8 Visionaries Who Are Shaping The Future

From pursuing their passions with unabashed determination to paving the way for novel business models that bridge market gaps, these 8 visionaries are revolutionising entrepreneurship.   

Anjali Balan, Founder & CEO of Svech 

An avid yoga practitioner herself, Anjali Balan is the founder and CEO of Svech, an e-commerce platform that caters to yoga mats and accessories. With a law degree to her name, Anjali carried the dream of entrepreneurship since her early days, but the thought of this brand only sprouted in her mind during one of her yoga practices. She wanted to replace her yoga mat but the options available in the market were either environmentally-hazardous plastic mats or sustainable mats that weren’t affordable. Upon seeing that gap in the market, she saw an opportunity for introducing affordable, eco-friendly, and durable yoga mats in the Indian market. Today, as a CEO, Anjali handles all aspects of the brand from finance, and marketing to day-to-day operations.  

Agam Chaudhary, Founder, CEO - Two99 Organization 

With 16 years of experience in technology and marketing, Agam Chaudhary has curated a marketing algorithm that enables brands and agencies to identify enablers to enhance the customer experience and build contributing communities for businesses. He believes that growth and sustenance in any business are possible if the brand takes care of the elements affecting experience and community build-up. The objective of developing this algorithm is to help reduce stress on the brand and agency sides as they get clarity on what needs to be done to ensure a change in a particular business KPI. His dedication and unfettered determination got him the title of the ‘business turn-around’ guy in the industry. Additionally, he was given the "Stars of the Industry Award" by ET Now for excellence in digital marketing.  

Allan Thomas, Founder of Zealbox 

From being a novice fitness enthusiast to transitioning into a certified fitness/life coach role over the last 10 years, the 28-year-young Allan Thomas is also a powerlifter and certified strength and conditioning specialist. He spent his early years pursuing fitness to improve his overall well-being, and soon, it became the core of his life. At 24 years of age, he quit his successful corporate career to be an entrepreneur with Zealbox, the first Cross-functional facility in Powai. To date, he has worked with over 1000+ members in India and across the world. 

He also trains athletes for the leading marathons held in Mumbai as well as expats from around the world. "Although we have very legit athletes at our gym, competition isn't the end goal. We want them to continue to workout & maintain a healthy lifestyle because they love it, rather than pushing them to compete," says Allan. Even during the COVID-19 lockdown, his community of loyal members in India, the USA, UK and Canada continued their daily workouts from the comfort of their homes under his supervision. 

Ankit Agarwal, Co-Founder of Fang Oral Care

Ankit is an entrepreneur from a Mumbai-based business family that’s into pharmaceuticals and leather exports. These businesses, although quite successful, got caught in a growth trap because of their family ownership mindset. Ankit yearned to create an organisation like Apple that is continuously evolving, has no scale limitations and zero dependence on promoters. This is how Fang, a preventive oral care brand that pairs the best ingredients from nature and science was founded. 

Responsible for product development at Fang, Ankit has traveled worldwide and utilised his family’s deep network and experience in the international pharmaceutical industry. 

Fang’s products are designed in California and have stood the scrutiny of highly respected dentists. Ankit envisions Fang becoming the most respected name in the market with operations all over the world and a listing on the Nasdaq 100. 

Kshama Chapkhanawalla, CEO of SOL Brand Solutions  

SOL Brand Solutions is a global exhibitions agency that is the name behind some of the most well-designed and beautifully executed exhibition booths across the world. Kshama, who holds a master’s in Business Design has been a part of the industry for over a decade now and has traveled extensively to understand how booths are built in various geographies. She believes that while exhibitions in India are a great impetus to business and economy, they also have a significant impact on the environment. 

So, on one hand, while she is developing processes to ensure superior finishes in exhibitions, on the other hand, she is also looking to develop modular, portable and reusable exhibition systems within the company. She believes that these systems will be the future of exhibitions globally and in the near future, India could also be a hub for creating these innovative systems and offering them to the world.  

Pooja Gogia, Director of Shakkr 

Pooja's entrepreneurial journey started early in her life when she proposed unique marketing ideas and engaging campaigns for her family-run ventures. It was her success in these endeavors that boosted her self-confidence and led her to pursue Shakkr full-time, which specializes in luxury Indian traditional sweets and packaging solutions. Pooja is also an Instagram influencer who inspires women who want to start their own businesses. 

Her passion for business and her dedication to delivering premium-quality products have contributed to Shakkr’s continuous growth and success. Today, she is an inspiration to young entrepreneurs and a role model for women who want to make a difference in the business world. Undoubtedly, her success is a testament to her unwavering ambition, drive, and business acumen that she infuses into every aspect of her business. 

Dr Rajat Gupta, Board-Certified Plastic Surgeon 

Dr. Rajat Gupta is a visionary in the field of cosmetic surgery in India. With over 12 years of experience as a board-certified plastic surgeon, he has become a trusted name for patients seeking the most natural and elegant-looking results with minimal recovery time. He has gained a reputation as a skilled surgeon who tailors his techniques to his patients' specific desires while delivering stunning results. Dr Gupta's passion for his work and his unwavering commitment to his patients have set him apart as one of the most innovative and skilled cosmetic surgeons in India. 

As the National Director at the prestigious CK Birla, Rosewalk and Excel Hospital, he continues to push the boundaries of cosmetic surgery to achieve superlative results for his patients. He is also a sought-after speaker at international conferences and has been appointed to the advisory board of Realself, making him the first Indian Surgeon to be appointed to this position. He is also the National Secretary for the Indian Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons (IAAPS), where he works tirelessly to promote the highest standards of patient care in India. 

Sanjana Raghu, Co-Founder of PHASES 

A passionate advocate of natural remedies for skin woes, Sanjana Raghu is an MBA who also holds a diploma in natural skincare from the School of Natural Skincare and a certificate in anti-ageing from Formula Botanica. Years ago, when she was set to find the right skincare products for her teenage daughter, she faced immense disappointment. Most of the solutions available in the market were laden with chemicals and were not suitable for her daughter. As a mother, she realized that this is a common issue faced by millions of mothers in India who want to find safe skincare for their teenage children. That’s when she and her husband started a plastic-neutral skincare brand for teenagers, which is now known as PHASES.  

Phases products are available at their official website, amazon & suspire. They have partnered with recircle and recycle more plastic than they would use and are on a tree plantation mission to contribute towards building a greener planet.