Roundtable

India’s defence and aerospace sector is entering a decisive phase. With production crossing ₹1.27 lakh crore and exports hitting record highs, the nation is moving from an import-reliant model to becoming a global hub for design and manufacturing. At the core of this leap lies electronics and 

semiconductors—the backbone of avionics, radars, EW systems, secure communications and next- gen weapon platforms. (IBEF, Observer Research Foundation, AIAI India, Modern Manufacturing India) 

Yet, global semiconductor backlogs, supply chain bottlenecks, and evolving tech standards pose strategic risks. To sustain India’s growth trajectory and strengthen self-reliance, industry leaders, policymakers and OEMs must collaborate on sourcing strategies, technology roadmaps, and resilient supply ecosystems. 

This Exclusive Times Group Think Tank Discussion, powered by TTI (a Berkshire Hathaway company), Mouser Electronics, and Ray-Q, will bring together top military, aerospace, and defence stakeholders for a closed-door, high-impact discussion on these critical imperatives. 

India is now the world’s third-largest defence spender, with 75% of the 2025 procurement budget earmarked for domestic players. 

Discussion Arcs 

The discussion will revolve around: 

• Key growth imperatives, challenges, and opportunities in building India’s emerging supply chain ecosystem. 

• Strategies for creating a more resilient and sustainable supply chain that adapts to changing market conditions and meets customer needs. 

• How new technologies, shifting business models, and evolving customer expectations are shaping the future of supply chains? 

• The value of partnering with trusted allies to ensure component authenticity, reliability and uninterrupted supply. 

Who should attend 

CSCOs, Heads, SVPs/VPs/AVPs/GMs of Supply Chain from: 

• Defence PSUs and private primes (HAL, BEL, DRDO ecosystem, Tata, L&T, Adani, Mahindra Defence) 

• Tier-1 and Tier-2 suppliers across electronics, engines, materials, and subsystems 

• Aerospace OEMs (civil and defence programs in India)

16th July, 2025 | New Delhi

Closed-Door CXO Roundtable followed by Salesforce Point of View and Networking Dinner

In an era where manufacturing excellence is no longer confined to operational efficiency, the next frontier of smart manufacturing is unfolding at the front office. Customer insights, data-driven strategies, and AI-powered platforms are now critical levers for business growth and competitive advantage. This exclusive roundtable, co-hosted by Salesforce and ET Edge, will convene senior industry leaders to explore how manufacturers are transforming how they engage customers, empower their partners, and redefine innovation.

Through a dynamic and insightful discussion, the session will focus on the convergence of customer data, digital ecosystems, and AI to enable intelligent, responsive, and value-led manufacturing.

Key Discussion Points

1. The New Face of Smart Manufacturing

• Evolving definitions of “smart” through customer engagement
• The front office’s growing role in end-to-end transformation

2. Unlocking Value from Customer & Market Data

• Turning raw data into actionable business and customer insights

3. AI in the Front Office: From Insights to Action

• AI in sales forecasting, service delivery, and partner enablement
• Use cases: AI-led personalization, predictive service models, and automation

4. Enabling Customer-Centric Innovation

• Infusing customer feedback into product/service design
• Impact of D2C, partner ecosystems, and digital platforms

5. Organizational Readiness and Digital Culture

• Bridging manufacturing and front-office teams for agility
• Leadership, skills, and tools needed for transformation

6. Future Outlook

• The role of AI, digital experience, and customer-centricity in shaping the future of manufacturing

Event Objective

• Foster peer-to-peer dialogue among top manufacturing CXOs on the evolving role of data, AI, and customer experience
• Highlight Salesforce’s perspective and capabilities in empowering smart, customer-led manufacturing
• Build strategic engagement with decision-makers driving digital transformation and innovation

Target Audience

• MD & CEO
• CIO
• CTO
• Chief Digital Officer (CDO)
• Chief Customer Officer (CCO)
• Chief Innovation Officer
• VP – IT
• VP – Data Analytics
• VP – Customer Service
• Head of Innovation
• Digital Transformation Head

25th June, 2025 | New Delhi

Unlock ing Strategic Business Value Through Open-Source Migrations 

As enterprises navigate complex digital transformation journeys, several pressing challenges continue to surface: 

• Rising costs of proprietary software and infrastructure are squeezing IT budgets and limiting scalability. 

