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CNBC-TV18 launches initiative ‘Future. Female. Forward – The Women’s Collective’
Mumbai: To bridge the gender parity gap in the workforce, CNBC-TV18 has officially launched its one-of-a-kind mega initiative “Future. Female. Forward: The Women’s Collective” at The St. Regis Mumbai.
Presented by HSBC India, the initiative is launched in the presence of CNBC-TV18 managing editor Shereen Bhan, HSBC India CEO Hitendra Dave, Colgate-Palmolive India managing director Prabha Narasimhan, Apollo Hospitals joint managing director Dr. Sangita Reddy, former RBI deputy governor Shyamala Gopinath, and some of the most influential voices from the business, entrepreneurship, and entertainment spaces in attendance.
The logo of “Future. Female. Forward” has been unveiled onstage in an innovative format during a special showcase by artist Haribabu Natesan.
Furthermore, the event featured the debut of a special anthem written exclusively for this initiative by musician Sonam Kalra as well as a spectacular performance celebrating the theme.
ISRO’s key female scientists were also honoured for their enormous contribution to India’s dominance in the space race and for being such role models for the diversity narrative.
Much is being said in corporate corridors about gender equality and equitable workplace developments, and as a purpose-driven brand, CNBC TV18’s endeavour is to start a conversation and find ideas and solutions to the problems we face as a society and a nation.
As a result, “Future. Female. Forward – The Women’s Collective” is an integrated diversity and gender parity campaign composed of events, content, conversations, and engagements that will become an annual event to chart a path to gender parity.
The launch event was a significant step in this direction, with the audience getting a front-row seat to three enlightening discussions: one with top CEOs and leaders from key corps., one with the most renowned women from the spaces of entrepreneurship and startup funding, and one with leaders from the creator and digital economies.
Sharing her thoughts, Shereen Bhan mentioned, “For more than a decade, CNBC-TV18 has been actively mainstreaming the conversation around creating equal opportunity work spaces, championing the cause of bringing more women into the workplace, and supporting women entrepreneurs and enterprises. As the foremost voice ‘of’ and ‘to’ corporate India, we are consolidating this long-standing support into an impactful mega initiative to create a playbook for change. Over the course of this campaign, we aim to put together ‘best practises that have worked.’”
On diversity, Dave added, “At HSBC, the strength of different experiences, attributes, and voices is integral to who we are and how we work. We work hard to ensure that HSBC is a diverse and inclusive workplace that reflects the communities we serve. We have prioritised diversity and inclusion and are conscious of our responsibility to create an ecosystem that empowers diverse colleagues. “Future. Female. Forward – The Women’s Collective” is our endeavour to uncover, understand, and celebrate the potential of women and reinforce our long-standing support in enabling them to make choices for their personal and professional growth and development.”
Commenting on the new initiative, Network18 CEO of business news Smriti Mehra said, “We have always been a brand with a purpose and with “Future. Female. Forward – The Women’s Collective,” we are living our promise here at CNBC-TV18. We all carry with us the responsibility to address subjects that need conversation and change. This is our effort to catalyse the much-needed reform for a truly equal workplace for individuals, irrespective of their gender and we really believe we will be able to usher in that positive difference.”
News Broadcasting
Business Today MindRush returns to Mumbai, spotlight on India’s edge in a fractured world
Policymakers and corporate heavyweights gather to map supply chains, energy security and markets
MUMBAI: As fault lines widen across global trade and geopolitics, Business Today is doubling down on India’s moment. The 14th edition of Business Today MindRush & Best CEOs Awards lands in Mumbai on March 28, pitching India’s strategic edge at the centre of a fragmenting world.
The day-long summit, presented by PwC, will bring together a tight mix of policymakers, industry leaders and market voices to decode shifting supply chains, maritime strategy, defence priorities, energy security and capital markets—sectors now deeply entangled with geopolitics.
M Nagaraju, secretary, department of financial services, ministry of finance, will headline the event, setting the tone for discussions that aim to track how India is repositioning itself amid disrupted trade routes and volatile energy dynamics.
The speaker slate reads like a cross-section of India Inc’s command centre. Krishna Swaminathan will zero in on sea lanes and supply chains, while Prashant Ruia is set to push the case for self-reliance in oil and gas. Ashish Chauhan will weigh in on capital markets at a pivotal juncture, as a panel featuring Vibha Padalkar, Sanjiv Mehta, Amish Mehta and Sanjeev Krishan debates navigating economic uncertainty.
Leadership under pressure will be another running theme. Madhavkrishna Singhania, Sharvil Patel, Karan Bhagat and Anurag Choudhary will unpack how businesses are steering through disruption. Arun Alagappan will turn the spotlight on fertilisers, Arundhati Bhattacharya will reflect on leadership transitions, while Anish Shah and S Vellayan will outline blueprints for building future-ready conglomerates.
The event will close with Aroon Purie setting the broader editorial lens, before the Best CEOs Awards recognise standout corporate leadership across sectors.
At a time when the global order looks increasingly splintered, MindRush 2026 is positioning itself as more than a conference—it is a signal that India intends not just to navigate the churn, but to shape it.
