Event Category: Virtual
April 09, 2025 | Virtual
Anushka Shah, Manager – Trade Policy and Critical & Emerging Technologies in conversation with Mark Linscott, Senior Advisor – USISPF, Former AUSTR on the implications of the Trump administration’s Executive Order on Reciprocal Tariffs and what it means for India’s trade trajectory and ongoing discussions on a Bilateral Trade Agreement (BTA).
Monday, February 03, 2025 | Virtual
USISPF hosted an engaging and insightful Virtual Post-Budget Interaction and Analysis Session in collaboration with PWC India, featuring some of the most distinguished voices in the industry.
The discussion brought together experts to analyze the key budgetary announcements, and their implications for businesses and the economy. Our esteemed panel included:
- Tarun Bajaj – Former Secretary, Government of India & Chairperson, US-India Tax Forum
- Pranjul Bhandari– MD, Chief India & ASEAN Economist, HSBC
- Dharmakirti Joshi – Chief Economist, Crisil
- Radhika R., Senior Economist, Executive Director, Economics & Strategy Research at DBS Bank Singapore;
- Malachy Nugent – VP, Financial Services & Head of Research, USISPF
- The session was masterfully moderated by Sanjay Tolia, Partner at PWC India
The discussion covered a wide range of themes, including fiscal policies and their macroeconomic implications, the role of private capital expenditure in driving growth, and the government’s focus on strengthening key economic engines such as manufacturing, infrastructure, and digital transformation. Experts also examined how supply-side interventions—such as improvements in logistics, supply chain resilience, and production-linked incentives (PLI)—can create a sustained demand push. A major highlight was the emphasis on employment generation and skilling initiatives, ensuring that India’s workforce is prepared for the demands of an evolving economy. The session also delved into how targeted policy interventions and regulatory reforms can boost investor confidence and unlock new opportunities for businesses. A big thank you to our speakers and attendees for making this an insightful and thought-provoking discussion.
Wednesday, December 11, 2024 | Virtual
Creating and strengthening resilient supply chains is a core priority for both Washington and New Delhi, as India works to strengthen its manufacturing economy.
On this topic, USISPF hosted a webinar titled “US-India Partnership for Secure Supply Chains and High-Tech Manufacturing”.
We were delighted to feature Ambassador Eric Garcetti, the U.S. Ambassador to India, Mr. Nelson Cunningham, Senior Advisor to the Under Secretary for Economic Growth, Energy and Environment at the U.S. Department of State to give the U.S. Government perspective.
Special Remarks by Shri. Sushil Pal, Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MEITy) to give the Government of India perspective.
We had industry insight from:
- SUJOY GHOSH, Vice-President & Country Managing Director, India, First Solar
- Josh Foulger, President- Electronics, Zetwerk Manufacturing
- Dr. Sundar Kamath, Senior Vice-President & Chief Technology Officer, Sanmina
- Amit Paithankar , CEO, Waaree Energies Ltd – International Business
- Harish Krishnan, Managing Director & Chief Policy Officer- India & SAARC, Cisco
- Santhosh Muzumdar, Director – Government Relations and Sustainability, Johnson Controls, India
USISPF President and CEO, Dr. Mukesh Aghi moderated the session.
Thursday, December 05, 2024 | Virtual
The session titled “U.S.-India Energy Ties under the Trump Administration”, touched on consolidating the U.S.-India energy partnership and closer public-private sector synergy to solve pressing issues in the energy space.
Thursday, November 21 | Virtual
The session featured Dr. Jennifer (Jen) Leisch, Co-lead, Climate, Energy, and Water, International Development Practice, Deloitte Consulting as the mentor and was moderated by Ripu Bhanjan Singh at USISPF.
Wednesday, November 20 | Virtual
The session featured Ritika Thakur, Chief Commercial Officer, Honeywell India as the mentor and was moderated by Ripu Bhanjan Singh at USISPF.
Thursday, October 24 | Virtual
Theme: Seizing communication opportunities to raise your public profile.
