Sita Pallacholla is a founder, technologist, investment specialist, and global advocate for women’s empowerment and entrepreneurship. As the CEO of WE Hub – India’s first state government led organisation to support women entrepreneurs, she brings two decades of experience in building entrepreneurial ecosystems, mobilising capital, and driving impact that transcends borders and sectors.

Under her leadership, WE Hub has evolved into both a policy think-tank and a robust on- ground implementation engine, transforming the lives of women across all 33 districts of

Telangana. Through deep partnerships with government bodies such as SERP and MEPMA, WE Hub’s programs are structured to reach 7.5 million Self-Help Group (SHG) women, creating pathways for economic participation, enterprise creation, and financial independence Sita has championed initiatives that make WE Hub a safe space where first-time founders in the urban areas, rural innovators, and grassroots entrepreneurs feel seen, supported, and equipped to scale their ambitions. This work has earned WE Hub recognition in the 2024–25 Economic Survey of India as a leading example of how government support can catalyse women-led entrepreneurship at scale.

A computer science engineer by training, Sita has founded multiple ventures and managed significant VC portfolios, giving her a unique ability to connect the worlds of policy, capital, and innovation. Her work continues to redefine inclusive innovation and inspire a new generation of changemakers.

Mr. Rajesh Pagadala is the Founder & Managing Director of Pagadala Constructions, a real estate development company delivering luxurious yet affordable homes, and the Founder & CEO of BuildersMart, an omni-channel platform for building and construction materials. Currently serving as the President of the TiE Hyderabad chapter, Rajesh brings visionary leadership to the entrepreneurial ecosystem.

Previously, as Co-Founder & Group MD of the Aditya Group, he spearheaded the development of large-scale residential projects, raising ?1,200 crore in investments and delivering 6.5 million square feet of premium properties across Hyderabad and Visakhapatnam.

Rajesh’s entrepreneurial journey began with establishing and successfully exiting profitable Retail and IT ventures in the USA. His guiding principle:

“Surround yourself with people who constantly inspire you.”

Commodore A. Madhavarao (Retd.)

Chairman & Managing Director, Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL)

Commodore A. Madhavarao (Retd.) assumed charge as CMD of Bharat Dynamics Limited in July 2023. An accomplished leader with 30+ years in the Indian Navy and extensive experience in defence manufacturing, he has been instrumental in driving BDL’s R&D, production, and Atmanirbhar Bharat initiatives in advanced missile systems. A veteran of the Kargil and Parakram operations, he played a pivotal role in the induction of nuclear submarines, modernization of naval dockyards, and policy planning for the Indian Navy. An alumnus of multiple prestigious institutions, he holds degrees in Engineering, Defence Studies, Finance, and Management.

 Dr. (Smt) Chandrika Kaushik

Director General (Production Coordination & Services Interaction), DRDO

Dr. Chandrika Kaushik, Scientist ‘H’ & Outstanding Scientist, is the Director General of Production Coordination & Services Interaction (PC & SI), DRDO, since June 2022. A distinguished leader in defence research, she has made significant contributions to advancing India’s strategic programmes and fostering collaboration between production agencies and the Armed Forces.

Dr. G. Satheesh Reddy

Member, National Security Advisory Board (NSAB) | Former Scientific Adviser to Raksha Mantri | Former Chairman, DRDO

Dr. G. Satheesh Reddy is a renowned defence and aerospace scientist with over four decades of contributions to India’s strategic programmes and R&D ecosystem. He has led premier organisations including DRDO, ADA, and the Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam Missile Complex, spearheading advancements in missiles and avionics. Currently a Member of NSAB and President of the Aeronautical Society of India, Dr. Reddy continues to shape India’s science, technology, and defence policy landscape.

A seasoned technology leader with over 25 years of experience, Jay Jenkins spearheads Akamai’s technological advancements and strategic initiatives with customers as the CTO of Cloud Computing. Jay and his team research and study the current and future impact of distributed cloud technologies to help organizations across the globe. His deep understanding and pragmatic approach enable him to co-create effective transformations with customers.

A highly sought-after speaker and thought leader in the tech industry, Jay regularly shares his insights at conferences, workshops, and industry events. His visionary leadership, strategic acumen, and ability to translate complex technical concepts into clear and actionable insights captivate audiences and leave them with valuable takeaways.

Jay has an MBA from the University of Chicago Booth and was the Tech Strategist and Evangelist at both ByteDance and Google.

