Amid the winter calm of Dehradun, the ET Leadership Excellence Awards 2025 unfolded at the Hyatt Regency Resort and Spa, Dehradun bringing together senior government officials, business leaders, professionals and entrepreneurs. Organised by The Times of India Group, the evening recognised awardees from different walks of life, celebrating leadership that delivers outcomes, whether through enterprise-building, service excellence, community impact or innovation-led growth.The event was graced by the Governor of Uttarakhand, Lieutenant General Gurmit Singh PVSM, UYSM, AVSM, VSM (Retd.), who reflected on the value of steady, purpose-led leadership in a period of rapid change. He spoke about how institutions and individuals, when guided by responsibility and long-term thinking, can shape stronger societies and more competitive economies.
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Governor of Uttarakhand, Lieutenant General Gurmit Singh PVSM, UYSM, AVSM, VSM (Retd.)He also briefly placed Uttarakhand’s growth journey within the wider national momentum towards Viksit Bharat@2047, emphasising that progress must be anchored in collaboration between policy, enterprise and citizens, and strengthened by innovation that remains mindful of the state’s ecological context and community needs.Participating in the programme, actor Preeti Jhangiani spoke about leadership as a choice made every day, shaped by discipline, resilience and the willingness to step into uncertainty. She highlighted entrepreneurship as a catalyst for opportunity and confidence, especially for young aspirants and noted that lasting success is built on purpose, integrity and consistent effort.
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Preeti Jhangiani, Indian ActressAdding depth to the evening’s message, Cabinet Minister Ganesh Joshi (Agriculture, Agricultural Education, Agricultural Marketing, Horticulture and Processing, Sericulture, Biotechnology, Sainik Welfare and Rural Development, Government of Uttarakhand) underlined that such platforms are not only about applauding achievement but also about aligning priorities for the road ahead. He noted that as India moves towards 2047, Uttarakhand’s role becomes more distinct because it represents a rare convergence of natural strength, human capability and strategic importance.
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Ganesh Joshi, Agriculture, Cabinet Minister, Government of UttarakhandFocusing on the grassroots economy, the Minister highlighted that the state’s development story must translate into stronger livelihoods, especially in rural Uttarakhand, where agriculture, horticulture, local enterprises and value-added production form the backbone. A major highlight of the evening was a forward-looking panel discussion titled ‘North India’s Rising Growth Corridors: How Uttarakhand is Transforming the Future of Business, Lifestyle and Investment.’ The session moderated by journalist Mohd Ujaley explored how the state is moving beyond a leisure identity to become a wider opportunity hub across tourism, hospitality, education, wellness, real estate, emerging manufacturing and technology-led enterprise. The panel featured Surekha Dangwal (Vice Chancellor, Doon University), Vinod Srivastava (CEO, Mandawar Palace & Resort), Shubham Pandey (AI Expert, Learnergalaxy.ai), Dr. Ravi R. Kumar (Economist, Investor, TEDx Speaker), Udit Handa (CEO, Cynoteck Technologies Solutions), Samaresh Singh (Dealer Principal, Trust Toyota, Dehradun) and Karan Singh Nagra (Director, Hyatt Regency Dehradun Resort and Spa).From the education and capability-building lens, Surekha Dangwal spoke about the importance of aligning curriculum and skilling pathways with real job creation so that new corridors and new sectors do not face a talent gap. She highlighted the need for universities to play a more direct role in industry readiness and entrepreneurship, ensuring youth and women are equipped for emerging opportunities rather than constrained by legacy pathways.Offering a sectoral view from hospitality, Vinod Srivastava spoke about how Uttarakhand’s rise as a wedding and destination-events market is opening new economic avenues, not only for hotels but also for local vendors, services and allied livelihoods. He also emphasised that the next phase must be planned with practical sustainability guardrails, so growth remains high value without placing avoidable pressure on water, waste systems, roads and local communities.Bringing an enterprise and on-ground leadership perspective, Samaresh Singh reflected on entrepreneurship as a multiplier for jobs and confidence. He underlined that growth corridors become credible when they improve everyday outcomes through stronger service readiness, better talent availability, smoother business conditions and visible gains that communities can measure. The panel also touched upon technology-led governance and capacity building, investor expectations from hill-state growth stories and what it would take to strengthen Uttarakhand as a year-round destination and a more competitive hub for new-age businesses.The sponsors for the event were as below:
Presenting Sponsor : Mandwar Palace and Resorts
- Hospitality Partner: Hyatt Regency Resort & Spa, Dehradun
- Automobile Partner: Trust Toyota
- Fragrance Partner: Jagrati Associates – Kailapira
SURVEY – METHODOLOGY The objective of this research was to conduct a survey, assess and evaluate the probable nominations and recommend the final list of recipients for the coveted ET- Leadership Excellence Awards – 2025. The survey had these modules, i.e. Desk Secondary Research, Approach for sharing fact files, and a Factual survey (Participatory Survey) to arrive at the analysis and identify the excellent performers and contributors in different fields. A comprehensive list of business entities, brand leaders and performers and certain affiliates businesses was generated with the help of the internet, social media, print -magazines, and other publications. More than 300 business entities, brand leaders and performers and certain affiliates were sent the factual data questionnaire and then rigorously followed up through telephone, email, and personal visits. The kind of work done by the nominees with focus on innovation and value propositions, contribute to the business world, society, and nation at large, Vision for the further addition of value to business world, society, and nation in future. In addition, feedback of each nominee was assessed through multiple tools such as social media profile scan and customers/ colleagues or public feedback. All data was objectively analysed to assess the eligibility and suitability of the nominee for the award. All data was objectively analysed to assess the eligibility and suitability of the nominee for the award. The final score for each entity weighed to an average Factual Score. Based on the final score, results were drawn for each leader. The study was conducted starting from the 2nd week of October 2025. Some caveats/assumptions:
- Best efforts were made to reach the maximum business entities, brand leaders and performers and Individuals in respective categories.
- If the nomination for any specific category was not received, those categories were dropped and categories with single nominations were given unanimously.
- Only those entities were considered who have submitted their participatory factual sheet
Note: Present survey has been conducted by an independent Research Agency named Avance Insights Pvt, a full-service market research agency providing Research and Support Services to companies ranging from boutique research agencies to large consulting firms.List of the Awardees
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The evening concluded with the felicitation ceremony, where dignitaries including Hon’ble Governor Uttarakhand and actor Preeti Jhangiani honoured the awardees recognised for excellence and impact. Spanning diverse domains and leadership roles, the awardees reflected the performance and intent needed to build resilient organisations and stronger communities, contributing to Uttarakhand’s evolving growth narrative.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.