Session Mentor – Ulka Kelkar, Executive Director, Climate, Economics and Finance, WRI India
Tuesday, October 10 | Virtual
Theme: Finding the strength within: Navigating our own barriers to success.
Session Mentor – Shilpa Gupta, Director – Board Member – GE Renewable Energy Technologies Pvt. Ltd. & Chief Technology Officer – India, GE Vernova
Thursday, September 26, 2024 | Virtual
Key takeaways from our mentorship session: Women founders in the energy sector often face challenges related to gender bias in the funding landscape. However, by focusing on a strong business plan, demonstrating in-depth sector knowledge, and highlighting the innovative and sustainable aspects of their startups, they can increase their chances of securing funding.
Building long-term relationships with investors is also crucial for securing ongoing support and funding. Grateful to our incredible mentor and all the mentees for their openness and participation. For further details or to get involved, contact @ripubhanjan at rsingh@usispf.org
Thursday, September 19, 2024 | Virtual
Key takeaways from our mentorship session: Aspiring leaders irrespective of their industry or gender need to build trust and enforce empathy. Overcoming stereotypes and seeking mentors is crucial for women in the sector.
Effective mentoring and a culture of continuous learning are essential for developing future leaders. Balancing family and career requires prioritization, time management, and organizational support. Addressing unconscious bias is key to promoting gender diversity.
We extend our gratitude to our incredible mentor, Priya Selvaraj, and all the mentees for their openness and participation. For further details or to get involved, contact Ripu at rsingh@usispf.org
Thursday, September 12, 2024 |Virtual
An impactful discussion moderated by Ripu Bhanjan Singhon “Breaking the Glass Ceiling: Navigating Barriers to Leadership”. The session highlighted that to develop strong leadership skills, navigate the VUCA world, balance work and life, and overcome barriers, it is essential to cultivate self-belief, effective communication, strong relationships, continuous learning, adaptability, calculated risk-taking, personal branding, self-care, support networks, boundary setting, awareness of biases, a strong network, visibility, persistence, intelligence, emotional intelligence, diversity quotient, and cultural quotient. By incorporating these key qualities into the career journey, women can achieve their professional goals and become successful leaders.
We extend our gratitude to our incredible mentor, Piya Haldar, and all the mentees for their openness and participation. For further details or to get involved, contact Ripu at rsingh@usispf.org
September 11, 2024 | Virtual
The session highlighted that to navigate career transitions effectively, women need to build resilience and achieve professional goals, it is essential to develop self-awareness, acquire new skills, build strong networks, embrace a growth mindset, prioritize self-care, leverage unique experiences, engage with industry bodies, prepare for global assignments, advocate for diversity and inclusion, and embrace lifelong learning.
By incorporating these key takeaways into one’s career journey, women can effectively navigate transitions, build resilience, and achieve their professional goals. We extend our gratitude to our incredible mentor, Anuja Kadian, and all the mentees for their openness and participation. For further details or to get involved, contact rsingh@usispf.org
September 5 | Virtual
Mr. Harsh Gursahani, Partner at PLR Chambers, provided valuable insights into the framework, registration process, compliance requirements, awareness programs for companies, and the responsibilities of stakeholders.
The session was moderated by Surabhi Wahal, Director, Mumbai and Western Region at USISPF. We extend our sincere thanks to Matteo Vezzosi, Executive Director of the Asia Toy and Play Association, and Mr. Harsh Gursahani for sharing their expertise.
September 3 | Virtual
The first episode explored “The Quad: Looking Forward” on the 20th anniversary of the grouping. The Quad arose from a nebulous grouping focused on catering to relief work in the aftermath of the Indian Ocean Tsunami to now being, a grouping of a $35 trillion dollar set of economics, dedicated to security cooperation, multilateral diplomacy, and economic relief within the Indo-Pacific region. Our webinar featured four experts representing four different Quad countries.
