The Passionate Business Icon to Follow in 2025 1

QR CODE

SCAN THE

TO GET IN TOUCH

BECAUSEYOUR STORY DESERVES THE SPOTLIGHT

Progress, and Bold Vision ditor's

P e r s p e c t i v e

Celebrating Purpose,

Inanagedefinedbyconstantmovementandshiftingpriorities,true

businessleadershipshinesthroughclarityofpurposeandthe couragetocreatenewpathways.Whatdistinguishesremarkable leadersisnotjusttheirabilitytobuildenterprises,buttheirwillingness tochallengetraditionalthinking,embracechangewithconviction,and pursuegrowthrootedinresponsibilityandlong-termvalue.Today, morethanever,industriesseekindividualswhobringinsight, consistency,andadeepcommitmenttoshapingabetterfuture.

Atourpublication,wetakeprideinspotlightingleaderswho demonstratethesequalitiesthroughpurposefulactionandsteady determination.Theirjourneysserveaspowerfulremindersthatsuccess isneveraccidental;itistheproductofdiscipline,thoughtfulchoices, andanunwaveringbeliefinprogress.Aswepresentthisedition, The Passionate Business Icon to Follow in 2025,ourgoalistohighlight individualswhoseworkreflectsresilience,innovation,andaforwardlookingmindsetthatinspiresbothpresentandfuturegenerations. Theseleadersremindusthatmeaningfulprogressisachievedthrough adaptability,courage,andawillingnesstoseeopportunitieswhere othersseelimitations.

Ourselectionforthiscoverstoryrepresentsaleader whohasreshapedexpectationswithbolddecisionsand aclearvisionforthefuture.Theirworkreflectsan abilitytobalancetraditionwithadvancement,creating businesspathwaysthatstrengthenbothorganizational growthandbroaderindustryprospects.Theyapproach challengeswithsteadyconfidenceandview technology,innovation,andlegacyascomplementary forcesthatcanshapestrongerandmoresustainable enterprises.

Thefeaturedexecutivehasguidedarespectedbusiness houseintonewsectorsthroughthoughtfulexpansion andinsightfulplanning.Theirleadershiphashelpedthe organisationstepintoareassuchasinfrastructure, renewableenergy,andelectricmobilitywithpurpose andconviction.Witheachmove,theyhavereinforced thebeliefthatcourageousdecisionscanopendoorsto long-termopportunity.Theirvisioncontinuestoinspire teams,strengthenstrategicdirection,andredefinewhat future-focusedleadershiptrulylookslike.

Let the pages fill you with not just insights, but ideas in motion!

-Bill Limbert

CONTENT

D' Souza

Managing Editor: Bill Limbert

Assisting Editor : Joe Lee

DESIGN

Visualizer : Stewart Jonas

Art & Design Director : Robin Clarck

Sr. Graphic Designer : Authur Watson

SALES

Vice President : Jil Kendal

Asst. Vice President : Kevin Johnson

BDE : Daniel Smith

BDE : Jennifer Peters Merry

TECHNICAL

Technical Head : Andrea Jackson

Technical Specialist: Mike Anderson

Technical Consultant : Oliver Sutton

SME-SMO

Research Analyst : Wendy J.

SEO Lead : Tasha L.

Editor-in-Chief

www.twitter.com/enterprisereview.com/ www.facebook.com/enterprisereview.com/

WE ARE ALSO AVAILABLE ON

Email sales@enterprisereview.com For Subscription www.enterprisereviewmedia.com

Copyright © 2025 www.enterprisereviewmedia.com, All rights reserved. The content and images used in this magazine should not be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without prior permission from Enterprise Review. Reprint rights remain solely with enterprisereview.

November, 2025

THE SIGNATURE STORY

The Crucible of Continuous Reinvention –

ADITYA VIKRAM BIRLA

Leading the

COSMIC BIRLA GROUP

from Legacy Industrial House to a Future-Ready Eco-Powerhouse

Theworldmarketofthe21stcenturyisarelentless testingfield,alaboratorywhereoldempires regularlyfall,justundertherelentlessweightof volatilityandfastertechnology.Intimesofturmoilsuchas this,theonlyrelevantleadersarethosewiththeconfidence toreinventeverything,ratherthanmaintaintheformthatis current.

