Gaja Capital Business
Book Prize 2023

Manish is a successful serial entrepreneur, currently co-founder and chairman of TeamLease Services. Manish also currently serves as an Independent Director on the Board of the RBI, as member of the Central Advisory Board on Education in the HRD Ministry and Member of Advisory Board of Comptroller and Auditor General of India.

Imran is a founding member of the Gaja Capital team and has over 22 years of experience in private equity, pharmaceuticals, and technology services. Imran has co-led investments in the education and consumer clusters. He holds an MBA from IIM Bangalore and a master’s degree in software engineering from BITS-Pilani.

Arindam Bhattacharya is an Independent Director of several public companies, advisory board member of not-for-profits and academic institutes, angel investor in and mentor to start-ups. Until recently, Arindam was the Managing Director and Senior Partner in the India office of Boston Consulting Group. He currently serves as an Independent Director on boards of Bajaj Finance, Bajaj Holdings and Investments Ltd, Bajaj Housing Finance Ltd, InfoEdge Ltd., and Lemon Tree Hotels.

Dr. Lakshmi Venu is the Joint MD of Sundaram-Clayton Ltd (SCL), which forms part of the $8.5 billion TVS Group. She is also the Deputy MD of TAFE Motors and Tractors Limited. Dr. Venu’s focus at SCL has been to create a sustainable foundation for the companies’ future growth and to create flexible and agile companies for a VUCA world.

Dr. Sangita Reddy is a global healthcare influencer, healthcare technocrat, social entrepreneur, and humanitarian. She is currently the Joint Managing Director of Apollo Hospitals Enterprise Limited and has been a recipient of numerous prestigious awards for business and leadership in the healthcare industry. She is currently the Chair of G20 Empower and is a director of 16 companies in India dealing in Healthcare, Alternate Energy, Real Estate, and Software Development.

Michael is a reputed successful global investment professional, currently Chairman of the University of Surrey. He was formerly Chief Executive of 3i Group plc and served as Chairman of the British Venture Capital Association. He is also serving as the Chairman of Thames Bridge Capital, where he provides strategic advisory to alternative asset managers and corporates.

Neelkanth Mishra is currently the Chief Economist, Head of Global Research, and member of the Board in Axis Capital. Until recently, he was the Co-Head of Equity Strategy, APAC and India Equity Strategist, and Securities Research, at Credit Suisse. He is part of the Advisory Council to India’s 15th Finance Commission and has been an advisor to government committees such as the Revenue Neutral Rate Committee on GST and the Fiscal Responsibility and Budget Management Review Committee.

Prithvi is a member of several capital market related committees of SEBI and has served as a member of the Indian finance minister’s high level expert committee on corporate bonds and securitization. Prithvi has worked as a consultant for the World Bank and U.S. Department of Commerce. In 1989, he set up Prime Database, India’s first and largest repository for all primary capital market offerings.

Shailesh Haribhakti is an experienced accountant and an independent board member of several leading Indian companies. He is also the Chairman of DHC (Desai Haribhakti) one of India’s leading accountancy and advisory firms. He is actively involved with several prominent financial institutions in India, including the NSE, CII, IMC and ASSOCHAM.

Upendra Kumar Sinha headed the RBI Expert Committee on Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs). He was the Chairman of the SEBI, having served two consecutive three-year terms, starting in 2011. He was also the Chairman and Managing Director of UTI Mutual Fund. He was selected for the Indian Administrative Services (IAS) in 1976.

Kris Gopalakrishnan, N. Dayasindhu and Krishnan Narayanan

Bachi Karkaria

Mira Kulkarni

T.N. Manoharan & V. Pattabhi Ram

T.N. Hari and Bala Srinivasa