• Vendor lock-in is hindering innovation, reducing flexibility, and slowing down modernization efforts. 

• Legacy systems are becoming increasingly incompatible with evolving security, performance, and compliance requirements. 

• Sustainability mandates and ESG expectations are pushing enterprises to rethink their tech choices. 

• Innovation bottlenecks are emerging due to closed ecosystems and long dependency chains. 

These challenges are no longer just technical, they impact business agility, operational efficiency, and long-term competitiveness. 

There is a growing demand among CIOs, CTOs, and IT leaders to overcome the limitations posed by legacy systems. As organizations seek to reduce total cost of ownership without compromising performance, align their IT infrastructure with sustainability goals, foster agility and autonomy, and enable innovation at scale, open-source platforms like Linux and PostgreSQL are increasingly being recognized as more than just alternatives—they are becoming strategic infrastructure choices that directly address these evolving enterprise needs. 

In response to this shift, this offers a strategic and collaborative platform for technology leaders to engage in meaningful dialogue. The discussion will focus on understanding the long-term business value of open-source migrations, learning from real-world success stories and proven frameworks, and exploring how open source contributes to ESG mandates. Participants will also gain valuable insights into how open-source adoption aligns with the ARAG framework—promoting Agility, Resilience, Autonomy, and Growth—while also networking with peers and industry experts tackling similar transformation challenges. 

Ultimately, the roundtable aims to deliver strategic clarity, peer-driven learning, and actionable takeaways for IT decision-makers looking to modernize their infrastructure, reduce operational costs, and remain future-ready through the power of open-source innovation. 

Balu Kuncham

Senior Vice President – Strategic Partnership – Quadrant Technologies

Sameer Khan

India Lead Cloud Business & Alliances – AMD

20th June, 2025 | Mumbai

Unlock ing Strategic Business Value Through Open-Source Migrations 

As enterprises navigate complex digital transformation journeys, several pressing challenges continue to surface: 

• Rising costs of proprietary software and infrastructure are squeezing IT budgets and limiting scalability. 

• Vendor lock-in is hindering innovation, reducing flexibility, and slowing down modernization efforts. 

• Legacy systems are becoming increasingly incompatible with evolving security, performance, and compliance requirements. 

• Sustainability mandates and ESG expectations are pushing enterprises to rethink their tech choices. 

• Innovation bottlenecks are emerging due to closed ecosystems and long dependency chains. 

These challenges are no longer just technical, they impact business agility, operational efficiency, and long-term competitiveness. 

There is a growing demand among CIOs, CTOs, and IT leaders to overcome the limitations posed by legacy systems. As organizations seek to reduce total cost of ownership without compromising performance, align their IT infrastructure with sustainability goals, foster agility and autonomy, and enable innovation at scale, open-source platforms like Linux and PostgreSQL are increasingly being recognized as more than just alternatives—they are becoming strategic infrastructure choices that directly address these evolving enterprise needs. 

In response to this shift, this offers a strategic and collaborative platform for technology leaders to engage in meaningful dialogue. The discussion will focus on understanding the long-term business value of open-source migrations, learning from real-world success stories and proven frameworks, and exploring how open source contributes to ESG mandates. Participants will also gain valuable insights into how open-source adoption aligns with the ARAG framework—promoting Agility, Resilience, Autonomy, and Growth—while also networking with peers and industry experts tackling similar transformation challenges. 

