The Times Leadership Summit – Punjab 2026 was held on February 27, 2026 at Park Plaza, Zirakpur, bringing together an inspiring gathering of industry leaders, educators, entrepreneurs, policymakers, and innovators.
The summit served as a dynamic platform for dialogue, collaboration, and recognition, highlighting the importance of leadership in a rapidly evolving world shaped by technology, innovation, and changing industry landscapes.Designed to celebrate visionary leadership and transformative ideas, the summit encouraged meaningful discussions focused on building a progressive and future-ready society. The evening featured insightful conversations, thought-provoking presentations, and engaging entertainment, creating an intellectually stimulating environment for the audience. The event formally commenced with a welcome address by the anchor Naina, who set the tone for the evening by emphasising the growing importance of leadership in today’s fast-changing world. She highlighted that leadership today goes beyond managing organisations; it requires the ability to adapt, innovate, and inspire teams to work collectively toward meaningful progress.The summit also acknowledged the partners, Powered by Mahindra Electric Origin SUV & Havendaxa Pvt.
Ltd., Associate Partners Cybrain Software Solutions Pvt. Ltd., DNA Dry Fruits, Hospitality Partner Park Plaza Zirakpur & Event Partner 361 Media Corps.
One of the major highlights of the evening was the special appearance of legendary Bollywood actor Gulshan Grover. Popularly known as the ‘Bad Man’ of Bollywood, Grover has built a remarkable career spanning more than four decades with memorable performances in both Indian and international cinema.
Welcomed with enthusiastic applause, he shared insights from his journey in the entertainment industry. Speaking about passion, perseverance, and reinvention, he encouraged the audience to pursue their ambitions with dedication and resilience.
The summit then moved into its inaugural panel discussion titled ‘From Classrooms to Careers: Are We Preparing Students for the Real World?’ The session focused on bridging the gap between academic learning and real-world industry expectations.The panel featured prominent education leaders including Dr. Madhu Chitkara, Co-Founder and Pro-Chancellor of Chitkara University; Ashish Sawhney, Principal of Bal Bharati School Ludhiana; Gurnam Kaur Grewal, Principal of Guru Nanak Public School, Sector 36 Chandigarh; and Ruchi Pant, Founder Director of RAAH Edification.Dr. Madhu Chitkara emphasised the importance of stronger collaboration between universities and industries.
She highlighted that institutions must move beyond traditional teaching methods and integrate practical exposure and emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence into academic learning.Ashish Sawhney spoke about the importance of holistic education at the school level, noting that creativity, critical thinking, and experiential learning play a key role in preparing students for future challenges.
Gurnam Kaur Grewal emphasised the need to introduce life skills such as financial literacy, coding, and entrepreneurship to help students adapt to the evolving global economy. Ruchi Pant further highlighted innovative learning models that encourage collaboration and problem-solving.The summit also featured special presentations by Akhilesh Sharma, Founder and CEO of Havendaxa, and Puneet Verma, Founder and CEO of Cybrain Software Solutions Pvt.
Ltd. Both speakers shared insights on entrepreneurship, technology, and the growing role of artificial intelligence in shaping modern education.
Adding an entertaining touch to the evening, the event concluded with a captivating performance by Rahul Singh, an internationally acclaimed mind reader and illusionist, whose act left the audience amazed.The Times Leadership Summit – Punjab 2026 successfully created a powerful platform for knowledge exchange, inspiration, and collaboration, reinforcing the importance of visionary leadership in shaping a stronger and future-ready India.The honours were presented by Bollywood actor Gulshan Grover, adding star power and glamour to the felicitation ceremony.” List of honours: –
- School Management ERP Software – Puneet Verma, Cybrain Software Solutions Pvt Ltd
- Excellence In Design Education –
Vimi Vansil , IIFD – Indian Institute Of Fashion & Design - Excellence in Education – Kritika Kaushal, Gillco International School
- Excellence in University Education – University of the year 2026- Dr. Madhu Chitkara, Chitkara University,
- Excellent
Trustworthy Brand in Real Estate – Geetanjali Khanna, Rearco Private Limited - Principal of the year – Gurnam Kaur Grewal, Guru Nanak Public School, Sector-36 Chandigarh
- Excellence in Innovation in Education – Parveen Setya, Gurukul Global School
- Change Maker School – Shubham Singla, SOVO International School
- Global Education Icon of the year – Reekrit Serai, Satluj Group of Schools
- Excellence in Innovation in Education, Anees School, Mohali
- Excellence in Innovation in Education – Ashish Sawhney, Bal Bharati Public School, Ludhiana
- Excellence in Early Childhood Care and Education – Sonia and Agamdeep Singh, Tiny Tots Foundation School
- Visionary Entrepreneur in Real Estate – Gurnav Bhatti, GB Realty
- Excellence in Pre-School Education – Ruchi Pant, Birla Open Minds Preschool
- Excellence in Restaurant Business – Rajesh Oberoi,
Vainavin the Bake Inn Pvt Ltd - Excellence in All-Round Education – Gurvinder Sohi & Neha Singh, Aravali International School, Panchkula
- Innovation & Holistic Development in Early Childhood Education – Shikha Goyal, The Nurtuary Preschool
- Iconic Real Estate Consultancy – Hiimaanshu Pant and Binu Aggarwal, Epique Real Ventures
- Excellence in innovation in education – Capt. Sanjay Anand and Sunita Anand, Doon Public School Panchkula
- Hall of Fame in Reproductive Medicine – Dr. Rakhi Goyal, Birla Fertility & IVF
- Excellence in Spiritual Courses – Resham Kamboj
- Change Maker School, Manav Singla – Brookfield International School
- Excellence in Event Management – Sachin Arora & Tarun Nagpal, Acumen Business Solutions
- Hall of Fame in Obstetrics & Gynecology – Dr. Navdeep Kaur, Motherhood Hospital
- Excellence in Marketing – Sudhir Kumar, Zenith Ad World
- Excellence Wedding and Events Hotel – Chef Arvind Kumar, Park Plaza Zirakpur
The research conducted for Times Seaboard Summit 2025 was aimed at identifying the top inspiring leaders in various categories. The process involved desk research, a factual factual survey, and follow-up through various channels to arrive at the final results. Disclaimer – The above content is non-editorial, and TIL hereby disclaims any and all warranties, expressed or implied, relating to it, and does not guarantee, vouch for or necessarily endorse any of the content.
