Why are so many international companies flocking to India? What are the opportunities they seek? How can they overcome the barriers to entry? These are just some of the questions that will be answered in this session by Donald Trump Jr. With his vast experience in leading operations all over the world for The Trump Organization, Donald will elaborate on leadership qualities required to succeed in vastly different cultural environments.

Speaker : Donald Trump Jr. (Executive Vice President, Development & Acquisitions, The Trump Organization)

Tom Peters, among the most influential management gurus of today, will tackle one of the most pressing issues on every CEO’s mind –‘how to win the war for talent?’ Competition for talent is aggressive and the current shortage of skilled human capital, along with rising labour costs, is forcing companies to revisit their existing efforts in recruiting, training, developing and retaining employees. Success will come to those organisations who can convert this challenge into a competitive advantage.

Speaker : Tom Peters (Author & Management Guru)

A solid mergers and acquisitions strategy helps your company gain a competitive advantage and create shareholder value. M&A activity over the last 10 years has run at unparalleled altitudes. Yet many acquisitions fail. Deals that were supposed to create great value for the organisation end up destroying value. Why? Acquisitions are complex and difficult to execute and manage successfully. This session will address how Mergers and Acquisitions will help you develop and implement successful strategies for your M&As, and gain the competitive edge.

Speakers : Bob Charles (Managing Director, Watson Wyatt Asia Pacific), Wim Elfrink (Executive Vice President & Chief Globalisation Officer, Cisco Services), Kirsty Wilson (Global Co-Head, Post Acquisition Integration Practice, Baker & McKenzie)

The global financial crisis, brewing for a while, really started to show its effects in the middle of 2008 and into 2009. Around the world stock markets have fallen, large financial institutions have either collapsed or been bought out, and governments in even the wealthiest nations have had to come up with rescue packages to bail out their financial systems. This panel discussion will address those elements warranted for a sound, successful, and sustainable financial leadership framework that will drive financial growth in the 21st century.

Speakers : Tejpreet S. Chopra (President and CEO, GE - India); Dinesh Keskar (President, Boeing India); Dr. Mukesh Aghi (Chairman and CEO, Steria India); Kiran Shetty (Regional Vice President– India, Western Union Financial Services)

Inspirational sporting icons will share their insights on leadership, teamwork and perseverance. Find out what business can learn from the world of sports.

Speakers : Narain Karthikeyan (One, A1GP and LeMans Series driver)

A panel of CEOs from highly innovative companies will underline how organisations may identify, nurture and maximise their intellectual capital and talent to meet the growing demand for knowledge-based services. Previously, innovation had been largely associated with the IT sector but this session will reveal how organisations across different industries are successfully implementing creativity and innovation to drive their business.

Speakers :D. Shivakumar (MD, Nokia India); Kanwalinder Singh (president, Qualcomm India and South Asia and senior vice president, Qualcomm Inc); Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw (Chairman & Managing Director, Biocon Limited)

Adi Godrej, one of the most admired business leaders of India, will share his secrets of long term prosperity. He will focus on how businesses must change with time and learn to adapt their policies and practices to stay competitive.

Speaker : Adi Godrej (Chairman, Godrej Group)

All innovations are triggered by ideas. Some have assumed that there are no scientific ways of generating ideas for new product development, creativity, innovation, design thinking and concept development. Hence, ideas are usually left to the spark of a genius or the intuitive abilities of a select few. Many organisations resort to ‘trial and error’ in the absence of a systematic approach. This workshop will introduce you to the ‘Idea Clock’ - a unique model developed by Pravin Rajpal that will allow you to ‘ideate’ in a systematic yet unconventional method, using scientific principles of creativity and innovation.

Speakers : Pravin Rajpal (Author & Global Innovation Thought Leader, FICCI)

India's outward foreign direct investments for the last 3 years, have topped USD 45 billion; a clear sign of India Inc's growing confidence. With a stable, re-elected Government and strong economic fundamentals, India plays an important role as a foreign investor in many regions. In this panel, hear from some of the leading destinations which are of significant strategic importance for India Inc's growing appetite for competing at a global level.

Speakers: Simon Galpin (Director-General of Investment Promotion, InvestHK); Sharon Bamford (Chief Executive, UKIBC)

Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw, an inspirational entrepreneur and pioneer of the biotech industry in India, will speak on the making of an entrepreneur. Through a personal account of her journey to success, Kiran will highlight how she overcame the challenges of setting up a business in a new industry, and how governments and private organisations may foster a culture of innovation and entrepreneurship for the next generation.

Speaker : Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw (Chairman & Managing Director, Biocon Limited)

Hear from some of the most inspiring and passionate leaders that are making an impact on global business and society at large. Learn about their vision and their views on the environment for entrepreneurs in India and the hottest sectors, as they will pave the way forward.

Speakers : Raman Roy (Chairman & MD, Quatrro); Dharti Desai (Co-founder & CEO, Regency Direct Marketing); Abhi Shah (CEO, Clutch Group); Sushil Handa (Group Founder, Abellon CleanEnergy)

Moderator : Sara Sidner, International Correspondent, CNN

Steve Forbes, a revered businessman, politician and economist will speak on the rise of India as a new super power and its future role in the world economy. He will answer key questions on India’s long term prospects. Is the growth sustainable? What are the opportunities for India’s development? How can India maximise on its young population and manpower? How can India encourage more FDI? What steps can be taken to improve India’s current business environment?

Speaker : Steve Forbes (CEO, Forbes Inc)

The Leaders in India Executive Symposium 2009 provides the rare opportunity for delegates and speakers to take part in an exclusive, closed door round table discussion at the end of the event wherein the agreed recommendations and findings will be published for the benefit of the wider business community, and submitted to the Ministries of Commerce and Finance.

Conditions for ‘Leaders Executive Symposium’ Application:

1. Applicants must be organisational heads viz. CEOs, MDs, Presidents, Chairmen.
2. Leaders Club Pass holders have guaranteed eligibility for selection.
3. A maximum of 18 applicants who register before 31 July 2009, will be selected and these names will be published on the website two weeks prior to the event and notified via fax/email.