On 13 May, six women leaders arrived for the PrintWeek Women to Watch Jury Meet with the mission to identify the trailblazers redefining an industry historically dominated by mechanical legacy, now pivoting toward a future of digital precision and empathetic leadership.
The jury featured a diverse cross-section of expertise: Tasneem Vasi of CTRL M Print Management, Shannon Tellis of Campaign India, Himali Kothari (author and educator), Hema Java of Java Paper Group, Sarah Rajan of Finn Partners, and Sruti Sajith of Bindwel-Stelda Group.
The day commenced with a briefing by Ramu Ramanathan, editor of PrintWeek and WhatPackaging? who set the tone for the evaluation. The jurors, then, began assessing the People Awards consisting of 10 sub-categories.
The jury identified an important industry trend: the transition from pure-play printing to integrated solution providers. Whether it was Monica Malhotra Kandhari’s print-plus philosophy at MBD Group, which harmonises tactile learning with digital accessibility, or Zeenia Khushru Patel’s vision for JAK Printers as a one-stop-solution for offset, digital, and screen amalgamation, the pattern is clear. Leadership today is about managing the intersection of high-speed production and creative brand storytelling.
The jurors also noted the rise of design-led luxury. Sanaa Vasi’s work at Bespoke Pack and Yashvi Pachigar’s Maze Designs reflect a shift toward luxury stationery and emotionally resonant packaging that treats the box not just as a container, but as a premium brand touchpoint.
After lunch, the focus shifted to the Company Awards, consisting of eight sub-categories where a new benchmark for environmental, social, and governance (ESG) outcomes emerged.
The jury was visibly impressed by the shift from transactional HR to strategic safety. Bobst India was lauded for its 700+ accident-free days, while EPL Limited demonstrated how inclusive infrastructure has moved from a perk to a non-negotiable operational standard.
In addition, sustainability was the recurring golden thread through the entries. The entries represented a massive industry leap: moving away from conventional plastics toward 100% biodegradable, active packaging materials that extend food shelf-life.
Selecting winners was a daunting task, as the entries reflected an industry in the midst of a radical upgrade — shifting from being product-driven to becoming solution-oriented and data-centric.
As the day drew to a close at the Haymarket Media office, the atmosphere was one of quiet profoundness. The future of the Indian printing and packaging landscape has arrived, and it is decisively female.
| All winners of the Women to Watch Awards 2026 will be invited and felicitated at the Leaders and Legends event to be held on 9 June. Leaders and Legends is an exclusive invite-only gathering designed to bring together the most influential voices in the print and packaging industry. Unlike a conventional conference or trade show, the event focuses on high-value networking, meaningful conversations, and industry-defining dialogue among a curated group of 300 business leaders, decision-makers, innovators, and entrepreneurs. The evening will also celebrate excellence across the ecosystem through three flagship recognitions — The Power 100, Forty Under 40, Women to Watch — spotlighting the individuals and organisations shaping the future of the industry. To know more, click here. |