LeadingthechargeinthisdisruptionisAdityaVikram Birla,ChairmanandManagingDirectoroftheCosmic BirlaGroup.Heisathird-generationstewardofaname thatcarrieswithitalineageofindustrialrespect,buthis greatestlegacyisnotsustainingthename—itisboldly redefiningthatnameforthefuture.Asheoncestated,"True leadershipisn'tjustaboutcarryingforwardalegacy—it's aboutredefiningit."

Withhisinfluence,theCosmicBirlaGrouppivotedfroma traditionalindustrialhousetoadiversifiedandfuture-ready powerhouse.Withaudaciousstrategicforesight,Mr.Birla madesignificantbetsonthenextwaveofeconomic transformation,successfullyaddingsectorssuchas infrastructureandrenewableenergy,andmostimportantly, steppingintothehigh-stakesElectricVehicle(EV) transformationwithRaftCosmicEV.Heviewstechnology andtraditionnotasopposingforces,butaspartners, creatingamulti-dimensionalsolutionsmodelthatreduces theriskofsupplychaindisruptions.

Thistransformationalprocesshasrequiredgreatresilience. Eveninmomentsoffinancialcrisis,heshowedarareand tenaciousgrittoturneverydisruptionintoapositive inflectionpoint.However,thecharacteristicthatmadehim atrueiconishisdeeplyhumanapproach.Mr.Birlastrongly believesthatpeople,notproducts,arewhatmake companiessustainable.Hegavecarefulattentionto developinganinclusiveculturethatispredicatedon empowermentandseesexecutionasmoreimportantthan whatissaid.Hefullyembodiesthebeliefthat"Leadership isallaboutassemblingagreatteam,andlettingtheresults dothetalking."

ForgedbyLegacy:RootsofanIndustrialScion

BorninKolkatain1989,AdityaVikramBirlawas immediatelyimmersedinaworlddefinedbyindustrial achievement.Hislineagewasablueprintforethical leadership;hisgrandfather,R.S.Birla,hadfoundedthe CosmicBirlaGroupin1975,establishingareputationbuilt onindustrialresilienceandinnovationalongsideDeo KishanMohta.Raisedunderthetenetsofdiscipline,

integrity,andindustry—theveryqualitiesthatdistinguished hisforebears—Aditya'seducationmirroredthis foundationalrigor

FromDonBoscoSchoolinKolkatatosecuringaBBA fromJadavpurUniversityandanMBAfromCardiff University,hisformativeyearswereastructured apprenticeship.Theseacademicandculturalinfluences instilledinhimacriticalunderstandingofpeople-centric leadership,aphilosophyhearticulatedearly:"Leadershipis aboutbuildingstrongteamsandlettingexecutionspeak louderthanintent."

TheCrucibleofCrisis:ProvingMettle

Preparedbyhisheritageandeducation,Adityaformally enteredthefamilybusinessin2011attheageof22.Itwas here,duringtheprolongedsteelmarketdownturnbetween 2012and2017,thathistruemettlewastestedandrevealed. Herefusedtoremainconfinedtohisinitialrolesin marketingandsales.Between2017and2018,he ambitiouslyexpandedhisdomain,embracingcomplex challengesacrossproduction,finance,andcapitalmarkets.

Byage27,hecreditedthisdifficultperiodwith fundamentallyshapinghisstrategicandfinancialvision. Thisimmersionincrisis,ratherthanprosperity,washis mostcriticalpreparation.Bythetimeheascendedtothe roleofChairman&ManagingDirectorinJanuary2019,he broughttothehelmapowerfulblendofdeeprespectforthe Group'sfoundinglegacyandanunshakeable,ambitious growthmindset.Hisearlyjourneywasaperfectarcof inheritance,difficultimmersion,andrapidmaturationintoa modernindustrialleader.

DiversificationasDestiny:BuildingaConglomerate

Beginningin2019,Mr.Birlaaggressivelydiversifiedthe Group'sportfolio,thrustingitintodynamic,future-facing domains.Thisevolutionwasdeliberate,designedtosteer theGroupawayfromitssingle-sectorpast.Today,the conglomerateisasprawlingnetworkof22companies operatingacross14factories,generatinganannualturnover approaching₹2,000crore.

