On March 4, 2025, the grandeur of ITC Grand Chola, Chennai, bore witness to United Way of Chennai’s flagship fundraising event—Markets & Economy 2025, a prestigious gathering where insights met impact, and where discussions shaped dreams. With the theme ‘World in Transition: Implications for India’s Economy & Markets’, this annual event stood as more than just an economic symposium, it was a celebration of resilience, innovation, and collective action.
The evening commenced with warmth and energy as Emcees Jenisha and Gladys welcomed a hall full of corporate leaders, visionaries, and changemakers. A moment of reflection through the Tamil Thai Vazhthu and a powerful audiovisual recap of UWC’s 2024 interventions set the tone for the night.
In her stirring welcome address, Ms. Sabina Narayan, UWC Board Member, highlighted not just challenges, from Cyclone Remal to bureaucratic delays-but triumphs too. From upgrading government schools, to empowering over women, UWC’s grassroots impact was evident. Notably, UWC received the Global Sustainability Award 2024 by ARCedtech and the Tamil Nadu Leadership Award 2024 by WorldCSR.com for its innovations in sustainable development.
The intellectual heart of the event beat through its keynote speakers. Mr. Neelkanth Mishra, Chief Economist at Axis Bank and member of the PM’s Economic Advisory Council, unpacked India’s macroeconomic trajectory amidst global turbulence. Mr. Prashant Jain, legendary fund manager and co-founder of 3P Investment Managers, offered valuable foresight on navigating Indian equities in a shifting financial landscape.
A riveting panel discussion led by Mr. Gaurav Doshi, Strategy Manager at 360 ONE, brought together stalwarts including Mr. Mishra, along with Mr. Rakesh K. Singh of HDFC Bank, offering deep-dive perspectives on markets, risks, and the investment future of India.
The evening’s energy peaked with a compelling talk by Mr. Sriram Raghavan, Vice President of IBM Research for AI, who explored the rapid AI revolution and its socio-economic impact. A dynamic panel discussion followed, moderated by the formidable Ms. Aarthi Sivanandh, Senior Partner at AZB & Partners and one of Asia’s Top 15 Female Lawyers of 2024.
The night concluded with the 360 Degree Awards, this segment focused on recognizing and honoring exceptional contributors who exemplify United Way of Chennai’s mission of community driven change.
Markets & Economy 2025 was not just a night of big ideas—it was a heartfelt reaffirmation of United Way of Chennai’s unwavering commitment to building resilient communities through collaboration, compassion, and courage. As the curtains fell, one thing was clear: the future is not just to be predicted, but actively shaped—together.
