Speakers | Upcoming Events and Training

Vivek Tyagi, Director - Business Development, Western Digital

Mr. Vivek Tyagi is Director - Business Development, Embedded and Enterprise, Western Digital Corporation – India and South Asia Region. His focus is building a strong team and Strong customer base for Enterprise Storage products including Devices, platforms and systems within India in various industry verticals.

Vivek has over 25 years of industry experience. Prior to Western Digital and SanDisk, Vivek has been pivotal to Sales and Business Development initiatives within India for Freescale Semiconductor, Motorola and Philips Electronics.

Vladislava Ryabota, Regional Corporate Governance Lead, South Asia, IFC

Ms. Vladislava (Slava) Ryabota, joined Mumbai office of IFC in October 2013. She is a key member of IFC’s Corporate Governance Leadership Team and the center point of contact for both investment and advisory services for IFC in South Asia. Ms. Ryabota joined IFC in 1997 and worked in a number of corporate governance advisory projects and was covering investment operations in Europe and Central Asia. Ms. Ryabota specializes in assessment of corporate governance practices, board evaluation, family business governance, governance of funds and SMEs, and has been regularly providing trainings for directors and corporate secretaries. She graduated from the Law Faculty of Kyiv National Taras Shevchenko University in 1993. She holds a PhD degree and is a mediator accredited by the Centre for Effective Dispute Resolution in UK. Ms. Vladislava Ryabota is a professional trainer and the author of a number of books and articles on corporate governance, commercial law and mediation.

VN Dalmia, Chairman, Dalmia Continental Pvt. Ltd

VN Dalmia is the Chairman of Dalmia Continental Private Limited (DCPL). DCPL, Dalmia’s flagship company, has been a pioneer in establishing the popularity and use of Olive Oil in India. DCPL’s principal product, Leonardo Olive Oil, is the leading Indian brand of Olive Oil.

Dalmia is the recipient of an Italian knighthood titled the Order of the Star of Italian Solidarity in the rank of Commendatore (Knight Commander) in recognition of his pioneering work in promoting the use and popularity of Italian olive oil, on a commercial scale, in India.

Dalmia is also Chairman of Sunshine Tourism Services Private Limited (STSPL), a well-known provider of package tours in India. Previously, Dalmia was Commercial Director of Dalmia Biscuits Private Limited, and Executive Director of Dalmia Dadri Cement Limited. In community activities, Dalmia is President of the Indian Olive Association and a long standing member of the Managing Committee of the PHD Chamber of Commerce. Dalmia is the Executive Vice President of the Babu Jagjivan Ram National Foundation. Dalmia was previously President of the Indo-American Chamber of Commerce NIC and Chairman of the India-Mexico and India-Colombia Joint Business Councils.

Dalmia earned an MBA from the University of Virginia’s famed Darden Business School. He is a member of the School’s Alumni Board as well as President of its India Alumni Chapter. In July 2010, he was appointed to the Darden School Foundation Board of Trustees, becoming the first Indian citizen, only non-US citizen and third Asian ever to join the board.

VS Kannan Sitaram, Partner, Fireside Ventures

VSS Mani, Founder& MD, Just Dial

V.S.S. Mani, Founder and Managing Director, Just Dial Private Limited, is a first generation entrepreneur. A strong visionary and an experienced management professional, he revolutionized the process of searching for information by allowing people to pick up the telephone and call for instant access to a huge database of information.

Mani started Just Dial with some borrowed furniture, rented PCs, a 3x5 feet garage on hire, a seed capital of Rs 50,000, and a dream! Today JustDial describes itself as India’s no.1 local search destination. The company caters to over 57 million unique users. It is accessible from across 2000 towns and cities in India on phone. JustDial employs a 4000 strong work force and has more than 1,35,000 paid advertisers.

VT Bharadwaj , Managing Director, Sequoia Capital India

VT Bharadwaj is a managing director with Sequoia Capital, and is on the boards of Vasan, Prataap Snacks, Lovable, Celon Labs and Genesis Colors. At Sequoia Capital, he spearheads investments in Consumer, Retail and Healthcare sectors. He was previously associated with McKinsey & Company where he advised senior management in energy, consumer, retail and manufacturing companies on key strategic and operational issues.

He is an alumnus of IIM-Ahmedabad where he was awarded the Presidents Gold Medal and an alumnus of BITS Pilani.

@vtbharadwaj

Vyapak Desai, Senior Attorney | Arbitrator | Lead - International Disputes & Investigations, Nishith Desai Associates

Vyomesh Shah, Managing Director, Hubtown Ltd.