Thefoundationremainsstrong:theflagship,publiclylisted CosmicCRFLtd.,leadsincold-rolledformedsectionsfor criticalrailwayandinfrastructureprojects.Entitieslike AsansolSteel,AVBEntech,andCometTechnocom reinforcethiscorestrength.TheGroupisrenownedfor engineeringgoodslikeyokepinsandspring-steelliners,

servingmajorclientsincludingTitagarhWagonsandIndian railwaydivisions.Thisstrategicmeldingoftraditional industrialstrengthwithnewsectors—including infrastructure,defence,FMCG,andrealestate—has establishedCosmicBirlaasarecognizedindustrial disruptorineasternIndia,notablyresilientamidpastcrises.

TheEVRevolution:ABoldStrategicPlay

Mr.Birla'sboldestmovecamewiththeacquisitionofa majoritystakeinRaftMotorsinNovember2023,marking hisentryintoElectricMobility Thisstrategicmaneuver broughtexistingEVmanufacturingplantsinBhiwandiand DhuleunderCosmic'sownershipandfueledplansforanew assemblyplantinDomjur,WestBengal.

Underhisguidance,theGrouplaunchedCosmicEVLtd.in September2023,introducingmodelsliketheRaftCosmic EVWarriorandZanskar Theambitionisclear:definea modern,greenermobilityecosystem.

Theexecutionofthisrapidscaling,however,encountered initialfriction,includingpublicizedequitydisputes stemmingfromtheacquisitionintegration.These challengeswerequicklyandeffectivelyneutralized.The issueswereresolvedpost-takeoverthroughlegaland compliantmethods,resultinginacleanchitfrom investigatingdepartments.Mr.Birla'sfocusneverwavered, pressingforwardwithhiscommitmenttoa"greenerand cleanerfuture"andsustainablebusinessecosystems.By fusingtheGroup'straditionalengineeringstrengthswiththe dynamicEVsegment,heisfuelingbothgrowthand environmentalresponsibility.

“

TheEthosofExecution:CultureandTrust

AdityaVikramBirla'sleadershipstyleisbuiltuponan unwaveringcommitmenttotransparency,collaboration,and empoweringteams—principlesthatdefinetheinternal cultureoftheCosmicBirlaGroup.Hehasmeticulously fosteredanenvironmentwheretheinternalcurrencyisnot rhetoric,butresults,prioritizingexecutionovertalkand integrityaboveshortcuts.

Thispeople-firstapproachensuresthatstrategicvisionis directlylinkedtodailyaction,creatingabedrockoftrust andresultsacrosstheconglomerate.AstheGroupexpands intocomplexnewsectorslikeElectricMobility,this collaborativeethosbecomesthecriticaldifferentiator, inspiringteamstotakeownershipandleadtransformation fromthegroundup.

Recognition:AnIconSolidified

TheimpactofMr.Birla'stransformativeleadershiphasnot goneunnoticedbythebusinessworld.Between2023and 2024alone,hisleadershipattractedasignificantcollection ofhigh-levelhonors.HewasrecognizedasAsia'sGreatest Brands&Leadersandearnedthe"YouthIconoftheYear 2024"awardfromAsiaOne.Healsoreceivedthe "Extraordinaire–DynamicBusinessPersonality"awardat theIndia2030LeadershipConclaveandwashonoredwith MSMEBusinessMaestrorecognitionfromHindustan Times2024.

HispersonalstatusasoneofIndia'smostdynamicyoung industrialistswassolidifiedbyhisinclusionin EntrepreneursToday'sprestigious"40under40"listfor 2024.Furthermore,thesuccessofhisstrategicredirection earnedtheGroupaccoladeslikethe"Excellencein IndustrialInnovation"awardattheTimesBusinessAwards (East)and"EmergingLeadersinIndustrialExcellence"at theTimesNowBusinessAwardsEast2024.

“GlobalThoughtLeadership

Mr.Birla'sinfluencenowextendstoglobalacademic platforms.In2024,hewasinvitedtotheesteemedHarvard BusinessSchoolIndiaConference.Appearingonthecenter stageoftheprestigiousKarlmanHall,hedelivereda keynoteaddress.Heparticipatedinafiresidechat,sharing hisinsightsonthecomplexjourneyoftransforminga legacybusinessintoaninnovationpowerhouse.This engagementconfirmshisstaturenotjustasasuccessful industrialist,butasathoughtleaderactivelyshapingthe internationalconversationoncorporatereinventionand sustainablegrowth.

