IIMA honours 10 alumni with the Young Alumni Achiever’s Awards 2025 .
June 20, 2025: The Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad (IIMA) announced and honoured a total of 10 alumni winners of the 10th edition of its Young Alumni Achiever’s Awards (YAAA 2025) in three categories today. Instituted in 2015, the YAAA awards are presented every year to IIMA’s alumni under the age of 45 in recognition of their outstanding achievements and contributions in the areas of Corporate Leadership, Entrepreneurship, Academics/Research, Social/Public Service, and Arts/Entertainment/Sports.
The awardees were felicitated by Professor Bharat Bhasker, Director, IIMA, and Professor Sunil Maheshwari, Dean (Alumni and External Relations), IIMA, at an event organised in the campus. Students, faculty members, staff, and members of the broader IIMA community also joined the event to celebrate and applaud the award winners. The winners of the YAAA 2025 are as follows:
Corporate Leadership:
1. Hemant Mundra, Managing Director, Warburg Pincus (PGP 2014)
2. Saurabh Chandra, Partner & Financial Services Domestic Consulting Leader, EY (ePGP 2020)
3. Rohan Suri, Managing Director, KKR & Co. Inc. (PGP 2010)
4. Sudipto Sannigrahi, Managing Director, Z47 (PGP 2016)
5. Ashish Ashok Lakhotia, CEO, Fertilizer and Agri Inputs: ETG Input Holdco Limited (EEP 2018)
Social Sector/Public Service
1. Ramyakumar Bhatt, Deputy Commissioner, Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (ePGP 2022)
2. Chhavi Moodgal, CEO, IIM Ahmedabad Endowment Fund (PGP 2004)
Arts/Entertainment/Sports
1. Aditi Krishnakumar, Author (PGP 2017)
2. Anupama Muthukrishnan Devarajan, Carnatic Musician & Bharatanatyam Artiste (PGP 2006)
3. Ankur Garg, Producer/Partner, Luv Films LLP (Bollywood Production House) (3TP 2010)
The IIMA has a strong network of around 46,000 alumni spread across the country and the world. Several of the alumni have made their mark in different fields and have earned accolades for their contributions in diverse fields. Their successes have strengthened IIMA’s position as a premier management institution offering world-class education. The IIMA alumni are engaged closely with their alma mater and have been supporting several initiatives by giving their time, thought, and resources.
Quotes and Profiles of YAAA 2025 Winners Follow:
Corporate Leadership
“IIMA was a pivotal phase in my journey – it instilled self-belief, a strong work ethic, and the value of teamwork – shaping my professional and personal growth. I feel fortunate that IIMA has considered me worthy for this prestigious award. It validates my impact in the corporate world through my career and inspires me to contribute meaningfully towards society over the coming decades, while make my alma mater proud and contributing to its rich history.”
Hemant Mundra is the Managing Director at Warburg Pincus. He has worked for 11+ years in Private Equity across varied sectors including financial services, healthcare, consumer, and auto components with primary focus on financial services. During this period, Hemant has helped deepen Warburg Pincus’ franchise in financial services sector in India. He is on the board of several companies including Avanse Financial Services, Vistaar Financial Services, Truhome Finance and Parksons Packaging. Prior to Warburg Pincus, worked for 3.5 years at Kedaara Capital across multiple sectors.
Mr Mundra was Institute Rank 1 (Gold Medalist) for both years at IIM Ahmedabad (2012-2014). He has been awarded Desh Ratna Dr. Rajendra Prasad Gold Medal, Sir Ratan Tata Trust Scholarship, S. Umapathy Prize, S.K. Seth Memorial Award and Smt. J Nagamma Memorial Award for academic excellence.
Mr Mundra did his B-Tech (Chemical Engineering) from IIT Bombay and is CFA Level 3 certified. He was the Gold medalist in National Chemistry Olympiad, among top 1% in Physics Olympiad, 9th in state in Math Olympiad & a CBSE merit scholar.
Hemant has been involved in driving the Warburg Pincus recruitment initiative. He has also been actively involved in mentoring juniors, including from alma mater, especially the ones that want to build their careers in investing industry. His interview was also featured in Private Equity 360 book by Vinit Rai – a book written to help get into Private Equity (“PE”) and succeed in the industry.
“IIMA equipped me with all the right values, skills, and most importantly the network that taught me to dream big, create impact, and turn ambition into reality, in order to touch lives. It is an honour to receive this award from my alma mater, reminding me of the values and responsibilities it has deeply instilled in me. More than an award, I see it as a responsibility.”
