBC Awaaz and was recognised as Women-Led MSME of the Year 2025, presented by Shri Sanjay Seth, Minister of State for Defence, Government of India.
Mr. Ritul Mendapara
Ritul Mendapara is the Founder and Director of Rits Lifesciences Pvt. Ltd., with professional experience in the nutraceutical sector and a strong interest in understanding nutrition beyond conventional dietary rules. Through his book The Nutrition Illusion, he explores why the same nutritional approach may not produce identical outcomes for every individual. His work focuses on the interconnected processes of ingestion, digestion, absorption and utilisation, while examining the role of food choices, supplements, micronutrients, macronutrients and lifestyle patterns. Mendapara encourages readers to move beyond rigid ideas about "healthy" and "unhealthy" foods and develop a more informed understanding of individual nutritional needs, helping make nutrition a more thoughtful and personalised conversation.
Dr. Yogesh Sharma
Dr. Yogesh Sharma has spent 30+ years bringing a practical and progressive perspective to Vedic astrology and Vastu. As the Founder of Happy Life Astro, he focuses on making traditional knowledge easier to understand and apply in everyday life. Having analysed over 74,000 birth charts, Sharma combines his experience in Jyotish with education and mentorship. His bestseller book, "Everything You Need to Learn Astrology", offers beginners a clear foundation in astrology and its core concepts. His approach challenges beliefs around lucky numbers, colours and fear-based predictions, motivating a more informed perspective. With over 1.35 million YouTube subscribers and 862k Instagram followers, he promotes self-awareness and clarity.
Mr. Akshat Gupta
Akshat Gupta is a 26-year-old author, speaker and mind coach who discovered his purpose of life at a young age, to share the priceless knowledge that he is blessed with, which made him choose his passion over an easier path in life. For 15+ years, he has studied about spirituality, productivity, mind control and also read the Bhagavad Gita four times along with translating it himself. He has authored the book, "Life Made Easy: 26 Mind Principles to Simplify Life", "The Illusion of Mind" and also co-authored "Ultimate Secrets to Wealth", with Brian Tracy. Through regular seminars, one-to-one coaching and content, Akshat helps build self-awareness and a purposeful mindset.
Dr. Prachyi V Raizzada
Dr. Prachyi V Raizzada is a Brain Behaviour and Mindset Expert, entrepreneur, author and speaker with nearly 20 years of experience, including 15 years in corporate leadership. Her journey spans entrepreneurship, fitness, authorship, speaking, women empowerment and social initiatives. She is the author of "The Patterns She Calls Love": How a Woman's Brain Shapes the Relationship She Repeats, a book exploring patterns that influence how women think, feel and experience relationships. Her experiences in leadership and motherhood have shaped her understanding of human behaviour, emotional patterns and transformation. Through her work, Prachyi motivates deeper self-awareness and helps individuals recognise recurring patterns to make purposeful choices.
CA Piyush Agarwal
CA Piyush Agarwal is the Co-founder and CEO of KCPC Bandhani, where he has turned a family textile business into a direct-to-consumer ethnic-wear brand with 4.1M followers. A Chartered Accountant and Company Secretary, he began as Finance Manager at Zee Entertainment Enterprises before returning to Rajasthan to modernise Bandhani trade through technology. Under his leadership, KCPC has reached a â¹100+ crore valuation, served 8 lakh+ customers in 30+ countries, partnered with 1,000+ artisan families and built a 17,000+ reseller network. He is the author of "Main bhi kuch karti hoon", a guide to reselling and entrepreneurship for women. An investor, mentor and speaker, Piyush advocates transparent entrepreneurship rooted in craftsmanship.