Hissagaisablueprintforthemodernage,demonstrating thatthefuturebelongstothosewhohonortheirrootswhile possessingthecouragetoredefinetheirentiredestiny

AdaptationasSurvival:TheCalculatedHedge

AdityaVikramBirla'scurrentsuccessisbuiltupona foundationtestedbyfire.Majorstressors,includingthe steelindustrycollapse,thepainfulliquidationoftheFerro Alloysunit,andthefrictionalchallengesinherentinlargescaleEVacquisitions,markedhisearlytenure.Hisclear responsetothesetrialswasnotretreat,butaggressive adaptationanddiversification.

EmergingfromthelowpointoftheFerroAlloysunit,Mr. Birlaorchestratedastrategicexpansionthatmovedthe Groupbeyondtraditionalsteelandrailwaycomponentsinto abroaderindustrialpaletteencompassingEVs,FMCG, defense,realestate,andinfrastructure.Thisdiversification isnotmerelyagrowthstrategy;itisacalculatedhedge—a deliberatemovetoensurestabilityandresilienceamid volatilesectoralrisks.

TheBoldHorizon:VisionandAccountability

Lookingahead,Mr.Birla'sambitionsfortheCosmicBirla Groupareboldandclear:toestablishtheconglomerateasa top-tierEVinnovatorandagloballyrespectedindustrial forcefromIndia'sEast.Thispushforgrowthis underpinnedbyacommitmenttotransparency,symbolized bythepubliclistingofCosmicCRF.

Crucially,heshouldersaprofoundsocialmission. Modelinghisactionsonthelegacyofhisgreat-grandfather, Mr.BirlaispoisedtoestablishCorporateSocial Responsibility(CSR)initiativesthataredeeplyrootedin purposeandmeasurableimpact.Thenextchapterwillfocus ondeepeningtechnologyadoption—fromautomationand precisionengineeringtofurtherconsumergoods expansion—whilenavigatingtheprimarychallengeof scalingwithintegrity.

CosmicBirlaGroupproudlyconstructedtheTeluaSishu SikshaSadanPrimarySchoolintheHooghlydistrictof WestBengalfortheunderprivilegedchildrentoensurethey haveasafe,nurturingenvironmenttostudy,exploreand shapetheiraspirations.

"Hischallengewillbescalingwithintegrity,winning stakeholdertrust,andprovingthatrapidmodernizationcan harmoniouslycoexistwithlegacyvalues."

LegacyinMotion:TheRedefiner

Today,at36,AdityaVikramBirlastandsattheintersection ofhistoryandthefuture.Bornintoaniconichousehold,he hasearnedrecognitionnotthroughinheritancebutthrough execution,foresight,andresilience.Underhisguidance,the CosmicBirlaGrouphastransformedintoasleek, diversifiedpowerhouse,drivenbyboldinnovation, transparentgovernance,andsocialconscience.

Hehasmasterfullyhonoredthepastwhilesimultaneously steeringtheGroupthroughcontroversiesandseismicshifts inthemarket.Hisjourneyisapowerfultestamentto continuityandreinvention,provingthatalineagerootedin strongvaluescanadapt,diversify,andthriveinaturbulent world.Innavigatingtheseimmensetransitions,Aditya VikramBirlaiscraftingadistinctivelegacy—onethatis anchoredinhistory,yetunafraidtodisruptit.

Catalysts
of
Innovation

ENTREPRENEURIAL ROLE MODELS

Driving Meaningful Growth

Itistheworldthatgetstransformed themostasaresultofthefewmindedindividualswhoarenot readytobelievethatthingsmustremain thesame.Theseentrepreneursdonot establishcompanies;theychangethe rulesanddragwholeindustriesinto motion.Theirexperiencesshowthattrue innovationisnotgadgetsorventure round,butsolvingsomethingmeaningful andnotgivingup.

