ET Leadership Excellence Awards 2025 Illuminate Dehradun with Celebrations of Achievement
Dehradun's winter tranquility transformed into a vibrant hub of inspiration as the ET Leadership Excellence Awards 2025 unfolded at the Hyatt Regency Resort and Spa. The prestigious event gathered senior government officials, business leaders, professionals, and entrepreneurs from across the region. Organized by The Times of India Group, the evening honored individuals from diverse fields who demonstrate exceptional leadership through enterprise-building, service excellence, community impact, and innovation-led growth.
Dignitaries Emphasize Purpose-Driven Leadership
Uttarakhand Governor Lieutenant General Gurmit Singh PVSM, UYSM, AVSM, VSM (Retd.) graced the occasion with his presence. He reflected on the critical importance of steady, purpose-led leadership during times of rapid change. The Governor highlighted how institutions and individuals guided by responsibility and long-term thinking can build stronger societies and more competitive economies.
Governor Singh placed Uttarakhand's development journey within the broader national momentum toward Viksit Bharat@2047. He emphasized that genuine progress requires collaboration between policy makers, enterprises, and citizens. The Governor stressed that innovation must remain mindful of the state's ecological context and community needs to ensure sustainable growth.
Actress and Minister Share Insights on Leadership
Indian actress Preeti Jhangiani participated actively in the program, speaking passionately about leadership as a daily choice. She described how discipline, resilience, and willingness to embrace uncertainty shape true leaders. Jhangiani highlighted entrepreneurship as a powerful catalyst for creating opportunities and building confidence, particularly among young aspirants. She noted that lasting success stems from purpose, integrity, and consistent effort over time.
Cabinet Minister Ganesh Joshi, who handles multiple portfolios including Agriculture and Rural Development, added depth to the evening's discussions. He underlined that such platforms serve not only to applaud achievement but also to align priorities for future roadmaps. Minister Joshi noted that as India advances toward 2047, Uttarakhand's role becomes increasingly distinct due to its unique convergence of natural strength, human capability, and strategic importance.
Focus on Grassroots Economy and Rural Development
Minister Joshi focused particularly on strengthening Uttarakhand's grassroots economy. He emphasized that the state's development story must translate into better livelihoods, especially in rural areas where agriculture, horticulture, local enterprises, and value-added production form the economic backbone. The Minister's remarks highlighted the government's commitment to inclusive growth that reaches every corner of the state.
Panel Discussion Explores Uttarakhand's Growth Corridors
A major highlight of the evening featured a forward-looking panel discussion titled 'North India's Rising Growth Corridors: How Uttarakhand is Transforming the Future of Business, Lifestyle and Investment.' Moderated by journalist Mohd Ujaley, the session explored how Uttarakhand is evolving beyond its leisure identity to become a comprehensive opportunity hub across multiple sectors.
The panel included distinguished participants:
- Surekha Dangwal, Vice Chancellor of Doon University
- Vinod Srivastava, CEO of Mandawar Palace & Resort
- Shubham Pandey, AI Expert from Learnergalaxy.ai
- Dr. Ravi R. Kumar, Economist and Investor
- Udit Handa, CEO of Cynoteck Technologies Solutions
- Samaresh Singh, Dealer Principal at Trust Toyota, Dehradun
- Karan Singh Nagar, Director of Marketing and Communication at Hyatt Regency
Surekha Dangwal addressed education and capability-building needs, stressing the importance of aligning curriculum and skilling pathways with actual job creation. She highlighted how universities must play more direct roles in industry readiness and entrepreneurship, ensuring youth and women can access emerging opportunities rather than remaining constrained by traditional pathways.
Vinod Srivastava offered insights from the hospitality sector, noting how Uttarakhand's emergence as a wedding and destination-events market creates new economic avenues for hotels, local vendors, and service providers. He emphasized that future growth must incorporate practical sustainability measures to protect water resources, waste systems, roads, and local communities.
Samaresh Singh shared enterprise perspectives, describing entrepreneurship as a multiplier for job creation and community confidence. He underlined that growth corridors gain credibility when they deliver tangible improvements in service readiness, talent availability, business conditions, and measurable community benefits.
The panel discussion also covered technology-led governance, investor expectations from hill-state growth stories, and strategies to strengthen Uttarakhand as a year-round destination and competitive hub for new-age businesses.
Rigorous Selection Process and Sponsorship
The awards followed a meticulous selection methodology conducted by independent research agency Avance Insights Pvt Ltd. The process involved desk research, fact-filing approaches, and participatory surveys to evaluate over 300 business entities and leaders. Researchers assessed nominees based on innovation, value propositions, societal contributions, and future vision through multiple verification tools including social media scans and stakeholder feedback.
Event sponsors included:
- Presenting Sponsor: Mandwar Palace and Resorts
- Hospitality Partner: Hyatt Regency Resort & Spa, Dehradun
- Automobile Partner: Trust Toyota
- Fragrance Partner: Jagrati Associates - Kailapira
Award Ceremony Concludes Inspiring Evening
The evening culminated with a felicitation ceremony where dignitaries including Governor Singh and actress Preeti Jhangiani honored awardees recognized for excellence and impact across diverse domains. The award recipients reflected the performance and intent necessary to build resilient organizations and stronger communities, contributing significantly to Uttarakhand's evolving growth narrative.
The ET Leadership Excellence Awards 2025 successfully created a platform for meaningful dialogue about leadership, innovation, and sustainable development. The event reinforced Uttarakhand's potential as a growing economic force while celebrating individuals whose work drives positive change across business and society.