Mr. Vyomesh M. Shah, widely known as Vimal Shah, is a distinguished leader in the Indian real estate sector and the Managing Director of Hubtown Limited (formerly Akruti City Limited), a company he co-founded in 1986. With over three decades of experience, Mr. Shah has been instrumental in shaping the landscape of urban development in Mumbai and beyond. A qualified Chartered Accountant by profession, he brings a unique blend of expertise in accounts, corporate finance, and corporate law, which has been pivotal in driving Hubtown’s growth and success.

Pioneer of SRA Housing and Urban Renewal
Mr. Vyomesh Shah is widely recognized as a pioneer of Slum Rehabilitation Authority (SRA) housing and urban renewal schemes in Mumbai. His innovative approach to redevelopment has transformed the lives of thousands of families, providing them with better living conditions and access to modern amenities. His work in this domain has not only addressed critical housing challenges but has also set new benchmarks for sustainable urban development.

Leadership in Industry Associations
Mr. Shah’s influence extends far beyond Hubtown. He is a respected leader in the real estate industry, having held several prestigious positions in key industry associations. He served as the Immediate Past President of MCHI-CREDAI (Maharashtra Chamber of Housing Industry) and has been actively involved with the Builder Association of India (BAI) and CREDAI (Confederation of Real Estate Developers’ Associations of India). His leadership roles in these organizations have been marked by his commitment to advocating for policy reforms, fostering industry growth, and promoting ethical practices.

A Decade of Leadership at SRA
Mr. Shah’s dedication to slum rehabilitation and urban renewal is further exemplified by his tenure as the President of the Slum Rehabilitation Association (SRA) for over ten years. During this period, he played a crucial role in driving initiatives that have improved the quality of life for countless individuals, reinforcing his reputation as a leader who combines business acumen with a deep sense of social responsibility.

A Legacy of Excellence and Innovation
With a career spanning over two decades, Mr. Vyomesh Shah is regarded as a stalwart of the real estate industry. His ability to navigate complex challenges, coupled with his visionary approach, has earned him immense respect and admiration. Under his leadership, Hubtown has emerged as a trusted name in residential, commercial, and mixed-use developments, delivering projects that redefine urban living.

Mr. Shah’s passion for leadership extends both within and outside the organization. He is known for his ability to inspire teams, foster innovation, and drive results. His contributions to the industry and society at large have cemented his legacy as a leader who not only builds structures but also builds communities.

Walid Hizaoui , Group Chief Transformation & Strategy Officer, Gargash Group

Group Chief Transformation Officer at Gargash Group | Digital Transformation, AI, Mobility, Financial Services, Venture Capital, Institutionalizing Family Offices & Conglomerates.

Walid is a strategic data, AI and digital innovation thought leader, specializing in digital transformation, scaling up early-stage ventures, and new product development.

With 15 years of experience in management consulting, as well as launching ventures and strategic investment, Walid also has strong experience in institutionalizing family offices in the Middle East region and positioning them for growth.

He has proven expertise across 15 industries in the private and public sectors, specifically within the automotive & mobility sectors, financial services, digital banking, venture capital, and private equity.

A true multi-disciplinary leader with a unique hybrid Strategy & Product Innovation Director role as well as a Chief Transformation role at Gargash Group, he has invested in 30+ companies in the region. Walid is positioned ideally to steer companies through pivotal transformations and growth phases, identifying & executing opportunities for new ventures, exiting business verticals, and growth.

He is also an expert on restructuring, turnaround strategies, omnichannel, and enterprise level product management. He has been instrumental in structuring the Gargash Group conglomerate into four verticals, including automotive, real estate, financial services, and new opportunities. He also built leadership teams across 35 companies in 15 different industry segments.

Prior to his tenure at Gargash Group, Walid was a Strategy and Management consultant, working with public and private sector clients in Europe, the United States, and the MENA region, including the World Bank, the International Finance Corporation (IFC), and various GCC government entities.

Throughout his career, Walid has been involved in $1 billion worth of capital deployment, 55 due diligence projects, and several go-to-market strategies in Europe, China, and the Middle East. Additionally, he oversaw 10 product launches in healthcare, Web3, crypto, and digital banking. He has completed 15 turnaround strategies with a strong P&L impact of circa $450 million.

Walid holds a Master’s degree in Quantitative Finance from Peking University, China, and a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration and Management from HEC Business School, Tunisia.

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