SaraBlakely:FromFaxSalesto Billion-DollarComfort

Duringthelate1990s,SaraBlakelywas sellingfaxmachinesdoortodoor.She hatedhowherpantyhoselookedunder whitepants,soshecutthefeetoffapair ThatsimpleactbecameSpanx.With $5,000insavingsandnofashion experience,shecold-calledfactories, wroteherownpatent,andtalkedherway intoameetingwithaNeimanMarcus buyer TodaySpanxisabillion-dollar brandthatchangedhowwomendressand feel.Blakelydemonstratedthatthemost brilliantideasareusuallybornoutof personaldissatisfactionandthat persistencealwayswins.

PatrickCollison:MakingMoneyMoveLikeEmail

In2008,brothersPatrickandJohnCollisonwereteenagers frustratedthatacceptingpaymentsonlinewasslowand complicated.TheybuiltStripeinmonths.Bankslaughedat twokidswithIrishaccentsandnotrackrecord.Tenyears later,StripepowerspaymentsforAmazon,Shopify,and millionsofsmallbusinesses.Thecompanyisworthmore thanmostcentury-oldbanks.TheCollisonsprovedthat softwarecanfixbrokensystemsfasterthancommitteesever will,andthatbeingyoungisanadvantagewhenspeed matters.

AnneWojcicki:PuttingHealthinPeople'sHands

AnneWojcickico-founded23andMebecauseshebelieved regularpeopleshouldhaveaccesstotheirowngenetic information.Doctorsandregulatorssaiditwasdangerous andirresponsible.Shepushedforwardanyway Today millionshavesentinatubeofspitanddiscoveredtheir ancestry,foundlostrelatives,orlearnedtheycarryserious healthrisks.TheFDAeventuallyapprovedsomeof 23andMe'stests.Wojcickiturnedaforbiddenideaintoa newcategoryofpersonalhealthcare.

MuhammadYunus:BankingforthePoor

In1976,economicsprofessorMuhammadYunuslent$27 ofhisownmoneytoagroupofvillagewomenin Bangladeshwhomadebamboofurniture.Theyrepaidhim. ThattinyexperimentbecameGrameenBankandtheglobal microfinancemovement.Yunusshowedthatpoorpeople, especiallywomen,areexcellentborrowerswhengiven smallloanswithoutcollateral.HewontheNobelPeace Prize,butmoreimportantly,heliftedmillionsoutof povertyandprovedprofitandpurposecanliveinthesame balancesheet.

Brian

Chesky:

TurningSpareRoomsintoaNew Economy

WhenBrianCheskyandJoeGebbiacouldn'tpayrentin SanFrancisco,theyrentedoutairmattressesontheirlivingroomfloor ThatdesperateweekendbecameAirbnb. Landlords,hotels,andcitycouncilsfoughtthemforyears. TodayAirbnbhasmoreroomsthantheworld'slargesthotel chains,andmillionsofordinarypeopleearnextraincome byrentingacouchoracastle.Cheskyturned"strangers sleepinginyourhouse"fromacrazyideaintoatrusted globalcommunity

WhatTiesThemTogether

Theseentrepreneurssharefivecleartraits:

• Theystartwithaproblemtheyfeelpersonally

• Theyignoretheexpertswhosayitcan'tbedone.

• Theyexperimentratherthanmakelong-lastingplans.

• Theyconsidersetbacksasanindicationthattheyareon somethingbig.

• Theirsuccessismeasuredinliveschangedandnot onlymoneygained.

TheRippleEffect

Asingleentrepreneurialvisiondevelopsthousandsofjobs, pushessleepinggiantstoinnovateandmotivatesthe upcominggeneration.Millionsofnewonlinebusinesses werecreatedwhenStripemadepaymentseasy When Spanxsucceeded,investorsfinallynoticedwomenbuy thingstoo.WhenGrameenworked,entirecountriesrewrote bankinglaws.

Innovationisnolongerlockedincorporatelabsor universitybuildings.Itlivesinkitchens,dormrooms,and villagemarkets.Allittakesissomeonewillingtolookata brokensystem,feelthefrustration,andstartfixingitone small,stubbornstepatatime.

Theserolemodelsarenotsuperhuman.Theyareordinary peoplewhodecidedthestatusquowasunacceptable.That decisionisopentoanyonereadingthisrightnow

Thenextcatalystofmeaningfulgrowthmightbeyou.