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Kiran Gadela

Co-Founder & Managing Director, Oasis Fertility

Kiran Gadela is the Co-Founder and MD of Oasis Fertility, a leading chain of IVF and fertility centers in India. A first-generation entrepreneur with 25+ years of experience, he has spent the last 15 years scaling Oasis into a premier institution in reproductive health. An INSEAD alumnus, Kiran previously led technology transformation projects for global investment banks in London and now also invests in IT and health tech ventures. He is an active member of YPO and EO, Hyderabad chapters.

Namita brings deep expertise in the intersection of policy, innovation, and technology in education and leads the edtech narrative in India.

Prior to joining Enzia, Namita worked for Omidyar Network India where she led thesis, strategy and investment in education. Namita’s investment portfolio includes companies such as WhiteHat Jr., Vedantu, Doubtnut, Uolo and Masai School. 

Starting her education career with policy research at National Knowledge Commission, she developed deep insights into India’s education policies and ground realities across the country. At Central Square Foundation, where she was a founding member, she incubated and launched several edtech initiatives, as well as supported central and state governments on their edtech platforms and policies. 

Namita’s varied experience across policy and investing has helped her obtain a deep understanding of multi-stakeholder interaction. She brings this combination to investment and ecosystem strategy at Enzia. 

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Namita is an engineer from IIT-B and holds an MBA from Stanford Graduate School of Business, USA.

Sanchayan Chakraborty is a partner at Aavishkaar Capital, where he manages a South and Southeast Asia-focused Frontier Fund, is on the investment committee of Aavishkaar’s latest India fund, and leads Aavishkaar’s climate investment initiatives, including a specific focus on carbon credits and nature-based solutions. With over two decades of experience in investment banking and fund management across Asia and the Middle East, Sanchayan brings a wealth of knowledge to the table. Prior to his tenure at Aavishkaar, he held key roles in leveraged and acquisition ?nance at Standard Chartered Bank and led mergers and acquisitions and project ?nance franchises for Bank of America, ING Barings, and ING Vysya Bank.

Representing Aavishkaar on the boards of investee companies in Bangladesh and Sri Lanka, Sanchayan is deeply committed to driving sustainable growth in emerging markets. With academic credentials from IIM Bangalore and IIT Kharagpur, Sanchayan blends theoretical knowledge with practical insights to make a lasting impact.

As a mentor, Sanchayan offers startups strategic guidance and hands-on support in navigating the complexities of sustainability. His expertise in early-stage equity and investment banking enables him to assist startups in securing funding and structuring deals aligned with their sustainability goals. Furthermore, his extensive experience in managing portfolios across diverse regions positions him as a valuable resource for startups seeking to scale regionally and globally while staying true to their sustainability mission.

Sita Pallacholla is a founder, technologist, investment specialist, and global advocate for women’s empowerment and entrepreneurship. As the CEO of WE Hub – India’s first state government led organisation to support women entrepreneurs, she brings two decades of experience in building entrepreneurial ecosystems, mobilising capital, and driving impact that transcends borders and sectors.

Under her leadership, WE Hub has evolved into both a policy think-tank and a robust on- ground implementation engine, transforming the lives of women across all 33 districts of

Telangana. Through deep partnerships with government bodies such as SERP and MEPMA, WE Hub’s programs are structured to reach 7.5 million Self-Help Group (SHG) women, creating pathways for economic participation, enterprise creation, and financial independence Sita has championed initiatives that make WE Hub a safe space where first-time founders in the urban areas, rural innovators, and grassroots entrepreneurs feel seen, supported, and equipped to scale their ambitions. This work has earned WE Hub recognition in the 2024–25 Economic Survey of India as a leading example of how government support can catalyse women-led entrepreneurship at scale.

A computer science engineer by training, Sita has founded multiple ventures and managed significant VC portfolios, giving her a unique ability to connect the worlds of policy, capital, and innovation. Her work continues to redefine inclusive innovation and inspire a new generation of changemakers.

Smt. Nidhi Bansal

Directorate of Technology Development Fund (TDF), DRDO

Smt. Nidhi Bansal has been serving as Director of the Technology Development Fund (TDF), DRDO, since March 2020. An engineering graduate from PEC Chandigarh, she has been leading initiatives to foster innovation, indigenization, and industry–academia collaboration in defence technology development.