Some partnerships arrive as announcements.
Others arrive as alignment.
Welcoming the Confederation of Indian Industry as our Industry Partner for RISE 2026 feels like the latter. It feels considered, intentional, and rooted in something much bigger than a single event. Because when we speak about women stepping into global markets, we are not speaking lightly. We are speaking about navigating systems that have been built over decades, understanding the language of international trade, and finding the confidence to sit at tables where decisions are made.
Ambition is not the barrier.
Access often is.
And this is where CII becomes significant.
For over a century, CII has worked at the intersection of business, policy, and global collaboration, creating pathways between markets and enabling organisations to expand with structure and support. It is not simply a network. It is an ecosystem that understands how growth actually happens — through relationships, credibility, and consistent engagement.
For many women in business, the desire to scale is already there. What is often missing is clarity on where to begin, who to connect with, and how to navigate those first steps beyond familiar markets.
This partnership brings that clarity closer.
At RISE, we have always believed that visibility is only the starting point. Recognition opens the door, but what follows must be opportunity. And what sustains that opportunity is access to the right rooms, the right conversations, and the right people.
This is where the partnership becomes real. It comes to life through a powerful panel led by Shehla Hasan, Director and Head – UK at CII, whose work is deeply embedded in strengthening UK–India business relationships. Her role sits at the heart of cross-border collaboration, supporting organisations as they navigate international markets with intention and insight.
Alongside her are three exceptional women whose work reflects the realities of operating at a global level.
Aditi Sarao brings a rare combination of experience across enterprise technology and financial services, through her leadership roles at Thomson Reuters and Tech Mahindra. Her perspective is grounded in how global organisations function, scale, and adapt across markets.
Dr. Hema Prem Raina brings both strategic depth and a strong commitment to inclusion through her work at Infosys. Her leadership across Europe, particularly within insurance and DE&I, adds an important dimension to the conversation — that growth must be both ambitious and responsible.
Subha Verma brings the lens of partnerships, influence, and communication — often the unseen architecture behind successful expansion. Her work reminds us that global growth is not only about entry into markets, but about how relationships are built, nurtured, and sustained.
What makes this conversation different is its intention. This is not a panel centred only on personal journeys. It is a space that leans into the practical, the nuanced, and sometimes the unspoken.
What does it really take to step into a global market?
How do you build credibility beyond your home ground?
Where do you begin when the pathway is not clearly marked?
These are the questions many women are holding. Not always publicly, but quietly, as they consider their next step. And this is the room where those questions are met with insight, experience, and honesty. RISE was never designed to be just a stage. It was always intended to be a space where conversations lead somewhere. Where ideas begin to take shape, and where ambition finds direction.
Welcoming CII into this space strengthens that intention.
It allows us to move beyond inspiration and into something more tangible. Something that supports women not only to be seen, but to step forward into global arenas with confidence and clarity.
And perhaps that is what makes this moment feel important.
Not just who is in the room.
But what becomes possible because they are.
