Mumbai, 29th September 2026: HSBC India presents CNBC-TV18’s Future. Female. Forward. (FFF) – The Women’s Collective Season 4, co-presented by Cognizant, comes to Mumbai for its Mega Summit, bringing together some of India’s most influential business leaders, changemakers, achievers and voices shaping the future of women and work.
Built around the theme #PowerOfEquity, FFF Season 4 moves the conversation beyond representation towards the larger question of opportunity: who gets access to it, who gets to influence decisions, and what it takes to build systems where women can enter, stay, rise and lead.
The Mumbai Mega Summit will bring this conversation to the heart of corporate India, examining how equity can move from being a workplace aspiration to becoming an integral part of business strategy, leadership and growth.
Opening the evening, Shereen Bhan, Managing Editor, CNBC-TV18, will set the context for the conversation, followed by a keynote address by Sandeep Batra, MD, Head of International, Wealth and Premier Banking, HSBC India.
The keynote will explore equity as a growth imperative, examining why creating equitable access to opportunity, leadership and decision-making is increasingly central to building resilient, innovative and future-ready organisations.
At the heart of the evening will be a high-impact CEO session & Townhall on ‘The Opportunity Architecture’, featuring Priya Nair, CEO & MD, Hindustan Unilever Ltd; Roma Datta Chobey, Managing Director – Connected Consumer & Commerce, Google India; Zia Mody, Co-Founder & Managing Partner, AZB & Partners; Rajesh Varrier, President, Global Operations & Chairman & MD, Cognizant India and Archana Chadha, Head of People, HSBC India amongst others.
The conversation will examine what it takes to build organisations where equity is embedded into the architecture of opportunity – from addressing hidden bias in promotions and leadership access, to creating stronger pathways for sponsorship, mentorship and career continuity. It will also explore how organisations can expand access to high-growth roles, networks and capital, while holding leadership accountable for measurable progress.
The evening will also celebrate women who are challenging conventions and redefining what leadership, achievement and possibility can look like through the FFF ICONS – ‘Women Who Define the New India’. The honours will recognise an extraordinary cross-section of achievers spanning business, law, technology, sport, public service, the armed forces, social impact and the environment.
The FFF ICONS will include Priya Nair, CEO & MD, HUL; Arundhati Bhattacharya, President & CEO, Salesforce South Asia; Roma Datta Chobey, Managing Director – Connected Consumer & Commerce; Zia Mody, Co-Founder & Managing Partner, AZB & Partners; Manisha Girotra, CEO, Moelis India; Rucha Nanavati, Chief of Advanced Technologies- Farm Equipment Business, M&M; Vibha Padalkar, MD & CEO, HDFC Life; Latika Padalkar, pioneering civil servant; T.A. Thaaragai Aarathana, young environmentalist; Puja Tomar, India’s first female UFC fighter; Akira Bansal, youngest multi-record-holding athlete; Dr. Ebha Patel, Founder & Chairman, Ghar Ayee Nanhi Pari Foundation; Havildar Arundhati Choudhary, Indian boxer and Non-Commissioned Officer; and Jaismine Lamboria, Naib Subedar, Indian Army.
The summit will also feature a specially curated musical performance by artist Dot., bringing a cultural dimension to the evening and reflecting the evolution of women’s voices, ambition and agency.
Speaking ahead of the Mumbai Mega Summit, Shereen Bhan, Managing Editor, CNBC-TV18, said: “The conversation around women’s advancement has evolved significantly. Today, the question is not simply whether women are in the room, but whether they have the opportunity, agency and influence to shape what happens in that room. Future. Female. Forward is about taking that conversation forward – from representation to real opportunity, and from intent to action. The Mumbai Mega Summit brings together leaders who can help build the opportunity architecture that allows women to enter, stay, rise and lead.”
Ajay Sharma, Managing Director & Head of Banking, HSBC India, said: “Equity is about ensuring that everyone has access to opportunities, regardless of gender. At HSBC, we believe that diverse experiences, perspectives and voices strengthen our organization and the communities we serve. By creating inclusive workplaces, businesses can unlock a broader talent pool, support career progression and contribute to sustainable growth. Future. Female. Forward is an important platform that brings these conversations into the mainstream and turns them into meaningful action.”
Adding perspective on the role of organisations in driving change, Rajesh Varrier, President, Global Operations and Chairman & MD, Cognizant India, said: “An organisation’s ability to unlock the full potential of its talent is increasingly central to sustained growth, innovation and long-term impact. As businesses navigate the next phase of transformation, equitable access to opportunities, skills and leadership pathways will play a defining role in enabling diverse perspectives to shape ideas, decisions and outcomes. The Future. Female. Forward Mumbai Mega Summit provides an important platform to deepen conversations around inclusion and opportunity, while building the momentum needed to translate intent into meaningful action.”
Smriti Mehra, CEO, English & Business News, Network18, said: “Future. Female. Forward has always been about creating a space where conversations around women, work and leadership can become conversations about the future of India itself. Season 4 takes that ambition further by putting the spotlight on the architecture of opportunity – the systems, cultures and choices that determine who gets to progress. The Mumbai Mega Summit is a coming together of leaders and changemakers who are not just participating in this conversation, but actively shaping what comes next.”
CNBC-TV18’s Future. Female. Forward. Season 4 is presented by HSBC India, co-presented by Cognizant, and powered by Reliance Industries Limited.
Mumbai Mega Summit | 30th September, 2026 | 5.30 PM onwards LIVE on CNBC-TV18, CNBCTV18.com and CNBC-TV18 YouTube.