Ultimately, the roundtable aims to deliver strategic clarity, peer-driven learning, and actionable takeaways for IT decision-makers looking to modernize their infrastructure, reduce operational costs, and remain future-ready through the power of open-source innovation. 

Balu Kuncham

Senior Vice President – Strategic Partnership – Quadrant Technologies

Sameer Khan

India Lead Cloud Business & Alliances – AMD

The Times Think Tank Executive Roundtable | 17 June, 2025 | Mumbai 

Only 25% of enterprises are seeing solid ROI from cloud transformation efforts.
According to HFS Research, the barriers are clear—slow adoption, unrealized use cases, and unchecked cloud sprawl. The solution? Hybrid by Design — a strategic framework empowering organization to migrate, modernize, and innovate with confidence, speed, and value. 

Join us for an exclusive evening of high-impact insights, hosted by IBM and Red Hat in partnership with ET Edge, where we bring together senior tech leaders for a powerful exchange of ideas and experiences shaping the future of hybrid cloud. 

This private, invitation-only session is curated for decision-makers to dive deep into what’s working—and what’s next—on the journey to hybrid cloud maturity. 

Who Should Attend? 

C-suite and senior leaders focused on driving tech-led transformation:

Hybrid by Design is more than a framework—it’s a new way forward.
Be part of this elite conversation and lead the charge toward scalable, future-ready cloud transformation. 

Chintamani Joshi

Lead – Solution Architecture – Red Hat

Divya Rajagopal

Hybrid Cloud & Data, IBM Consulting – IBM

Harbax Manuja

Associate Partner – Cognitive & Analytics – IBM Consulting

Mandar Dixit

Senior Solution Architect – Red Hat, India & South Asia

Mangesh Surve

Senior Director – Solution Specialist Emerging Technology – Red Hat

Taj Shaik

Associate Partner – Enterprise Architect – IBM Consulting

Ashwani Mishra

Independent Technology Editor (Moderator)

Kanchi Shah

 Chief Editor – ET Edge (Moderator)

Tackle the growing threats in the financial landscape by exploring proactive strategies and leveraging cutting-edge technological solutions to build resilient systems capable of combating sophisticated financial crimes. Fortify your financial infrastructure against modern challenges, including market volatility, cybersecurity risks, and fraud, through a unified approach focused on scalability and long-term resilience.  ET Edge, in association with Azentio and industry thought leaders, presents the Finance and Risk Leadership Exchange premier forum for Chief Risk Officers and Chief Compliance Officers to explore advanced approaches to financial governance, risk management, cybersecurity, and economic resilience. This exclusive platform will delve into critical areas such as fraud prevention, digital transformation, adaptive risk frameworks, and strategies for ensuring financial security in an evolving global economy. 

Who should attend? 

• Chief Risk Officer 
• Chief Compliance Officer 
• Head/VP/Director of Risk& Compliance  

 Key Highlights  

Exclusive Insights: Gain first-hand knowledge from industry thought leaders on combating modern financial risks, including market volatility, cybersecurity threats, and fraud. 

Cutting-Edge Strategies: Explore proactive approaches and innovative technological solutions to build resilient financial systems and future-proof your organization. 

Collaborative Opportunities: Engage with peers, Chief Risk Officers, and Chief Compliance Officers in a dynamic think-tank setting to exchange ideas and solutions. 

Focused Expertise: Dive into critical areas such as financial governance, fraud prevention, adaptive risk frameworks, and digital transformation with targeted presentations and discussions. 

Networking Potential: Connect with top leaders over interactive sessions, Q&A exchanges, and an exclusive dinner reception to build lasting professional relationships. 

Ruchi Tripathi

Product Director, Amlock – Financial Crime & Compliance, Azentio

Saurabh Srisvasta

Chief Risk Officer – Unity Small Finance Bank

Aashish Pathak

Chief Compliance Officer, Fino Payments Bank

Vinod Raghavan

Head- Product Compliance,  HDB Financial Services Ltd.