Saurabh Chandra is currently Partner & Financial Services Domestic Consulting leader with EY. He has been an entrepreneur and has worked with several companies in the past namely BCG, JPMC, Visa, Amazon, FlipKart, and Oracle. He has been part of few notable market launches in mortgage, unsecured lending, open banking, GDPR, payments, Digi bank, retail and e-commerce domains.
Mr Chandra’s expertise lies around transforming companies including fundraising, policy formulation, regulatory and compliance, mergers and acquisition and new geo-launch. He also brings a good blend of business, regulatory and technology expertise.
Mr Chandra holds eight patents and trade secrets (USPTO), two books (McGraw Hill) and five research papers. He has also been an independent advisor and board member to multiple companies and non-profit industry bodies. In the year 2023, he was conferred with ‘Indian Achievers Award’ in the field of science, technology and entrepreneurship.
Mr Chandra is a sports enthusiast and has represented nationals in basketball, in his early formative years. Besides sports, he loves reading, travelling and learning about varied cultures. Besides IIMA, he is also an alumnus of Birla Institute of Technology, Mesra and IIT Kanpur.
“IIMA shaped the mindset and values I carry into my work every day. It ingrained in me the importance of thinking deeper, questioning assumptions, and pursuing excellence with humility. I am grateful to the faculty, who consistently pushed us beyond the obvious; and to the friends I made at IIMA, whose camaraderie and sharp intellect made the learning richer and more lasting. This award is deeply meaningful to me, and I see it as a responsibility- to keep striving, stay grounded, and contribute meaningfully to the journeys of others.”
Rohan Suri is Managing Director, Private Equity at KKR. He joined KKR in 2012 and has led or co-led ~$6 billion of investments in companies across sectors including technology, financial services, healthcare, industrial and consumer.
He currently serves on the Board of Directors of Infinx, Ness Digital Engineering, Vini Cosmetics, Incred Finance, Re Sustainability, Shriram General Insurance, and has also led or co-led investments in Jio Platforms, Reliance Retail, Alliance Tire Group (ATG), Max Healthcare, Max Financial Services, HDFC Ltd., Five Star Finance and SBI Life Insurance.
Prior to KKR he was with Bain & Company in their New Delhi and San Francisco offices. He holds an MBA from the Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad, where he was an Industry Scholar, and a B.E. Honors from the Birla Institute of Technology & Science, from where he graduated as a Chancellor’s Gold Medalist. He is a recipient of the Global 30 Under 30 award from the BITS Pilani Alumni Association (BITSAA).
“IIMA was the launchpad for everything that followed. The rigour and intensity of the PGP program taught me how to operate under pressure, think from first principles, structure ambiguity and show up every day, on time and prepared. I remain truly indebted as the IIMA experience has been foundational to my journey as a venture capitalist. This award is a humbling honour and a meaningful reminder of the journey that began at IIMA. It reaffirms my purpose of backing founders shaping India’s future and inspires me to give back.”
Sudipto Sannigrahi is Managing Director at Z47 (formerly known as Matrix Partners India), one of India’s leading venture capital firms with ~$3B in assets under management. At Z47, he leads investments across B2B Commerce, Advanced Manufacturing, and Deep-Tech sectors including AI, Semiconductors, EVs, Renewables, and Space-tech. He joined the fund in 2016 and became Managing Director in 2023 and is among the youngest to become MD across leading PE & VC funds in India. Over the past nine years, he has invested in more than 15 technology companies at both early and growth stages. Some of the companies he has backed include Captain Fresh, Krutrim, Vegrow, and Farmart, among others. He has also played a key role in expanding the firm’s presence by building its Gurgaon office and community ecosystem.
Sudipto founded and organises one of the largest B2B and deep-tech conferences in India along with an annual report called Digitizing Make in India which is widely referenced in the sector. He works closely with government bodies like CII, MEITY, and DST to catalyze entrepreneurship in manufacturing and deep-tech sectors.
Sudipto is passionate about teaching and also collaborates actively with academia. Since 2023, he has been teaching the course Technology Investing Seminar at IIMA in collaboration with IIMA Ventures and is a guest faculty member at multiple other institutions.
“IIMA came into my life at a time when the world—and my business—was going through immense turbulence and I was constantly being tested as a leader. The IIMA experience gave me not just frameworks and strategies, but the confidence to lead with empathy and clarity. It helped me believe that even in uncertainty, growth is possible—with the right mindset and support. This award is a collective achievement and a humbling recognition of leadership- of the thousands across our ecosystem who work tirelessly to create sustainable impact in farmers’ lives.”
