IBC’s Thriving Dragons & Digital Dragons Awards 2026 Celebrate Leadership, Learning and Digital Excellence

Mumbai, July 3, 2026: The Indian Business Council (IBC) successfully hosted Thriving Dragons 2026, themed "Where Leadership, Learning & Digital Excellence Converge," bringing together leading HR professionals, marketing experts, industry leaders, and academicians for a day of insightful discussions, keynote sessions, and recognition of excellence in digital marketing through the prestigious Digital Dragons Awards 2026.

The event was supported by K J Somaiya Institute of Management as the Knowledge Partner, the Rotaract Club of Thane Suburban as the Youth Partner, and Being Networks as the Community Partner.

The summit opened with a keynote address by Snehalata Deshmukh, CHRO of Naval Group India and President of the Rotary Club of Thane Suburban. Speaking on "The Future of Workforce Readiness & Learning," she highlighted the importance of building inclusive, future-ready workplaces through effective talent management, continuous learning, and leadership development. She emphasized that organizations must invest in people and skills to remain competitive in an evolving business environment.

During the inaugural session, K J Somaiya Institute of Management was presented with a Special Award for Exemplary Contribution to the Field of Higher Education in recognition of its role in academic excellence and industry collaboration.

A panel discussion titled "From Learning to Performance: Closing the Readiness Gap" featured senior HR leaders from leading organizations including Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), Reliance Jio, Alkyl Amines Chemicals Limited, Prama Hikvision India, Tata Group, and K J Somaiya Institute of Management. The discussion focused on bridging the gap between learning initiatives and workplace performance while preparing professionals for future industry demands.

The second half of the event shifted focus to marketing and digital transformation. Subhobroto Chakraborty, Founder of TDF Management Consulting and advisor to organizations including the World Bank, delivered a keynote on "AI, Influence and the Future of Brand Building." He discussed the growing role of artificial intelligence in marketing, customer engagement, and brand strategy.

The keynote was followed by an engaging panel discussion featuring experts from Pernod Ricard India, MOC Cancer Care Research Centre, Fourth Dimension Media, and K J Somaiya Institute of Management. Panelists explored how AI is transforming digital communication, consumer behaviour, and brand-building strategies across industries.

One of the highlights of the event was the Digital Dragons Awards 2026, which celebrated excellence in digital marketing across multiple categories. Awards were presented to agencies, brands, and organizations for outstanding achievements in search marketing, content marketing, social media campaigns, healthcare marketing, real estate campaigns, insurance marketing, B2B digital campaigns, performance marketing, website development, and user experience.

Among the major winners were Infidigit, Sattva Group, Lulu Group India, VML, KNOLSKAPE, and several other leading organizations that demonstrated innovation and excellence in digital marketing.

The event also honoured outstanding professionals for their contributions to the industry. Viren Vesuwala received the Digital Person of the Year award, Dinesh Shetty was named Digital Influencer of the Year, Aniket Dhuri won Digital Marketer of the Year, while Milan Nakrani was recognised as Best Digital Marketing Leader (Veteran Category). Infidigit was honoured with the prestigious Agency of the Year award.

Organised under the banner of the Indian Business Council (IBC), the event reinforced the importance of collaboration between business leaders, educators, and industry professionals in shaping the future of work, leadership, and digital innovation.

Building on the success of Thriving Dragons 2026, the Indian Business Council announced that it will host the National Awards of Marketing Excellence (NaME) Awards and Summit on October 9, 2026. Entries for the awards are now open, and the event is expected to bring together India's leading marketing professionals to celebrate excellence and innovation across the industry.

Thriving Dragons 2026 concluded with a strong message that leadership, continuous learning, and digital transformation will remain the driving forces behind the future growth of businesses in India.