Insights from Speaking Engagements in 2025

At Shahi, we believe in sharing our experiences and learning with all the stakeholders in the fashion industry and beyond. This is an ongoing post to share insights from our speaking engagements in 2025. Read insights from previous years’ engagements: 2024 | 2023.

21 September | New York Climate Week 2025

Anant Ahuja, Director of ESG and Sustainability, joined a session at New York Climate Week, organized by Economic Impact. The discussion brought together global industry voices to explore pressing challenges and opportunities in climate action. Anant contributed perspectives from the supply chain, sharing insights from Shahi’s ongoing efforts to integrate sustainability into manufacturing.

10 September | Launch of CITI’s Improving Transparency for Sustainable Business (ITSB) in India

At the ITSB launch organized by CITI, Mr. Rajneesh Rai, AVP, Environmental Sustainability, joined a panel exploring the role of ESG in transforming India’s textile sector. He emphasized the importance of digital platforms, regular training, and knowledge-sharing to improve factory-level data on water, energy, emissions, and recycling. He also shared that reliable ESG data can support regulatory compliance, enable benchmarking, and inform more strategic sustainability planning. His remarks highlighted that better transparency starts with better tools and capacity for those collecting and using the data.

2 September | 2nd FICCI India Manufacturing Leadership Forum

Anant Ahuja participated in the “Ease of Doing Business for Viksit Bharat” roundtable discussion, focusing on how sustainability fits into India’s manufacturing growth story. He shared Shahi’s perspective on integrating social and environmental metrics into industrial policy. The discussion focused on how transparency, digital infrastructure, and workforce readiness can position India’s manufacturing sector as globally competitive and equitable. Anant emphasized that a future-ready industrial ecosystem must ensure that efficiency is aligned with inclusion and responsibility.

06 August | Brand Supplier Summit

At Tesco’s Brand Supplier Summit, Chitra Prasad, Senior General Manager, Organizational Development, shared how Shahi has built gender equity over the past 15 years. On the “Gender Ambition” panel, she described how the team created safe, inclusive workplaces, increased women’s representation in committees, and strengthened leadership pathways across levels. Drawing on the ‘Responsible For framework’, she explained how Shahi designed systems that move beyond compliance and support long-term change. She emphasized that advancing gender equity means continuously investing in structures that reflect women’s lived experiences and unlock their leadership potential.

29 July | Women in Manufacturing – Lead with Equity Summit

Deepak Rautela, Assistant Vice President, Organizational Development, joined the “Built to Include: Gender Equity in Indian Manufacturing” Panel hosted by Good Business Lab and EquiLead. He shared how Shahi is embedding gender goals into governance through internal policies, ESG assessments, and a culture of accountability. He outlined our ESG monitoring systems, including scoring frameworks to track progress, and explained how they would be utilized. His insights reflected that meaningful equity work relies on strong internal systems that translate commitments into measurable outcomes and ensure continuous improvement.

22 July | Unlocking Investor Action for a Just Transition in India’s Fashion Sector

Gauri Sharma, General Manager, ESG and Innovation, participated in the “Thread to Transformation” panel in New Delhi, hosted by the Impact Investors Council and the Impact Investing Institute. She emphasized the importance of investors collaborating closely with supply chain partners to understand the on-the-ground realities. Her discussion explored how climate finance and circularity strategies must prioritize worker rights, supplier viability, and local economic resilience. The discussion highlighted the importance of designing investment models that support decarbonization while ensuring that no one is left behind.

24 June | Innovation Forum Sustainable Apparel and Textiles Conference USA

At the Innovation Forum in the US, Anant Ahuja joined the “Supplier Spotlight” session to speak about reimagining supplier relationships. He stressed the importance of long-term partnerships based on shared goals, co-investment, and responsible purchasing practices. Anant brought up ‘pilot fatigue’ and emphasized the need for scalable, context-aware solutions. He highlighted that sustainability in global supply chains can only be achieved when suppliers are treated as strategic partners and included early in the design of any initiative.

17 June |  Launch of report on Women’s Advancement by RISE

Chitra Prasad, Senior General Manager, Organizational Development, represented Shahi at the launch of a new report by Reimagining Industry to Support Equity (RISE). The report is titled “Shifting perspectives to accelerate women’s advancement and leadership in the garment, footwear and textiles industry – How international buyers and suppliers can take collaborative action”. Chitra spoke as part of the panel and reflected on why advancing women’s leadership in supply chains is a strategic priority for Shahi. She outlined how Shahi has integrated this focus into its core through initiatives such as Gap Inc.’s P.A.C.E., EWASE, and STITCH. She shared how these programs have contributed to measurable business outcomes. This includes higher retention, improved productivity, and increased representation of women in supervisory roles. Drawing on both experience and data, she emphasized the importance of moving beyond transactional approaches. She advocated for shared-risk models that enable long-term investment in equitable and resilient supply chains.

