ET Now rolls out the fifth edition of 'Leaders of Tomorrow'

As the Government's Make In India mission gathers momentum, English business news channel ET Now, has rolled out the fifth edition of its year-long initiative, Leaders of Tomorrow, to empower the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) sector. KK Jalan, Secretary, Ministry of Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises, inaugurated the fifth edition of Leaders of Tomorrow on February 12, 2016 in New Delhi. 

The inauguration was followed by a panel discussion on ‘Unleashing the Potential of Indian MSMEs’. The interaction featured some of the top business leaders such as Vineet Nayar, Former CEO, HCL Technologies & Founder- Sampark Foundation; Rajnish Kumar, MD – SBI; Ravi Varanasi, Chief - Business Development, National Stock Exchange; and Jagdish Khattar, Founder - Carnation Auto.

State Bank Of India presents ET NOW Leaders of Tomorrow will be packed with a host of strategic initiatives driven by informative content and knowledge delivered on-air and through on-ground events, and more, Leaders of Tomorrow will establish an even deeper connect with lakhs of MSMEs across the country and inspire them to take their aspirations to the next level.

MK Anand, MD & CEO, Times Network said, “ET NOW has always promised to deliver news that impacts and empowers businesses, and with Leaders of Tomorrow we look at not only empowering the crucial MSME sector but also honoring those MSME leaders who have led their organizations to pinnacles of success. Over the years, Leaders of Tomorrow  has gone on to become India’s largest and definitive MSME platform, and we are confident that with its fifth edition, it will not only establish an even deeper connect with lakhs of MSMEs across India, but will continue to contribute to economic growth and nation building.”

The Leaders of Tomorrow initiative is India’s largest platform dedicated to the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, and will inspire and celebrate the spirit of entrepreneurship to recognize emerging leaders and empower them to take their business to the next level. With over 488 lakh working MSMEs employing 1114 lakh people and with a total market value of fixed assets at Rs 1,363,700 crore (*Annual Report 2014-15 of Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, Govt of India; 2013-14 estimates) in India, vibrant and flourishing MSMEs will be crucial to achieving the growth objectives of Make In India.

Inspirational MSME stories on ET NOW:

In the run-up to the awards later this year, a yearlong feature series of weekly half-hour episodes will run on ET NOW showcasing inspirational stories from the MSME space from across the country. The series will include enlightening discussions with MSMEs and industry experts on a variety of topics and a chance to get business growth queries answered straight from the experts.

Another key aspect of the series -  to be anchored by ET NOW’s Mridu Bhandari -- will be to showcase stories that celebrate the spirit of entrepreneurship and narrate fascinating examples where a little courage, a sound business plan and a good product have helped an entrepreneur to make a mark in the world of business.

15-city on-ground MSME knowledge series - MSME Connect Initiative:

ET NOW will also reach out to empower the future Leaders of Tomorrow through its pan-India road show, MSME Connect Initiative, which will roll out in 15 cities. The knowledge-driven initiative will be laced with expert sessions and interactions between industry experts and MSMEs who will discuss the challenges faced and solutions to approach their business and help take it to the next level. 

MSMEs’ crowning glory - Leaders of Tomorrow Awards:

As a befitting end to a year of inspiring and empowering the MSMEs, ET NOW will recognize and felicitate inspirational MSME entrepreneurs with India’s most coveted awards for MSMEs, the Leaders of Tomorrow Awards. These will be bestowed upon those entrepreneurs who have transformed stumbling blocks into stepping stones driven by their passion, determination and undying spirit of entrepreneurship. Tentatively scheduled for end-2016, the Leaders of Tomorrow awards will not only salute the spirit of entrepreneurship in India, but also kindle new dreams of entrepreneurial success.

So, for a fifth season, India’s most popular and successful news channel ET NOW has embarked upon the intensive, year-long, content- and knowledge-rich initiative, Leaders of Tomorrow, in keeping with its stated mission to enable and empower business. By reaching out to lakhs of hardworking MSMEs across India to educate, inspire, empower and reward them for their entrepreneurial brilliance, ET NOW believes Leaders of Tomorrow will provide a crucial impetus to the Make In India story.