Ashish Lakhotia is a forward-thinking professional with over 20 years of experience in the Agri-inputs industry spanning fertilizers, crop protection, seeds, and farm implements. He is currently the CEO, Fertilizer and Agri Inputs, ETG, Dubai, leading a company of over 1,600 employees, generating $1.5 billion in turnover, and impacting more than 20 million farmers across 30 African countries. He is now expanding the business beyond Africa into Latin America, Europe, Asia, the Middle East, and North Africa.
Mr Lakhotia is committed to transforming farmers’ lives through innovation and sustainable practices. Through digital innovation, integrated agri-solutions, strategic acquisitions, and cross-border expansions, he is committed to making agricultural inputs more accessible and creating a sustainable future for farmers worldwide. In recognition of his contributions, he received the Golden Frame Award for Agri-Business Leader of the Year at the Gulf Business Awards 2023. Mr Lakhotia also plays a vital role in shaping the global fertilizer industry through his involvement in the International Fertilizer Association (IFA) where he was the Chairman for Africa Forum till 2024.
Mr Lakhotia is a Chartered Accountant (CA) from ICAI and holds a Master of Management Studies in Finance from VESIMSR, Mumbai. He is also an alumnus of IIMA (AMP program) and INSEAD.
Social Sector/Public Service
“When people ask how IIMA prepared me for public service, I say that IIMA gave me a unique lens—to approach citizen issues with empathy and the same analytical rigor used in business. My peers and the campus spirit instilled in me a conviction that nation-building is the most meaningful and scalable enterprise. This award is a powerful affirmation of the quiet, often difficult path of public service; I see it as a reminder of the immense responsibility for the future. I hope this inspires more IIMA graduates to channel their talents into building a better India.”
Ramyakumar Bhatt currently serves as the Deputy Municipal Commissioner, Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation, where he leads the municipal administration of the World Heritage City of Ahmedabad, encompassing the historic old city and its surrounding areas.
Since joining the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation in 2009, Mr. Bhatt has held several key roles and contributed significantly to the city’s urban development through initiatives like the Sabarmati Riverfront Development and Smart City Ahmedabad Development Limited (SCADL). One notable achievement under his leadership was the deployment of a citywide traffic surveillance system, which significantly improved traffic management and civic discipline in the city. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Mr. Bhatt played a critical role as CEO of SVP Hospital, the largest and most advanced municipal COVID-19 facility in India.
A problem-solver at heart, Mr. Bhatt has consistently demonstrated a strong inclination toward innovation and technology-driven governance. He has mentored startups, guiding them in product design and go-to-market strategies. Mr. Bhatt has represented the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation at several prestigious national and international forums, including the Parliamentary Committee on the Smart Cities Mission and the 46th World Heritage Committee meeting organized by UNESCO. In recognition of his expertise, the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, Government of India, appointed him as a mentor to other Smart Cities across the country.
Prior to his public sector career, Mr. Bhatt worked with GE Healthcare in Bengaluru, where he was part of the MRI Division, contributing to advanced healthcare technologies. He holds a Master’s in Management from IIM Ahmedabad (ePGP, 2019–2021), a Master of Technology from IIT Bombay (2007), and a Bachelor’s in Engineering from Saurashtra University (2005).
“IIM Ahmedabad was a transformative chapter in my life. It shaped the way I think, make decisions, lead, and contribute to society and the world. IIMA taught me resilience and how to find solutions to make a vision become reality. My dream is to continue this legacy of institution building, creating scale and disruption, keeping the best interest of all stakeholders in mind. To be recognized by an institution that has shaped me so profoundly; for my work that helped to further strengthen our Alma Mater; is really special.”
Chhavi Moodgal has spent over 20 years in the financial services industry – across investment banking, asset management, entrepreneurship and fundraising through endowment. She is currently the Founding CEO of IIMA Endowment Fund (IIMAEF) where she has played a pivotal role in solidifying the Institute’s standing in thought leadership, research, and academic excellence on a global scale. Before joining IIMAEF, she worked in investment banking with various banks such as Standard Chartered Bank, UBS and Kotak Mahindra Bank. She also has entrepreneurial experience.
In her capacity as the Founding CEO of IIMAEF, Ms. Moodgal been a driving force in advancing IIMA’s vision by raising funds through philanthropic contributions from alumni, corporates and multilateral agencies. The IIMAEF through her leadership has raised more than 2.5x and nearly thrice the funds raised in the history of IIMA prior to endowment set up; within a short span of four years of operations.