Vikram Vibhakar Purohit

CAMS, CAMS(Audit), Chief Manager, International division, Bank of India

Neelakshi Shalla

Chief Risk Officer, Bharti AXA Life Insurance

Nakul Rajpal

Partner – Risk Advisory, KPMG India (Moderator)

Transform Your Strategy, Elevate Your Experience: Automate, Analyze, and Augment Your Design Journey

As AI cements its role as a strategic driver, businesses across sectors are intensifying their investment to stay competitive. The 2024 State of Design & Make survey reveals that 72% of respondents have ramped up spending on AI and emerging technologies, with 27% reporting significant increases. The question is: “How can design and manufacturing teams leverage AI to innovate faster, enhance collaboration, and make design processes more efficient?”

Join us for an exclusive CXO roundtable discussion, hosted by Autodesk in collaboration with ET Edge, a Times Group initiative, to explore how AI can unlock creativity, improve agility, and drive seamless team integration, all while maintaining data security. Join leaders from across the industry as we delve into the future of Digital Transformation, discovering the transformative potential of AI to set new standards in design, manufacturing, construction and other sectors. Be part of this conversation that’s shaping the future of the ideas we design, the products we create, and the experiences we deliver.

Key Discussion Points:

• Delve into how AI-enabled digital solutions are driving innovation and efficiency throughout the design and manufacturing process, from conceptualization to execution. And explore actionable ways to integrate these solutions into business strategy.
• Learn how a unified data environment improves agility and efficiency in product development by enabling seamless information flow across design and manufacturing functions, driving collaboration and operational effectiveness.
• Discover the transformative potential of integrating concept design and manufacturing into a unified platform, creating a seamless digital thread that streamlines the entire product lifecycle, accelerates processes, and reduces time-to-market.
• Explore key strategies to tackle challenges throughout the complete lifecycle of a factory, and see how Digital Transformation can create a cohesive thread from planning through design, build, and operational phases.
• Discover the importance of building a strong foundation in digital transformation, where robust design and product development processes lead to improved manufacturability and heightened customer satisfaction.
• Gain insights and best practices for navigating Digital Transformation, focusing on streamlined design and product development to create seamless digital experiences and drive operational success.

Who Should Attend?

• R&D heads
• CXOs
• Head of Technology/ Engineering/ Digital Transformation
• Global Heads/ MDs

Shubham Garg
Industry Manager – Design & Manufacturing
Autodesk India

Parminder Singh
Country Head Design & Manufacturing and Media & Entertainment – India & SAARC
Autodesk

Siva Juluri
Managing Director
PwC India

K V Veerapandian,  
Head, Technical Sales, Design & Manufacturing –
India & SAARC, Autodesk

Organizations have swiftly embraced emerging technologies, and Artificial Intelligence (AI) is a prime example of this transformation. However, simply adapting to new tools and systems is no longer enough—organizations must actively upgrade and integrate cutting-edge technologies to stay ahead of the competition and drive meaningful change. Sectors like retail, healthcare, and life sciences stand to significantly enhance their customer experience by leveraging the powerful capabilities of Google Cloud technology. 

 This roundtable aims to unite thought leaders, industry pioneers, and innovators from these sectors to exchange valuable insights, share real-world experiences, and explore strategies for effectively utilizing advanced technologies. Together, we will discuss how organizations can harness the full potential of AI and cloud solutions to optimize operations, improve service delivery, and create more personalized, impactful customer experiences. The goal is to equip organizations with the tools and knowledge they need to not just adapt, but to thrive in a rapidly evolving digital landscape. 

Discussion Pointers 

• How can organizations forecast trends and outcomes using AI algorithms? 

• Using Google Cloud for storing and managing patient data securely and efficiently. 

• How can retailers use AI to understand customer preferences and personalize shopping experiences? 

• Examples of using Google Cloud to analyze shopping trends and improve inventory management. 