04 June | SXSW London 2025 

Anant Ahuja, Director of ESG and Sustainability, participated in the panel “Circular Fashion: Can the Dream Become Reality?” He addressed the realities of scaling circular practices in mass fashion supply chains. He noted that some practices, like water recycling and waste reuse, are already in place. However, material circularity remains limited due to technological maturity, cost, and infrastructure. He also spoke about key barriers to adoption, including the disconnect between R&D and sourcing teams. He emphasized that shifting supplier-buyer relationships from transactional to collaborative is essential.

29 May | Hurun Philanthropy Summit 2025

Anant Ahuja joined a discussion on the panel ‘Philanthropy 3.0 – From Legacy to Leadership in a Digital Age’. It was a cross-sector discussion on how giving is being redefined.

15 May | Apparel Connect 2025

At the 8th edition of Apparel Connect, Sailendra Venkata Banda, General Manager – Logistics at Shahi, joined India’s leading apparel logistics forum. He shared his perspective on strengthening apparel logistics for a global scale. He spoke on a panel hosted by Cargo Connect where he discussed how supply chain resilience, real-time visibility, and technology integration are becoming essential for competitiveness. 

15 May | UNFPA Asia and the Pacific Regional Launch

UNFPA brought together companies from across the region at the launch of The Coalition for Reproductive Justice in Business. The group discussed how businesses can embed reproductive rights in the workplace. Anant Ahuja was invited to address the gathering virtually. He showcased Shahi’s work towards improving the health and well-being of our workforce and designing tailored interventions for women employees for a better workplace.

05 May | UNFPA & Essity Nordic Roundtable

At the roundtable discussion titled “Business: Mobilizing the Nordic Private Sector for Women’s Health and Rights at Work”, Anant Ahuja spoke about Shahi’s workplace menstrual health initiative, Project Pravah. He explained how the program improves access, availability, and awareness for over 70,000 women workers. He also shared the results of the UNFPA Return-on-Investment Tool, developed with Good Business Lab (GBL). The program led to a 21 percent reduction in absenteeism, with a projected return of $2.90 for every $1 invested. This highlights that investments in well-being can improve work-life and create measurable business value.

03 March | Center for Business and the Environment at Yale (CBEY)

Anant Ahuja, Director of ESG and Sustainability, spoke at the session Unlocking Brand-Supplier Collaboration to Accelerate Decarbonization in the Fashion Industry, organized by the Center for Business and the Environment at Yale (CBEY).

He discussed the financial barriers suppliers face in adopting decarbonization technologies and the role of brands in overcoming these challenges. The session explored how brands can align incentives to reward sustainability performance over cost and speed. These should consider he intersection of environmental sustainability and employment conditions. He also talked about Shahi’s learnings on the most effective strategies for scaling decarbonization efforts across supplier networks.

27 February | Dasra Philanthropy Week

Anant Ahuja participated in a spotlight session organized by Dasra, speaking on The Power of Business to Drive Change.
His talk focused on how businesses, particularly in supply chains, can play a transformative role in social impact, just as they do in environmental sustainability. He spoke of approaches to worker well-being and gender equity. He highlighted the potential for businesses to drive systemic change through research-backed initiatives. Anant also shared Shahi’s collaborations in worker retention programs and gender-focused workplace interventions.

14-16 February | Bharat Tex 2025

Harish Ahuja, Managing Director and Chairperson, spoke at Scaling Up Textile Manufacturing in India: Grabbing Opportunities, Addressing Challenges, organized by KPMG.

He discussed India’s strong banking system, the importance of vertical integration, and the role of MSME support in driving the country’s manufacturing growth.

Anant Ahuja spoke at the India: A Global Circularity Hub – Developing and Scaling Post-Consumer Textile Waste Management session organized by Laudes India.
He emphasized the importance of circularity for India and shared Shahi’s efforts in waste circularity. These include: upcycling, waste segregation, training, and compliance measures. Anant also discussed the role of various stakeholders in advancing circularity and effective waste management in the industry.

He also participated in Fashioning the Future Through Collaborative Sustainable Practices, organized by NIFT Delhi.

He addressed the need for collaboration between manufacturers and brands to advance sustainability in the textile industry. His session covered decarbonization efforts and workplace interventions necessary for a sustainable future.

24 January | World Economic Forum (Side Event by UNFPA)

Anant Ahuja participated in the Coalition for Reproductive Justice in Business side event at the World Economic Forum, co-hosted by UNFPA, Essity, Ferring, Bayer, and Amref Health.

He shared Shahi’s holistic approach to supporting women employees, inspired by Shahi’s founder, Mrs. Sarla Ahuja. Some of the key initiatives include Project Pravah, which has reduced absenteeism by 21%. Other interventions like on-site creches, flexible work schedules, and the Shahi Soukyam maternal health program. Anant stressed the business case for investing in women’s health and well-being. These initiatives drive both social impact and operational efficiency.

24 January | CAIF Enterprise Bootcamp

Gauri Sharma, General Manager, ESG and Innovation, represented Shahi at the CAIF Enterprise Bootcamp, organized by the Circular Apparel Innovation Factory.

Her session focused on Shahi’s ‘Responsible For’ framework, efforts in decarbonization, digitization, traceability, and next-gen recycled materials.