Justin Bassi from ASPI Satu Limaye from East-West Center Manjeet Kripalani from Gateway House Ken Moriyasu from Nikkei AsiaThe discussion was moderated by Akshobh from USISPF. Stay tuned for updates on our second edition.
Thuesday, August 29. 2024 | Virtual
Gauri Jauhar at SPGlobal led an impactful discussion on ” Navigating the Energy Transition: Opportunities for Women Leaders in a Complex and Evolving Industry”.
The session addressed the challenges faced by women, especially those without engineering backgrounds, in the evolving energy sector. Gauri touched on strategies for overcoming these obstacles including leveraging unique skillsets, building strong networks, and developing executive presence.
The session focused on the importance of staying informed about the latest industry trends and the evolving technology landscape. Mentees from across South Asia, representing aspiring women leaders from various sectors, public, private, think tanks, and academia attended the session. We extend our gratitude to our incredible mentor, Gauri Jauhar, and all the mentees. For further details or to get involved, contact Ripu Bhanjan at rsingh@usispf.org.
Thursday, August 22, 2024 | Virtual
A session on how American businesses and companies can deepen their commercial partnership in the agriculture and healthcare sector in the state of UP. Our special thanks to: Shri. Abhishek Prakash, CEO, Invest UP. Dr. GN Singh, Advisor to Hon. CM of UP, Shri. Yogi Adityanath, and former DCGI. Dr. Mohit Kumar Singh, Deputy Director, State Institute of Health and Family Welfare and State Nodal for the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission UP. Shri Ravinder, Principal Secretary, Agriculture. Dr. KV Raju, Advisor to Hon. CM of UP Shri. Yogi Adityanath. Thank you to our members for an engaging discussion.
Wednesday, August 14, 2024 | Virtual
We’re excited to wrap up the second session of this year’s SAWIE Mentorship Series.
Key Takeaways from the session:
Leading with Empathy in a Hierarchical and Toxic Environment: Communicate Effectively: Present your arguments clearly and back them with data and statistics. Authenticity and logical reasoning are crucial, especially for women facing unconscious bias. Balance Emotions and Logic: While empathy is important, a logical approach often prevails in hierarchical settings. Understand that you have limited control over outcomes and focus on presenting your case effectively.
Objectivity vs. Empathy: Build Relationships: Foster strong, honest relationships with peers. Transition from a transactional approach to one that adds value beyond immediate business interests. Add Value: Aim to make a meaningful impact rather than focusing solely on business transactions. This approach encourages long-term collaboration and trust. Empathy and Emotional Intelligence: Interrelation and Leadership: Understanding Empathy and Emotional Intelligence: Emotional intelligence involves making tough decisions and managing personal biases. Recognize when to distance yourself from familiar work dynamics to maintain objectivity. Handling Difficult Decisions: Understand that making difficult decisions is part of leadership. Sometimes, it’s necessary to cut ties gradually while being polite and maintaining boundaries. Navigating Emotional Abuse in the Workplace: Recognize Emotional Abuse: Acknowledge that emotional abuse affects you, but focus on what you can control – your reactions and effective strategies. Strategies for Management: Consider speaking directly to the person involved, consulting HR, or evaluating your own behavior and reactions. Maintain professionalism, minimize unnecessary interactions, and focus on objective work. Enhancing Emotional Intelligence (EI): Self-Awareness: Regularly assess your strengths and weaknesses to improve self-awareness. This practice is essential for building better relationships and managing workplace toxicity. Feedback Handling: Approach feedback constructively rather than defensively. Use it as a tool for personal and professional growth. This can happen only if you are self-aware. Behavioral Indicators of Emotionally Intelligent Leaders: Managing Conflict: Emotionally intelligent leaders recognize when to de-escalate a conversation to avoid conflict. They address issues when emotions have settled, allowing for more rational discussions. Self-Awareness and Control: They are aware of their own behavior, including knowing when to refrain from raising their voice and how to manage interactions effectively. Growth