Inspiring Business Leaders to follow in 2026

25 September,2026 02:03 PM IST |  Mumbai  | 

Entrepreneurs Business Leaders.


Here are a few examples of individuals who have made significant contributions to shaping the future of business

Baldy Rakhra , Entrepreneur, Amaan Advisors LLC

Baldy Rakhra doesn't just understand global business - he lives it. For over 20 years, the Dubai-based Canadian entrepreneur and Founder of Amaan Advisors LLC has delivered Fortune 500 outcomes for EA, Nike, Microsoft, Warner Brothers and Bally's Interactive, leading 70+ professionals across eight international vendors. In an age of AI and machine learning, his edge is what technology still can't buy: deep cross-cultural relationship intelligence across India, Southeast Asia and the Middle East. Companies racing into these markets don't just need algorithms - they need Baldy.

His latest venture proves the point. NaviSlip (www.NaviSlip.com) is an AI-powered SaaS platform built to modernise marina management - bringing slip bookings, occupancy, billing and customer operations into one intelligent system. For an industry still reliant on spreadsheets and manual processes, NaviSlip gives marina operators real-time visibility and smarter revenue decisions, positioning it to disrupt a global market.

Tushar Singh, Founder, Golden Leaf Weddings

Tushar Singh Founder of Golden Leaf Weddings India : Redefining the Art of Luxury Weddings in India Since 2013

Tushar is a distinguished wedding planner from India, curating exceptional celebrations since 2013. Over the years, he has developed a distinctive approach that blends understated luxury with warmth, authenticity and thoughtful experiences.

From intimate gatherings to magnificent destination weddings, Tushar brings together refined design, gracious hospitality and meticulous planning. With an instinct for detail and a deep understanding of Indian celebrations, he believes true luxury goes beyond extravagance-it lies in creating meaningful moments where everything feels effortless, personal and beautifully connected.

Pallavi A Guptta, Founder La Pearl Couture

Founded in 2010 by designer Pallavi A Guptta, Gurugram-based label La Pearl Couture has built its identity around a single signature: the drape. What began as a venture in customised western wear has grown into a distinctive couture house known for fluid draping, sculpted corsetry and understated occasion wear - sarees, dhoti sets, gowns and festive ensembles among them. Beyond its own Sector 14 store, the label's pieces retail at Pernia's Pop-Up Shop, Aziliya, Carma and Asmaira. Its philosophy: "Drapes with a point of view" - couture for women who prefer individuality over convention.

Amber Raul, Founder, German Laundry

Amber Raul founded German Laundry in 2011 with a simple idea: garment care in India deserved to be professional. Today the brand operates 30 branches across three cities, supported by a central processing facility in Mumbai, Goa, Delhi and has become one of the country's most trusted names in luxury drycleaning.Raul also runs Sai Siddhi Shipping Logistics, a customs clearance and freight forwarding business, and credits it for much of how German Laundry is run. "Logistics teaches you that every item has to be accounted for at every stage. I applied that to laundry," he says.

Laila Faisal, Founder, Laila Faisal Studio, Founder & Designer, Laila Roohi Faisal Designs, COO, Sound of Music

Laila Faisal is the founder of Laila Faisal Studio, India's first experiential luxury fashion house dedicated exclusively to homegrown designers and 8000an 8000 sq ft retail concept in Delhi created to champion Indian labels. Built as a growth platform rather than a conventional store, it supports emerging designers with visibility, structure, and scale. She also leads Laila Roohi Faisal Designs, blending heritage craftsmanship with modern identity. A BSc Psychology graduate from King's College London, with fashion training from London College of Fashion, Laila combines consumer insight with creative direction. As COO of Sound of Music, she contributes to shaping premium lifestyle experiences in India. Her work focuses on building sustainable platforms that strengthen independent Indian brands and creative entrepreneurs.

Rajat Sogani & Devang Shah, The Visionary Duo Behind 7X Weddings by Dev-Raj

Rajat Sogani and Devang Shah, founders of 7X Weddings by Dev-Raj, have redefined luxury and destination weddings through creativity, precision, and large-scale experiential storytelling. Their work has transformed 7X into one of India's most recognized wedding brands across global destinations. Their entrepreneurial excellence has been celebrated through honors including Times Men of the Year, Global Indian MSME of the Year at Bharat Nirmaan Conclave, EMF ACE Awards, Passion Vista's Most Admired Global Indians, Femina's Most Powerful, WeddingSutra, Wedding Affair, and Business Connect, establishing them as visionary leaders shaping the future of experiential celebrations.

Jaya Mishra, Founder & Creative Director, JAYA MISRA INDIA

Jaya Misra is an internationally acclaimed Indian fashion designer and the Founder & Creative Director of JAYA MISRA INDIA, a luxury couture label celebrating 20 years of excellence (2006-2026). Renowned for blending India's rich textile heritage with contemporary design, she has established a distinctive global identity through timeless couture, refined craftsmanship, and modern elegance.

Her work has been showcased on prestigious international platforms, including Milan Fashion Week, New York Fashion Week, Dubai Fashion Week, Vancouver Fashion Week, Toronto Fashion Week, Zurich Fashion Week, Brooklyn Fashion Week, Philadelphia Fashion Week, Belgrade Fashion Week, Tokyo Couture Week, and Kuala Lumpur Fashion Week.

Shweta Moudgil, Founder & Board Member, ICBX Forum, Croatia

In 2026, serial entrepreneur Shweta Moudgil launched ICBX Forum in Split, Croatia, alongside President Vicko Perčić and Senior Board Member Nikola Perčić. Its inaugural Dalmatia edition brought business leaders from India, Croatia, Slovenia, Montenegro, Sweden, Austria and Saudi Arabia together for focused B2B and cross-border engagement spanning trade, investment, renewable energy, technology, education, funding and market entry.

Shweta's Take: "In an evolving global business climate, trusted networks are essential for taking businesses beyond borders."

Through its year-round Member Programme, ICBX turns connections into partnerships and cross-border opportunities.

Prashant Kumar, Founder, Flexoney

FLEXONEY is a successful startup delivering quality services to its clients in the flexible packaging and printing industry.

Under the leadership of Mr. Prashant Kumar, Founder, CEO & Director of FLEXONEY Company,based in Meerut City, Uttar Pradesh, India, Flexoney has become a trusted supplier and manufacturer, offering spare parts, consumables, and product development solutions.

Today, Flexoney exports from India to 100+ countries, supporting businesses worldwide with reliable, high-quality packaging and printing solutions.

Ankur Srivastava, Founder, One Simulation

ONE Simulation is building the infrastructure for the next generation of healthcare skills training.

Led by Ankur Srivastava, CEO, and Khushboo Srivastava, CTO, the company addresses the global gap between medical knowledge and procedural competence through high-fidelity simulation.

Our platform combines physical simulation, AI, computer vision, XR and digital learning to enable healthcare professionals to practise, assess and demonstrate skills repeatedly-before treating real patients.

Beyond medical devices, ONE Simulation is building a scalable, recurring-revenue ecosystem spanning simulation hardware, digital content, AI-enabled assessment, training centres and Simulation-as-a-Service.

Built in India. Entering the UK. Scaling globally.

ONE Simulation - Practice Before Patients.

This list is compiled by Grocket Media

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