BOARDROOM BEACONS

DISRUPT OR BE DISRUPTED.

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That's the reality Indian businesses are living every day. Driven by competition, India's most powerful business leaders are solidifying their empires by exploring new frontiers, leveraging disruptive tools like artificial intelligence for speed and scale, and fostering innovation to stay ahead of the curve. Whether it's India's richest man Mukesh Ambani laying the groundwork for a national AI infrastructure, steel tycoon Sajjan Jindal entering the electric vehicle market, Kumar Mangalam Birla venturing into paints and jewellery, or N. Chandrasekaran of Tata Sons betting big on semiconductors, the spirit of Indian entrepreneurship and innovation shines bright. Putting wind in their sails is the Indian consumer, hungry for newer and better products, but many of these leaders also have their sights set on the global stage. Sunil Bharti Mittal's company, for example, operates in 15 countries, and Gautam Adani is expanding his footprint across Africa.

But with great profits come great responsibilities. Large Indian companies are incorporating clean manufacturing, clean energy generation and sustainability into their businesses, the government's focus on these areas providing them further momentum. The darlings of investors, the booming stock markets are only adding billions to their market value. In for the long haul, staying resilient to meet future challenges, Indian businesses and their captains strive to secure their rightful place in the business world.

1 THE POWERHOUSE

MUKESH AMBANI, 67

Chairman & Managing Director, Reliance Industries