BUSINESS PERSONALITIES

Industries

Theoldrulebookisburning.Ahandfulofbold

entrepreneursarerewritinghowentireindustries work,move,andmakemoney.Theydon'taskfor permission.Theybuild,ship,andforcetheworldtokeep up.Herearesixpeoplewhoarechangingthegameright now

ElonMusk:RewiringTransportationandEnergy

ElonMuskisnolongerjustacarmaker.Teslaforcedevery majorautomakertochaseelectricvehicles.Whileothers talkedaboutbatteries,Muskbuiltgiantfactoriesandsold halfamillioncarsayearwithoutspendingadollaron traditionaladvertising.Atthesametime,Tesla'senergy divisionnowinstallsmoresolarandstoragethanmost countries.Onemanpushedthewholeplanetfastertoward cleanpowerthandecadesofclimateconferenceseverdid.

BrianChesky:TurningHomesintoHotels

Tenyearsago,rentingastranger'scouchsoundedcrazy Today,Airbnbisworthmorethantheworld'sbiggesthotel chainscombined.BrianCheskyprovedpeoplewouldrather stayinalocalapartmentthanasterilehotelroom.Entire citiesnowdependonAirbnbguestsforjobsandtaxmoney Thetravelindustrywillneverlookthesame.

JensenHuang:PoweringtheAIRevolution

EveryviralAIimage,everychatbotanswer,everyselfdrivingcartestrunsonNvidiachips.JensenHuangsawthe AIwavecomingtwentyyearsearlyandbetthecompanyon it.Whenothersmadechipsforvideogames,hemadethem forsupercomputersanddatacenters.Today,Nvidiaisone ofthemostvaluablecompaniesonEarth,andalmostevery bigtechfirmpaysHuangforthebrainsbehindtheirAI dreams.

WhitneyWolfeHerd:FixingDating,OneSwipeata Time

WhitneyWolfeHerdstartedBumblebecauseshewanted womentofeelsafeandincontrolwhendatingonline.She madeasimplerule:womenmessagefirst.Theapp exploded.Bumblewentpublic,andWolfeHerdbecamethe youngestwomanevertotakeacompanytothestock market.Moreimportantly,sheshiftedthecultureofonline datingandprovedafemale-firstcompanycouldwinbig.

DanielEk:GivingMusicBacktoArtists(andListeners)

BeforeSpotify,buyingonesongcostadollar,oryou piratedit.DanielEkofferedallthemusicintheworldfor tenbucksamonth.Recordlabelslaughed—untiltheysaw thenumbers.Today,Spotifyhas600millionusersandpays artistsbillionseveryyear.Illegaldownloadsalmost disappeared.Ekdidn'tkillthemusicindustry;hesavedit andmadelisteningeasierthanever.

AnneWojcicki:PuttingHealthinYour

OwnHands

AnneWojcicki's23andMesendsyouasmalltube.Youspit, mailitback,andlearnwhereyourancestorslivedandwhat diseasesmightbeinyourfuture.Millionshavedoneit. Doctorsonceguardedgeneticinformationlikestatesecrets. Wojcickisolditforninety-ninedollarsandchangedhow wethinkaboutprivacy,prevention,andpersonalhealth.

WhatTiesThemTogether

Theseleaderssharethesameplaybook:

• Theyspotaclunky,expensive,orbrokenindustry

• Theyusetechnologytomakeittentimescheaperor simpler.

• Theyignoreexpertswhosay"itcan'tbedone."

• Theymovesofastthatregulatorsandcompetitorsare alwaysonestepbehind.

Oldgiantstrytocopythemandusuallyfail.General Motorscan'tbecomeTeslaovernight.Hiltoncan'tflipa switchandmatchAirbnb'svibe.Thatisthenewreality:one determinedfounderwithastrongteamcanbeatacenturyoldcorporation.

The result?

Lowerprices,betterproducts,andmorechoicesfortherest ofus.Jobsshift,citieschange,andpowermovesfrom boardroomstogaragesandbedrooms.

Thesesixpeoplearenotwaitingforthefuture.Theyare buildingit,industrybyindustry,whethertheoldguardlikes itornot.Andtheyarejustgettingstarted.

Thenextrevolutionwon'tcomefromagovernmentplanor athink-tankreport.Itwillcomefromsomeoneyou've probablyneverheardofyet,whoisquietlyworkingonthe ideathatwillmaketoday'sgiantslookslowandoutdated tomorrow