Mindset and Emotional Intelligence: Forward-Looking Perspective: A growth mindset focuses on learning from failures and moving forward constructively. This mindset aligns with emotional intelligence, which emphasizes learning and adaptability over dwelling on past setbacks. Developing Personal and Professional Skills: Time Management and Delegation: Enhance time management skills, especially in the digital age. Learn to delegate tasks effectively to focus on higher-priority responsibilities. Continuous Learning: Re-skill and upskill to stay relevant in your career. Observe role models and learn from their experiences to navigate the corporate environment more effectively. Building Your Personal Brand: Develop strong communication skills and manage your online presence to build a professional reputation. Dealing with Stress and New Challenges: Acceptance and Vulnerability: It’s okay to feel stressed and overwhelmed, especially when new to a system. Accepting vulnerability and seeking support is part of personal growth. Resilience: Understand that falling, failing, and faltering are part of the process. Persistence and resilience are key to overcoming challenges and achieving growth. We extend our gratitude to our incredible mentor, Shruti Swaroop, and all the mentees for their openness and participation. Meet the Mentees: Nitisha Agarwal at Smokeless Cookstove Foundation, Ina Bansal at Lockheed Martin, Nidhi Prabha, Ph.D from USAID at South Asia Regional Energy Partnership (SAREP) at RTI International, Nusrat Jahan Chowdhury at H&M, Poonam Doshi at Reliance Industries Limited, Musharrat Bidita and Baishakhi Barua from USAID Bangladesh Advancing Development and Growth through Energy (BADGE) Project at Tetra Tech, and Preety Sannyashi at USAID India Interested in learning more and engaging with@SouthAsiaWomen1? Reach out to @ripubhanjan at rsingh@usispf.org
Friday, August 09, 2024 | Virtual
Dr. Geoffrey Macdonald from U.S. Institute of Peace and Pramit Pal Chaudhuri from the Eurasia Group expounded on the political vacuum, great power competition in the region, and what the economic future holds for Bangladesh. Discussion moderated by Akshobh Giridharadas
Thursday, August 8, 2024 | Virtual
Key takeaways from the session: Balancing Career and Family
- Partnership is essential: A supportive spouse is crucial for navigating career challenges while managing family commitments. Open communication about career goals and expectations is key.
- Prioritize and be strategic: Ruthless prioritization is necessary to balance work and family life. Sometimes, stepping back can be a strategic move to propel your career forward.
- Challenge societal norms: Break free from the “nice girl” stereotype and be assertive in your career aspirations.
Career Growth and Development
- Long-term perspective: View your career as a marathon, not a sprint. Focus on steady progress rather than immediate gratification.
- Continuous learning: Embrace a non-linear career path. Be open to new opportunities and be willing to upskill or reskill as needed.
- Networking and mentorship: Increase your professional network and seek out mentors who can provide guidance and support.
Overcoming Challenges
- Sabbaticals: Recognize that career breaks are a normal part of life for many women and advocate for supportive company policies.
- Time management: Effective time management is crucial for juggling multiple responsibilities. Break down large tasks into smaller, manageable steps.
- Self-advocacy: Be confident in your abilities and advocate for yourself in the workplace. Your work should speak for itself.
We extend our gratitude to our incredible mentor,
Aditi Jha, and all the mentees for their openness and participation. Meet the Mentees:
Pallavi Kunchage at Plug Power Inc., Anusha Baruah at Grid-India, Swasti Raizada at IISD Energy ; S.Amirthavalli at npti neyveli; Neha Mittal at Lanza Tech ; Roshani Thakare at Mahindra Susten; Sandhya Sundar at Caterpillar Inc.
Interested in learning more and engaging with SAWIE? Reach out to Ripu Bhanjan Singh at rsingh@usispf.org.
Wednesday, July 24, 2024 | Virtual
The session was moderated by Sanjay Tolia, Partner, Price Waterhouse & Co LLP, featuring, Mr. Tarun Bajaj, the Former Secretary, of GOI, and Chairperson of the US-India Tax Forum, Mr. DK Joshi Chief Economist, CRISIL Limited, Mr. Mukesh Butani, Managing Partner BMR Legal Advocates and Advocate and Advisor – US-India Tax Forum and Pranjul Bhandari, MD, Chief India Economist; Asean Economist, HSBC.