The total commitments managed by IIMAEF are in excess of 615 crores with over two thirds of the funds being unrestricted funds, giving the Institute flexibility to deploy funds as per its priorities. This is in stark comparison to other Indian academic institutions where over 90% funds are raised through purposed donations – and offering naming rights. This exemplifies true innovation in marketing and outreach at IIMAEF.
Ms. Moodgal’s leadership and market-shaping contributions have won her and IIMAEF multiple prestigious awards like the FinNext 2024 Award (Dubai), Top Visionary CEO, Great Indian Disruptive Woman Leader Award (2024), Great Indian Change Maker of the Year Award (2024) among others, recognizing her as a visionary disruptor in the institutional philanthropy and education space. Ms. Moodgal has a degree in Economics (Hons) from Lady Shri Ram College of Delhi (Gold Medal in 2000) and an MBA from IIM Ahmedabad (PGP 2004).
Arts/Entertainment/Sports
“IIMA teaches you to pursue your passions- in classes and beyond. As a PGP student, I was inspired by professors and peers who cared deeply and worked hard. That belief—that dedication, effort, and a healthy dose of luck can make dreams come true—has stayed with me. In a creative field it can be hard to know if you’re on the right track. So this award is a sign that I’ve been doing something right – and that, coming from the alma mater, means everything.”
Aditi Krishnakumar is a writer, mathematician and private consultant. She’s written seven books, including Codex: The Lost Treasure of the Indus, which won the Scholastic Asian Book Award and was nominated for the Singapore Book Award. She has also been nominated for the Asian Scientist Writing Prize, the Binod Kanoria Award for Children’s Literature, and the Peek-a-Book Children’s Literature Festival Award. Aditi’s most recent book, The White Lotus, was released earlier this year to positive reviews. She has published poetry in the journals Nightingale and Sparrow and The Pangolin Review. She has also illustrated one book for children.
Ms Aditi has been a speaker at the Asian Festival of Children’s Content (AFCC) in Singapore, Kala Ghoda Festival of the Arts in Mumbai, Matrubhumi International Festival of Letters in Thiruvananthapuram, Scindia Literary Fest in Gwalior, Chandigarh Children’s Literature Festival, and Kukdukoo Fest in Hyderabad.
As a mathematician, Ms Aditi’s main research interest is Combinatorics. She has co-authored three papers in the field of Graph Theory, published in highly-regarded journals such as the Bulletin of the Australian Mathematical Society and Discussiones Mathematicae Graph Theory. She has given talks on Graph Theory at the Open University (UK) Mathematics Colloquia and the Indonesia-Japan Conference on Discrete and Computational Geometry, Graphs and Games. Her Erdős number is 3.
Ms Aditi’s work as a private consultant combines her two main interests–corporate communications and quantitative finance. She has taught Computational Finance as visiting faculty at Mahindra University in Hyderabad. Prior to that, she spent ten years in Singapore, where she worked in the field of financial risk management while keeping up her writing. She has also worked with Edelweiss Financial Services in India, doing quant, research and financial risk management.
In her free time, Ms Aditi enjoys reading, painting, and learning to play the piano.
“IIMA taught me not just finance, marketing, or strategy but also life lessons in resilience and adaptability: it gave me the confidence to pursue the path less chosen and use what I learnt at IIMA to excel in my passion for the fine arts. Being invited to one's alma mater for an award is special in itself - but I am especially grateful because this award gives me a sense of validation - of both my career choices as well as my contribution to the field of performing arts.”
Anupama Devarajan is a seasoned Carnatic musician and Bharatanatyam artiste. She has performed professionally in several venues all over India and abroad, also choreographing and curating special thematic productions. She has founded her own Academy of Fine Arts in Mumbai – Vidya Vardhini Fine Arts Academy, through which she trains students in the performing arts.
Hailing from Chennai, the cultural capital for the performing art forms, Ms. Anupama was always passionate about music and dance since early childhood. Also a strong performer academically, she has won several awards for her academics as well as extra-curricular activities, including the All-Rounder Women Award from IIM Ahmedabad. she completed her B.E. in Computer Engineering and PGDM from IIM Ahmedabad in 2006, going on to join Merrill Lynch in Hong Kong and later London, in investment banking. After a successful stint in banking, Anupama moved to Mumbai and joined Espandere Advisors as a financial advisory consultant. Throughout her corporate career, she kept in touch with the world of fine arts by performing in stage shows at every opportunity. Her enduring passion for music and dance led her to shift gears from her corporate world to a career in the performing arts.
