As India charts its course toward “Viksit Bharat” by 2047, Hina Nagarajan, Managing Director and Chief Executive of Diageo India, highlighted the importance of authentic and decisive leadership, sustainability, and a clear sense of purpose in the corporate sector.
Speaking at Storyboard18’s Global Pioneers Summit in Mumbai, Nagarajan called for a renewed effort to enhance the ease of doing business in India. She emphasized the need to reassess the high costs of regulatory compliance, which continue to challenge businesses across industries.
Nagarajan, the first woman in India to lead a major spirits company and a staunch advocate for diversity and inclusion, was honored at the summit by Bodhisatva Ganguli, Group Consulting Editor of Network18. The event, held on March 28, brought together business leaders, policymakers, and industry pioneers.
Soon to assume a new role in the United Kingdom as President of Diageo’s Africa business, Nagarajan reflected on the broader impact of purpose-driven leadership. “Leading with purpose creates a triple win—for consumers, customers, communities, and the business,” she said. “This is a lesson I will carry with me always. It’s also about pushing boundaries and challenging conventions. What matters is not just how far you climb the corporate ladder, but how many people you bring along with you. Celebrating small wins fuels the drive to achieve more every single day.”
In discussing India’s path to becoming a developed nation, Nagarajan stressed that the vision of “Viksit Bharat” extends beyond economic growth. A truly developed India, she argued, must be sustainable, inclusive, and innovative.
Infrastructure development, she noted, is essential to this transformation. Optimizing supply chains and enhancing product quality, she said, would be key to strengthening India’s global competitiveness. While acknowledging government efforts to improve business conditions, she urged policymakers to take a fresh approach. “Many industries still require policy streamlining,” she said. “Simpler tax structures and lower compliance costs would make a significant difference. Given India’s rapid digital advancements, we are well-positioned to address these challenges.”
Nagarajan also outlined the role that corporate leaders must play in this journey. Investing in domestic manufacturing, research and development, and supply chain resilience, she said, would not only bolster global competitiveness but also generate high-quality employment and build economic resilience.
She highlighted the potential of public-private partnerships in driving innovation, particularly through collaborations between academia, government, and industry. Notably, she pointed to the underutilized segments of India’s workforce, including women and persons with disabilities, as an area requiring urgent attention.
Sustainability, Nagarajan argued, must be at the heart of India’s growth story. Aligned with this vision, Diageo India has invested more than $3.5 billion in 35 manufacturing facilities across the country. “We are committed to investing in quality brands and job creation,” she said. “We have generated over a million jobs, including 375,000 indirectly in the hospitality sector. Additionally, we are a significant contributor to national and state revenues, having paid more than $2.5 billion in taxes and levies.”
Diageo India has also made strides in environmental responsibility. “Our focus is on water stewardship, and our ESG ratings are at par with, if not ahead of, industry standards,” she noted.
Diversity and inclusion remain central to the company’s strategy. “It starts with leadership commitment,” she said. “We have embedded these goals into our leadership accountability and restructured our processes to hire, retain, and develop diverse talent. This is not just a moral imperative; it is a business imperative.”
Since 2017, Diageo India’s workforce diversity has grown from 7.5 percent to nearly 30 percent, with over half of its executive committee now composed of diverse representation.
Under the theme “Powering Change Through Creative Catalysts,” the Global Pioneers Summit explored the intersection of creativity and commerce, highlighting how innovative thinking fuels breakthroughs in technology, marketing, and consumer engagement. The summit featured an impressive lineup of speakers, including government officials, corporate executives, and marketing strategists. Among the notable participants were Jyotiraditya Scindia, Minister of Communications and Development of the North Eastern Region; Prabha Narasimhan, Managing Director and Chief Executive of Colgate-Palmolive (India); Suresh Narayanan, Chairman and Managing Director of Nestlé India; and Devika Bulchandani, Global Chief Executive of Ogilvy.
More about the Storyboard18 Global Pioneers Summit
The Global Pioneers Summit is a celebration and exploration of the transformative potential of creativity, empowering individuals and businesses to think differently, act boldly, and craft a future that resonates with purpose and vision. Creativity is not just about artistic expression — it is a force for solving real-world problems, innovating products, and creating connections in ways that traditional methods cannot. And there are pioneers behind this shift, who have dared to think different.
The Global Pioneers Summit stands as a premier celebration of the visionary forces propelling businesses forward, spotlighting the global brands emerging from India — an ever-growing hub of creativity and innovation on the world stage.
From groundbreaking innovations to impactful storytelling, key decision-makers and innovators from business, marketing, advertising, tech, and academia exchange insights, build connections, and draw inspiration from some of the most compelling work driving industries forward globally.
In today’s rapidly evolving world, creativity can be a powerful force to drive business growth, shape industries, and influence societal behavior, culture, and values. Storyboard18 Global Pioneers Summit puts the spotlight on the true purpose and power of creativity and the pioneers leading the way.