Winners Announced for the Coveted Dare to Dream Awards 2022

SAP India and TV9 Network joined hands to recognize a total of 57 companies and individuals on the national platform.

The Dare to Dream Awards 2022 culminated in a star-studded event at the Taj Lands End, Mumbai on November 16^th. With key policymakers, thought leaders from the industry and media, experts, and other inspiring voices gracing the occasion, it was as much a forum for insights-sharing as celebrating the winners.

The inaugural session featured Rahul Singh (VP and Head of Marketing, SAP India Subcontinent) and Nitika Das (Sr. Director, Brand, Midmarket and Business Marketing, SAP India) who spoke about the evolution of the awards and the theme for this year is focused on new India’s pioneers. They were joined on the dais by Rajeev Singh (Vice President, Midmarket and Emerging Business, SAP Indian Subcontinent) and Raktim Das (Chief Growth Officer, TV9 Network).

The guest of honour, Shri. Bhanu Pratap Singh Verma (Minister of State in the Ministry of MSMEs, Govt. of India) delivered the opening address, setting the stage for the event. He spoke about the impact that MSMEs have had in every field, from helping the country overcome the pandemic to creating India’s bright economic prospects. He expressed his confidence in the MSME sector fulfilling the Atmanirbhar Bharat vision and Govt. initiatives like Make in India. He also recognized the importance of these awards in inspiring business leaders to create a digital-first culture, adopt innovative ideas, and fulfill the dreams of a new India. To quote his words, “Everyone in India is aware of the contribution of the MSME sector (Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises) to the growth of the country. The making of INS Vikrant is a great example of how vital the contributions of the MSME sector are.”

With four engaging panel discussions covering crucial topics of digital transformation, raising capital, dynamic enterprise, and compassionate capitalism, there were many key takeaways for the attendees. Rajeev Singh spoke at length about how SMEs can play a significant role in fuelling the country’s growth aspirations in the exclusive panel discussion on ‘Digital Transformation Powering India’s March to 2047’. Talking about translating the promoters’ vision into reality by exploring 3 broad themes, he said, “ The moment MSMEs start to see digital transformation as an investment eating into their profits, that’s when they’re going wrong. The only way you can operate in the same space (as the larger players) or go global, in the shortest possible time is with digital transformation. The larger organisations had the financial muscle power to build distribution systems, go abroad and hire the best talent. Today, with digital transformation, MSMEs can be on the same pedestal and compete with the largest companies.”

Sandeep Chandna (Chief Sustainability Officer, Tech Mahindra) spoke about bringing profit and the planet together, and how SAP and Tech Mahindra are collaborating to build technologies that can enable sustainable development. He said, “In these last 15 years, we have documented, and we have learned in our own way the best ESG practices. We have now started going back to our customers, saying that this is our learning, and these are the things we can help you implement in your ESG journey.”

Subramanian Ananthapadmanabhan (SVP – Midmarket, SAP APJ) shared his perspective on the digital-first mindset driving growth among SMEs. He gave an interesting timeline of how SAP has been engaging with SMEs for value creation through 5 key programs over the past 5 years – Growth Matters Forum, Global Bharat Movement, Mentors of Global Bharat, Transformation Express, and finally the Dare to Dream Awards. Tying these initiatives together, he told the audience, “Since the time Covid has happened, the market has been changing so rapidly, that we’ve had to increase our efforts to come up with new campaigns, to be more relevant and ensure that we are there when it matters to you.”

An insightful conversation with Uday Samant (Minister of Industries, Govt. of Maharashtra) shed light on the latest Govt. initiatives to enable business such as the hydrogen and electric vehicle policy for instance, and how Maharashtra is becoming a role model for other states when it comes to industrial growth. In the Minister’s words, “We have one focus, that we get more industries to invest in Maharashtra, be it IT sector industries or automobile industries. We understand that industries want states to give them a red-carpet welcome. We’re now giving surety to industries and companies to give them more benefits than other states, be it concessions in water, land, electricity, or other incentives.”

The ceremony also featured a special session by Devendra Jhajharia, Paralympics Champion, Padma Bhushan, Padma Shri, and Arjuna Award for Athletics, who motivated the dignitaries with his truly inspiring journey. From how he was mocked while first trying to throw the javelin to following his dream with conviction and courage, reaching the greatest heights as an athlete – the first Indian para-athlete to win two gold medals at Paralympics. In his words, “I always make an effort to win more and more medals for my county to bring it more honour and respect worldwide. That is all I ever try to do.”

As India continues to rise and establish its leadership on the global stage, the business community has been a key driver of this growth and transformation. The Dare to Dream Awards 2022 celebrates business champions and trailblazing organizations that are driving innovation and setting new benchmarks for the industry.

Coming to the awards, across three main categories – Organizational Awards, Dare to Dream Special Recognition and Individual Awards, 57 recognitions were decided by the eminent jury panel. Having received nominations from across India, these pioneering companies and leaders were announced as winners at the Grand Awards Ceremony.

The prestigious Company of the Year Awards recognize organizations from diverse industries that have demonstrated all-round success, be it in business performance, green initiatives, social impact, Make in India initiative, and others.

In the individual category, awards were conferred on the ‘Young Leader of the Year’, ‘Woman Entrepreneur of the Year’, and ‘Business Leader of the Year’. These exceptional individuals at the helm have been responsible for steering their organizations to greater heights.

This year also saw the addition of the Dare to Dream Special Recognition where a set of companies were recognized for their outstanding achievements, embodying the spirit and theme of these awards.