Speakers

• Sarang Sharma, Head of Products, Practo
• Madhur Gopal, AVP-Marketing, Sales and Digital Initiatives, Manipal Health Enterprises
• Ravi Banka, Global Account Manager, Google Cloud
• Preetam Dey, Key Accounts Executive – CPG, Retail & Healthcare, Google Cloud
• Nishu Saxena, Customer Engineer, Google Cloud
• Elwinder Singh, Co-Founder, Connect and Heal
• Rahul Sangal, SVP & Head of Digital, Medi Assist
• Shawn Chandy, Chief Marketing Officer, Paragon Group
• Gaurav Mundra, Vice President, Product Management, IKS Health
• Chaitanya Bharadwaj, Head of AI, Apollo 24|7
• Saurabh Kumar, Chief Executive Officer- Retail, Kaleesuwari Refinery Private Limited

Moderator– Aniruddha Chakrabarti, Partner – AI, Cloud and Architecture, Grant Thornton Bharat

Session 1: – Is your data AI ready

The world of data is on the brink of a revolution, driven by the potential of generative AI. Yet, fragmented data stacks and silos are keeping enterprises from realizing its full impact.

To move from experimentation to scalable, actionable AI, organizations must tackle data modernization, governance, and compliance head-on.

ET Edge, in collaboration with IBM, presents The Data Differentiator: Leadership Exchange, a premier platform for CXOs to explore the foundational role of data in scaling AI. This exclusive session will offer deep insights into data readiness, governance frameworks, and advanced architectures essential for driving AI-powered innovation while ensuring security, compliance, and efficiency.

Key Discussion Points:

• Building enterprise-wide data readiness for AI scaling
• Identification and classification of critical data sources
• Creating infrastructure to handle big data at scale
• Embedding governance, privacy, and compliance into AI workflows
• Leveraging data architecture and fabric for transformative AI outcomes

This session is designed for data and compliance leaders to unlock the full potential of AI by mastering the complete data journey, from readiness to scalable innovation.

Who should attend?

• Chief Digital Officer
• Chief Data Analytics Officer
• Chief Risk Officer

Anand Ganapathy

Director Technology Sales, India & South Asia

IBM

Shubho Sankar Chatterjee

Consulting Editor

ET Edge – Moderator

*An insightful video-recorded discussion featuring one IBM leader and four CXOs, moderated by Sr. Editor from ET- Edge. This high-impact conversation will explore strategies for leveraging data to drive business growth, enhance decision-making, and navigate emerging challenges.

Boardroom: Harbour 1

The Manufacturing landscape is undergoing a significant transformation as businesses seek to meet evolving customer expectations and stay competitive in the digital age. With the growing demand for innovation, companies face critical decisions on how to leverage technology to drive Secondary Sales, optimize distribution, and enhance performance management.  

To stay ahead, organizations must integrate advanced, enabling smarter, more personalized marketing strategies that boost Secondary Sales, performance management and improve customer engagement. These decisions require a thoughtful approach to technology investments, cost management, and data security, ensuring seamless integration and scalability. 

This roundtable, in collaboration with ET Edge, will explore the latest Manufacturing trends and strategies, focusing on how businesses can optimize their Secondary Sales and marketing efforts. It will delve into the balance between Innovation, transformation, Field force automation & tracking, Omni-channel engagement, Paperless onboarding, Mapping the entire ecosystem, custom-built solutions and examining real-world use cases, challenges, and innovations shaping the future of Secondary Sales distribution, and performance management. 

Why Attend?  

• Engage in meaningful discussion with top executives and innovators. 

• Discover how smarter practices can improve efficiency, enhance collaboration, and ensure project success.  

• Explore the latest trends of Manufacturing and technologies redefining the industry and learn how to position your organization for long-term success.  

 Who should Attend?   

• CIO 
• CDO 
• CISO 
• Head/VP -IT 
• Head/VP-Marketing and Sales