Our speakers

Sebastiaan van den Berg, Principal, HarbourVest Partners

Sebastiaan van den Berg joined HarbourVest's Hong Kong-based subsidiary in 2005 as a vice president and became a principal in 2009. He focuses on partnership investments in Asia Pacific and emerging markets. Sebastiaan joined the Firm from H&Q Asia Pacific where he focused on mid-market buyout transactions in Greater China, Korea, and Japan. His previous experience also includes positions with AlpInvest Partners N.V. in Amsterdam, Goldman Sachs (Asia) L.L.C. in Hong Kong, and Goldman Sachs International in London. Sebastiaan serves on the advisory boards of several international private equity partnerships, including funds managed by Brait Capital Partners, Castle Harlan Australian Mezzanine Partners (CHAMP), CVC Capital Partners Asia Pacific, MKS Consulting, Unison Capital Partners, and Unitas Capital.

Sebastiaan received a Doctorandus degree in International Financial Economics from the Universiteit van Amsterdam in 1995 and an MSc in Economics from the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) in 1996.  He speaks Dutch and French.

Sebastian Busche, Global Lead Partner Strategy - Financial Services & Insurance, Microsoft

Seedfund Bharati Jacob, Founder, Partner

Seema Chaturvedi, Founder, AWE Funds

Seema Jhingan, Senior Partner, LexCounsel, Law Offices

Seema Jhingan, a Senior Partner at LexCounsel, Law Offices, has more than seventeen years of experience. She has extensively advised in areas including Mergers & Acquisition, Telecommunications, Media & Entertainment, Venture Capital & Private Equity, Education, Licensing & Franchising, Software/IT, General Corporate and Commercial. Seema has substantial expertise in representing investors, developers, VC/PE funds, international corporations, sponsors/lenders and other strategic investors involved in the establishment, development and financing of infrastructure, education, IT and satellite projects in India.

Seema is recognized for her capability of structuring innovative investment models and has considerable transactional experience in representing investors, corporations and education companies on regulatory and licensing issues, complex acquisitions and divestments, investment structuring and exits, international collaborations and debt/equity funding, tax structuring and related documentation in the education sector ranging from formal sector (K12 to higher education) to non-formal sector (vocational programs, skill development, test prep, support services, content and multimedia providers and other unregulated areas).  

Additionally, Seema has been designated as a leading lawyer in the area of IT, Telecommunications & Media, by Asia Law and Practice and is a regular speaker at global and domestic forums. Seema is an author of several papers and published articles.

Seema Kakkar, MD, Remanika Apparels Pvt Ltd

Remanika, the brand  which stands for beautiful woman is what exactly Seema Kakkar's well known fashion brand has been catering to the fashion needs of young, vibrant and energetic woman in India for the last twenty years.

A graduate  in biology and wanting to become a doctor, Seema instead chose  to follow her passion of making bold independent  and stylish clothing line for the young women of India.

While pursuing her masters in marketing, Seema translated her dream and vision  into  successful brand and business that Remanika is today, spread over 36 cities and more than 160 outlets with a customer base that has since grown manifold. Carefully blending western cuts with traditional Indian embellishments, Remanika offers its customers casual wear, club wear and accessories with a distinct style and attitude.

Seema Pawaskar, Head CSR, Crompton Greaves Consumer Electricals Limited

Senthil Natarajan, Managing Director, Kovai Pazhamudir Nilayam

Senthil Natarajan joined the Family Business “Kovai Pazhamudir Nilayam” in 2005 after completing M.Sc Software Engineering. Kovai Pazhamudir Nilayam, which had 6 branches spread in 3 cities in 2005 has now grown into a 50 outlet brand spread across 10 cities employing close to 1000 employees and is now expanding rapidly.

Kovai Pazhamudir Nilayam has not only extended its footprint in retail but also strengthened its backend by establishing itself into a strong sourcing and distribution company with state of the art warehouses. By now establishing a holding company, KPN Farm Fresh Private Limited to handle multiple arms of Imports, distribution and retailing, Senthil Natarajan aims at bringing global standards and more varieties to Indian consumers’ doorsteps.

@senthilsmiles

Seshu Kumar, Head - Rural Retailing, ITC Ltd

Seshu Kumar , Head , Rural Retailing , at ITC - International Business Division had graduated from IIM Ahmedabad 20 yearsback. He had an initial grounding in Sales and Distribution in Asian Paints Ltd. in Sales and Distribution before moving to the then fledgling Retail Industry as Manager - Retailing with Walt Disney India Ltd.

His tenure as part of a start up team with Walt Disney helped him learn all areas of Retailing including Systems, Processes for controlling chain stores, Visual Merchandising and how to create a fun experience in a retail store for the target segment i.e. children.

He followed up his start up experience in Walt Disney with a small stint as Consultant with KSA Technopak at KSA Technopak and then again joined a start up team in 2000 - this time in e-tailing industry with Fabmall.com (then Fabmart.com). Having quickly understood that Food Retailing is a bigger opportunity, Mr.Seshu Kumar spearheaded Fabmall’s foray into setting up the chain of Fabmall Supermarkets in Bangalore.

Mr.Seshu Kumar has joined ITC in 2004 and is spearheading ITC IBD’s initiative to set up a Chain of 700 Rural Hypermarkets over the next 10 years. During the last 6 years he had set up 24 Choupal Sagars and had built the Team, Systems and Processes to support the Mega Expansion.

Shabana Bajari, CFO, KP Energy Ltd.

Ms. Shabana Bajari is a highly qualified and experienced finance professional with an extensive background in finance and accounts. She is a Chartered Accountant and a Law Graduate with a Diploma in Information Systems Audit. Her career spans over 28 years, during which she has held various leadership roles and made significant contributions to the organizations she has been associated with.

She initiated her career in 1997 as a Management Trainee and steadily progressed through various leadership roles. Her early experience as an Accountant at Krishak Bharati Co-operative Limited ('KRIBHCO') in Surat, Gujarat, where she dedicated nearly a decade and sharpened her financial skills as an accountant. Subsequently, she joined Neo Group, where her journey began as a Senior Manager and culminated in her becoming the Head of Department. Notably, she assumed the role of Acting CFO, leading the Finance & Accounts team of the Bilfinger Neo Group, the then subsidiary of the prestigious German conglomerate Bilfinger SE.

Ms. Bajari's journey continued with diverse leadership roles at Dhanurdhar Processors Private Limited before joining KPI Green, where she served as the General Manager (Finance & Accounts) and was entrusted with the responsibilities of Interim CFO for a period from September 2022 to January 2023. Her career trajectory exemplifies her adaptability, financial acumen, and leadership prowess, making her a seasoned professional in the world of finance.

Ms. Shabana Bajari's extensive experience and diverse roles in finance and accounts, along with her legal background, make her a well-rounded professional capable of handling various financial and commercial aspects of an organization. Her proven expertise in financial management, including project finance and budgeting, demonstrates her ability to drive financial success and contribute to the growth of the companies she serves.