Our stellar panel provided riveting insights and a deep dive into what the #Budget 2024-25 presented by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and what it means for India.
Our panel touched on the macroeconomic landscape, sector outlook from manufacturing to services, import and export figures, tax policies, and broader GDP outlook as India seeks to improve its ease of doing business environment and attract overseas investors.
Tuesday, June 11, 2024 | Virtual
Thank you to Lisa Curtis at CNAS, Farwa Aamer at Asia Society Policy Institute (ASPI), and Vikram J. Singh at USISPF for the riveting insights on India, its neighborhood, how India sees the world, the Quad, I2U2, IMEC, and India’s foreign policy going forward.
Monday, June 10, 2024 | Virtual
USISPF held a webinar on a debrief on India’s General Elections 2024, the swearing-in of Prime Minister Narendra modi for a historic third term, and the new cabinet that’s taking shape.The webinar featured Dr. Mukesh Aghi, President and CEO, of USISPF, and Rahul Sharma, Managing Director, of India for apco worldwide.
The conversation was moderated by Aditi Phadnis, Consulting Editor, Business Standard The conversation touched on investor sentiment, the economic outlook going forward, the government’s priorities on trade, supply chains, and the manufacturing economy, as well as immediate geopolitical implications. Thank you to all our members who joined in.
June 1, 2024 | Virtual
The discussion touched upon the recent developments in the healthcare landscape across both countries. Brendan also shared USTR’s perspective on further strengthening the trade relationship concerning healthcare. USISPF remains committed to working towards the Govt. of India’s vision to ensure innovative and affordable healthcare interventions reach the last mile.
Wednesday, May 22, 2024 | Virtual
Thursday, May 9, 2024 | Virtual
To decipher the landscape of Environment, Social and Governance (ESG), USISPF in partnership with KPMG had organised a session titled ‘ESG as a Value Creator: Creating Sustainable and Resilient Companies’ on May 9th, 2024.
To discuss the stated topic we were joined by an eminent set of panelists including Abanti Sankaranarayanan, Chief Group Public Affairs Officer & Member – Group Executive Board, Mahindra Group; Leela Ramnath, Senior Vice President, Global Head of Sustainability Strategy, Warburg Pincus; Namrata Rana, Partner and National Head of ESG, KPMG India.
The session was moderated by Kaushal Kishore, Partner, BSR & Affiliates. Malachy Nugent, Vice President-FS, represented USISPF in the session. Panelists shared their views on ESG as a value driver; Regulatory environment; Value chain and technology as an enabler; and Financing and investment initiatives.
Friday, April 19th, 2024 | Virtual
As the first phase of the general elections commenced in India, USISPF hosted a curtain raiser webinar with Aparna Pande at Hudson Institute and Pramit Pal Chaudhuri at Eurasia Group. Topics and themes explored domestic and foreign policy and relations for the rest of 2024.
March 21, 2024 | Virtual
USISPF hosted a virtual briefing on the Draft Digital Competition Bill, 2024. The briefing provided an overview of the Draft Bill and a session with our members.
Thank you to our knowledge partners Yaman Verma, and Rohan Arora fromShardul Amarchand Mangaldas & Co for sharing insights.
March 15, 2024 | Virtual
The dialogue centered on key changes and potential implications of the new code, emphasizing its role in advancing the industry and enhancing patient care standards. We’re thankful for the valuable insights shared by industry leaders and PLR Chambers for their in-depth analysis.
February 22, 2024 | Virtual
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February 15, 2023 | Washington, D.C.
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Categories
USISPF Global Leadership Awards
July 19, 2022 | Virtual
July 19,2022 |Virtual
July 19, 2022 | Virtual
July 19,2022 | Virtual
July 19,2022 | Virtual
July 19,2022 | Virtual