As a professional Carnatic vocalist and Bharatanatyam artiste, Ms. Anupama quickly achieved the rare distinction of being an empanelled graded artiste of both All India Radio (for Carnatic Vocal) as well as Doordarshan (for Bharatanatyam). She is a passionate ambassador in the spread of arts and culture, has conducted several workshops and also performed for social causes and fund-raising events. Apart from running her own Academy of Fine Arts, she is also an honorary elected Member, Managing Committee at Sri Shanmukhananda, a premier cultural institute, tasked primarily with streamlining and expanding their music and dance school in order to promote the classical art forms. Ms. Anupama has received several awards and accolades, including the “Padma Bharati” title, “Nritya Nipun” award and “Kamala Power Women” award at the hands of the Governor of Maharashtra, for her contribution to the performing arts.
“IIMA opened me up to a world of ambition, ideas, and endless possibilities. This experience gave me the confidence to take unconventional leaps and helped shape a sharp, practical mindset — one that was nurtured through my interactions with the entrepreneurship cell and has guided me through every stage. This award means a lot — not just as an honour, but as a reminder of how far I have come since the journey began 15 years ago. It’s humbling, inspiring, and motivates me to keep exploring and pushing the envelope.”
Ankur Garg is a film producer with a blend of an innovative mindset and sharp business acumen. Hailing from Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh, Ankur’s journey has been unconventional.
A graduate of Pune University and an alumnus of the prestigious Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad, Ankur laid the groundwork for a robust career with a formative stint at Microsoft Corporation. In 2012, driven by a desire to create, he transitioned into the world of films — co-founding Luv Films with his childhood friend and celebrated filmmaker Luv Ranjan.
Over the next decade, Ankur played a key role in shaping Luv Films into a prominent production house, known for commercial hits and content-rich narratives alike with movies such as Sonu Ke Titu Ki Sweety, De De Pyaar De, Tu Jhoothi Main Makkaar, Vadh, Malang, Chhalaang and most recently the Marathi film Devmanus.
Simultaneously, Ankur’s entrepreneurial drive led him to establish IFI Techsolutions, a cloud and managed services company that earned global recognition— including being named a Microsoft Partner of the Year Finalist in 2020.
Recently in 2024, Ankur was conferred with the prestigious Spanish Knighthood honour - la Cruz de la Orden del Mérito Civil as a recognition of his contributions to cross-cultural cinematic collaboration on Tu Jhoothi Main Makkaar.
Ankur continues to lead a slate of upcoming movies, including De De Pyaar De 2, a biopic on cricket legend Sourav Ganguly, Vadh 2, and other highly anticipated ventures.
From the corporate world to creative landscapes, Ankur Garg’s consistent focus on building with intent — and his commitment to distinctive, original work — reflect the evolving spirit of today’s entrepreneur.
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About IIM Ahmedabad:
The Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad (IIMA) is a premier global management Institute that is at the forefront of promoting excellence in the field of management education. In more than six decades of its existence, the Institute has been acknowledged for its exemplary contributions to scholarship, practice, and policy through its distinctive teaching, high-quality research, nurturing future leaders, supporting industry, government, social enterprise, and creating a progressive impact on society.
IIMA was founded as an innovative initiative by the Government, industry, and international academia in 1961. Since then, it has been consolidating its global footprint and today it has a network with over 80 top international institutions and a presence in Dubai. Its eminent faculty members and around 45,000 alumni, who are at the helm of influential positions in all walks of life also contribute to its global recognition. Over the years, IIMA’s academically superior, market-driven, and socially impactful programmes, have earned a high reputation and acclaim globally. It became the first Indian institution to receive international accreditation from EQUIS. The Institute is also placed first in the Government of India’s National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF), India Rankings 2024. The Institute has been ranked 35th globally in the Financial Times (FT) Executive Education (Open) Rankings 2025. The renowned flagship two-year Post Graduate Programme in Management (PGP) is ranked 39th in the FT Masters in Management Ranking 2024 and the one-year Post Graduate Programme in Management for Executives (PGPX) has been ranked 31st in the FT Global MBA rankings 2025.
IIMA offers consultancy services and more than 200 curated executive education programmes in customised, blended, and open enrolment formats for a diverse audience comprising business leaders, policymakers, industry professionals, academicians, government officials, armed forces personnel, agri-business, and other niche sector specialists and entrepreneurs.
To know more about IIMA, please visit: https://www.iima.ac.in/
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